EXCLUSIVE: “Felt Like A Free Holiday With Free Food & Fun” – Sooraj Pancholi On Being AD For Salman Khan’s Ek Tha Tiger!
In an exclusive chat with Instant Bollywood, Sooraj Pancholi opened up about his early days in the film industry. Not many know this, but before he faced the camera as an actor, Sooraj actually started off behind the scenes.
EXCLUSIVE: “Felt Like A Free Holiday With Free Food & Fun” – Sooraj Pancholi On Being AD For Salman Khan’s Ek Tha Tiger!
One of his most exciting early gigs was working as an assistant director on Salman Khan’s action-packed film Ek Tha Tiger. And according to him, it didn’t feel like work at all. Sooraj shared that being on the sets of Ek Tha Tiger felt more like a vacation than a job.
“Ek Tha Tiger was shot in so many places – Cuba, Thailand, Istanbul, Mardin, Antalya, Dublin, and lots of spots in India, especially Delhi,” he said. “It felt like a free holiday. A free holiday with free food, free tickets, free fun, and getting to spend time with Salman Khan. It was like a one plus one bumper offer.”
(Also Read: Sooraj Pancholi & More: 6 Bollywood Actors Who Were Assistant Directors!)
(Also Read: Sooraj Pancholi Starrer Kesari Veer Movie Review)
The Vibe On Salman Khan’s Set Was Very Relaxed – Says Sooraj Pancholi
He spoke warmly about the relaxed atmosphere on the set and how different it felt compared to other films. Sooraj had also worked as an assistant director on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Guzaarish, starring Hrithik Roshan. That experience, while rewarding, was far more intense.
“The vibe on Salman Khan’s set was totally different. Their shooting environment was unique too, a bit more relaxed. Relaxed because director Kabir Khan’s temperament is a bit different from Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s. That was amazing,” Sooraj added.
It’s clear that working with Salman and Kabir Khan left quite an impression on him. The locations, the food, the chilled-out energy on set, and being around a superstar like Salman made it a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
From assisting on film sets to now leading films like Kesari Veer himself, Sooraj’s journey in Bollywood has definitely had an interesting beginning.
