Sooraj Pancholi’s life took a drastic turn when he was just 20 years old. He was arrested, and his connections to the film industry were severed. For over a decade, he struggled to find his place in the world. Recently, he spoke with Lucky Bist about his journey and the difficulties he faced during the Jia Khan case.
Sooraj’s family has a strong presence in the film industry – his mother is an actress, and his father, Aditya Pancholi, was a well-known actor. However, his father’s outspoken nature often led people to judge Sooraj based on his family ties. At the time, Sooraj was young and under a lot of media scrutiny, making it challenging for him to navigate the situation.
During the investigation, Sooraj claimed that authorities were under pressure to file more severe charges against him. Initially, he was charged under section 306, but later, section 302 was added. The investigators received constant phone calls, pushing them to file even more severe charges, including section 307. Sooraj still doesn’t know who was behind this pressure or why it was happening.
Sooraj believes that two main reasons led to the lack of support from the industry. Firstly, his father wasn’t closely associated with any influential people in the industry, and secondly, the ongoing legal case made him a risky choice for producers. If Sooraj were called in for questioning or a trial, it could delay filming, resulting in significant financial losses.
However, one person who stood by Sooraj during his difficult time was Salman Khan. In a previous interview, Sooraj mentioned that Salman Khan had offered him a role in the 2015 film Hero, helping him get back on his feet. Despite the challenges, Sooraj has continued to work hard, and his recent appearance in the film Kesari Veer has brought him back into the spotlight.