Veer Pahariya says he is honoured to have played Sq Ld Devayya in ‘Sky Force’
After winning hearts for his portrayal in Sky Force, debutant Veer Pahariya opens up about his journey, the burden of family expectations, and his desire to carve his own path. (Image by arrangement)
Debutant Veer Pahariya, who won hearts for his portrayal of martyred Sq Leader AB Devayya in the war drama Sky Force, set against the backdrop of the 1965 Indo-Pak conflict, says, “I am proud of the film we have made. It is overwhelming and gratifying as a newcomer to get acceptance, but I don’t want to read too much into all this.”
The 30-year-old actor insists that the film is about the hero, adding, “it has been my honour to have got the opportunity to bring to screens the life of Devayya Sir.” Sky Force’s solid opening at the box office has brought cheer to an otherwise dry January at the theatres.
‘Acceptance’ is the key word for the actor, who reveals he has not only had his share of rejections but also the added burden of making a mark that goes beyond the illustrious family names he carries. Veer is the grandson of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, and son of business tycoon Sanjay Pahariya and his former wife Smriti Shinde.
“I have seen a lot of rejections, and probably this is the first time I have tasted success in the true sense of the word. I have been wanting this acceptance since I was five years old, but because of the family I come from, people try to undermine me and say you are what you are because of your family. I have had to put in double the hard work, and not care about the noise around. Just the opportunity to have had this theatrical outing is a big deal for me,” says Veer.
Before his screen debut, Veer was assistant director on Varun Dhawan’s 2022 film Bhediya. However, his personal life has always been fodder for the public. His brother Shikhar Pahariya is dating Janhvi Kapoor, and Veer was rumoured to be in a relationship with actor Sara Ali Khan before her debut in films.
Veer says he has craved neither attention nor fame and has shied away from the spotlight. “I was six years old when my parent's separation was splashed across newspapers, and for me as a child, it was very difficult to process what was happening as well as handle the public gaze. It was an emotionally trying time, but it toughened me. When I grew up, they started focusing on my so-called relationships, most of them being false reports, but no one asked me for my statement. So I stopped caring about what was being written and spoken, I just wanted to work,” he says pragmatically. As he soaks in the success of Sky Force, the actor says his mantra is not to play safe when it comes to his future projects. “I want to bring something new to the table, and not do something that is already done. I want to be risky, just like my character in the film. People will come with their perceptions, and try to downgrade your morale, but I want to decide how I live my life.”
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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