In a surprising revelation, Bollywood's action powerhouse Tiger Shroff has disclosed a personal vulnerability that contrasts sharply with his on-screen daredevilry. The actor, renowned for performing high-octane stunts, confessed to struggling with a significant fear of flying, a condition known as aerophobia.
The Turbulent Flight That Sparked a Lasting Fear
During a candid conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Shroff traced the origin of his phobia to a particularly rough air journey a couple of years ago. The experience of severe turbulence during that flight left a lasting psychological impact, developing into a full-blown anxiety that now affects him weeks before any air travel. "What's weird is that you can ask me to do the most difficult stunt," Shroff stated, highlighting the paradox of his fears. He explained that while he wouldn't hesitate to jump off a building for a film sequence, his heart starts skipping beats ten days before a scheduled flight.
Physical Expression as Therapy for Anxiety
To manage this anxiety and other stresses, Tiger Shroff turns to intense physical activity. He described movement and workout sessions as his primary form of therapy. This need for physical expression is so strong that his trainers sometimes have to restrain him from over-exertion. "Even though rest is essential for growth, I can't relate to that," he admitted, sharing a psychological worry about his muscles disappearing if he isn't active. This relentless drive fuels his famed physique and stunt capabilities.
Doing the Body Double's Job for the Thrill
Discussing his approach to action sequences, Shroff revealed his hands-on philosophy, inspired by his idol Jackie Chan. He often performs stunts himself, even when a body double is present. "Sometimes my body double will look at me and ask, 'Sir, are you sure you want to do this?'" Shroff shared. He humorously added that he feels bad for essentially doing the double's job, but ensures the professional still gets paid. For Shroff, the adrenaline rush from performing stunts contains no fear, unlike the dread he associates with air travel.
The actor also reflected on his filmography, noting that while it's joyful to watch his movies as an audience member, the making was always grueling. He emphasized the constant pressure to top previous action sequences, despite advances in technology. Tiger Shroff was last seen in the film 'Baaghi 4', directed by Harsha, which featured a cast including Sanjay Dutt and Shreyas Talpade.
