Mithun Chakraborty’s son MIMOH is set to step into his father’s dancing shoes...

What is this confusion about your debut film?

My debut was supposed to be He: The Only Man for which we had a huge launch. We even completed half of the film but then the producers had a rift. I started shooting for Jimmy next and for The Murderer. Now my debut film will be Jimmy.

Are there any plans of reviving He?

Talks are on.... I’m totally charged up for the film.

Why do you have a blond look in Jimmy?

The film is a thriller and I play a car engineer by day who is a DJ by night. My director Mr (Raj) Sippy wanted me to grow my hair and get a wacky colour to suit the character.

Has Jimmy been reshot?

As a newcomer, I have to see where I stand. After we saw Jimmy, we realised that something is missing somewhere so we added some scenes and deleted others. We also added two new songs.

Are you confident of Jimmy?

Jimmy has everything which I would want to showcase before an audience — be it fights or dance or emotions. I’m satisfied with the film. The story revolves around my character — a hard-working guy who manages to keep smiling through his troubles till a moment changes his life forever.

Mithun once said that the biggest competition for Abhishek is Amitabh. So is your biggest competition Mithun Chakraborty?

Last night, we saw a trial of Mithun’s latest film called Phir Kabhi and he has outdone himself.

You call your dad by his first name?

Yes, I always have. I am trying to emerge from this huge shadow. I can say Jimmy is my breakthrough from the shadow. But I will take 10-11 pictures to completely get out. Mithun has given so many powerful performances that comparisons in every shot are bound to happen. He is my biggest enemy. Mithun himself tells me: “I’m your biggest competition; if you pass me then you can pass anyone.” I know that I cannot be better than him but even if I reach where he is now, bas aur kuch nahin chahiye.

Does Mithun give you acting tips?

He never gives tips. He advises only when I go to him. He says, “You are my son... but don’t expect people to have mercy on you. Every individual works very hard to earn every single penny in life and if he wishes to spend that hard-earned money to see a film, you have to be worth that money.” He tells me that this is my own battle. He says he made it without any godfather and I can also do the same.

When did the acting bug bite you?

In 2000 when Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai made Hrithik an overnight phenomenon, there was a lot of news circulating about star sons. One day, B. Subhash called up Mithun saying he wanted to cast me. At that time, I was just 16 . I remember I was sitting in McDonald’s and having a burger when Mithun called about the offer. At that time I was doing astrophysics and trying to get into NASA, I had this huge body and I had never thought of doing films. But Mithun told me to give it a try. So I went on a diet and started working out. As my weight started reducing, my confidence kept on increasing. Side by side with my studies to become an astronomer, I was learning dancing and fighting.

Finally, Sanchita Chatterjee, the production head of Venus saw me when she came to sign dad for Elaan. I had just woken up. She told Ratan Jain of Venus about me and he specially came down to see me and signed me for Jimmy.

You say your dad doesn’t promote you, but didn’t he show your dance CD to Shah Rukh?

When Mithun was doing Om Shanti Om, He showed Shah Rukh the CD. Farah also saw the dance and she liked it too. After a couple of days, Shah Rukh personally called me. He said: “Come with (Mithun) Dada, I want to see your dance.”

Jigar Shah (BNS)

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