From the Editor's desk: Ahan Shetty – chip off the old block

By Mark Manuel

on October 28, 2021 03:52:15 PM

And, good luck and God bless to young Ahan Shetty. He’s the son of my good friends Mana and Suniel Shetty, that handsome and perfect couple. The trailer of Ahan’s Bollywood debut Tadap released yesterday. It was done on Twitter by Amitabh Bachchan. With the same paternal pride that Bachchan Sr. must have felt when his son Abhishek stepped into Bollywood in 2000 with Refugee.

If the trailer had to release in theatres, the frontbenchers would have applauded wildly and whistled when Ahan enters the screen. All 6 feet 2 inches of him. Bare bodied and bearded. Looking lean, mean and muscled, he’s the villain and also the hero in Tadap, and you can easily figure out which character Ahan is playing in the trailer itself. This boy can act. He’s got swag, intensity, a presence.

Tadap': All you need to know about Ahan Shetty and Tara Sutaria's action film | The Times of India

Ahan’s lucky, he’s got the gorgeous and vivacious Tara Sutaria opposite him. And he’s even more lucky because producer Sajid Nadiadwala has included tender love moments, kisses and some sizzling hot scenes for them. When Ahan’s father and Bollywood’s original muscle man Suniel Shetty debuted with Balwaan in 1992, heroes chased the heroine around trees while flowers did the kissing.

May be an image of 2 people, beard, people standing and sunglasses

This has been a week of trailer launches. John Abraham with Satyameva Jayate 2 and Salman Khan with Antim: The Final Truth. Both masala films and hardcore thrillers whose heroes strip to the waist for action. Ahan does that too. And he’s cut out for action, you can see, he packs a punch in his fight scenes and in his dialogue delivery. Audiences returning to theatres will get paisa vasool on December 3.

I’m looking forward to Tadap although I don’t know Ahan. Last time I saw him he was four and sitting on the floor next to his father watching TV at home. Both in kurta-pajamas. Proud mama Mana asked me, “Don’t they look alike even from behind?” And they did. Now it’s time for Ahan to step out from behind his father. “But he’s still my boy,” Suniel told me in a voice choked with emotion and pride.