I aspire to be a self-made actor: Vicky Kaushal

New Delhi: He may be the son of action director Shyam Kaushal but Vicky Kaushal fetched acclaim on the merit of his performance with debut "Masaan" and the actor says he wants to continue his film journey without using his father's credentials.

The 27-year-old actor had his fair share of struggle like going through the rounds of meeting people and auditioning, before he bagged his first film role. Vicky says he has seen his father go through the grind of showbiz before making a name for himself and he would like to take the same path to success.

"When I told my father that I wanted to join the film industry, he asked me if I was sure about it as acting is a very insecure profession. He also asked me if my reason to join the same profession like him was to have an easy road. I said no," Vicky told PTI during a visit here.

"I have seen his struggle, he never hid his struggle from us. He made sure we know how he has reached where he is today and the hardships and sacrifices that have gone in."

However, Vicky said his father has assured him that he will always be there to guide him in his career, but only as a parent and not help him get opportunities.
"My father said he will always support me but just not as an action director. It is a deal between both of us. He is an inspiration because he is a self-made man. I want to set that same example for my kids. I will fight it out," he said.

Growing up, Vicky did not have the typical star kid environment at home. Nor was he star-struck and almost never visited his father on sets, except for that one time when he went to see his favourite actor Hrithik Roshan while he was filming "Fiza" with Shyam.

"When I was growing up, my father never got his profession to the house. We didn't discuss films on the dinning table. I wasn't the star obsessed person. I never wanted to meet stars at film sets. There was just one time I went on the sets because Hrithik was shooting. He was my favourite, he still is. But I got bored by the evening," he said.

Vicky never even wanted to join showbiz as he had his life sorted as an engineering student, but found his calling in films just before starting his job and decided to give it a shot.

"My father expected me to go to US and do my post graduation. But I felt acting was my calling. I knew I had to struggle for 5-10 years but I didn't want to reach 35 and regret that I did not take the plunge."

Vicky, who is gearing up for the release of his second film "Zubaan", which hits theatres tomorrow, said he does not feel like a star yet, although he is overwhelmed by the love showered on him by the industry, critics and audience. "I don't feel like a star. I am overwhelmed with the love and acceptance I got and it has motivated me to push my own limits. As an actor it is my deliberate choice to explore and test myself."