Exclusive: ‘I proposed to her from a 150 feet high rappelling wall,’ reveals Vidyut Jammwal about engagement

Vidyut Jammwal/PR image

Vidyut Jammwal known for action films like Commando, Junglee and his latest Sanak, reveals to mid-day.com that he prefers watching romantic movies. Vidyut also speaks about his proposal to Nandita Mahtani and turning producer with his production house Action Hero Films.

Your film Sanak just released. What are the reactions you are getting?
The number one reaction is that I have surpassed what I have done in the past and it's good to hear that from people. I'm excited that people have seen a change in how we have presented action on a global platform. Whenever Vipul Shah has an idea, I usually go and listen to it without wasting time. This was a film we shot in a closed environment considering Covid times, so it sounded safe and I've watched Kanishk Varma's work before. So to me, it sounded right. I knew there is potential to perform phenomenal action in a confined place, so I was excited about that. I wanted to use everything available around me in the environment to fight and that's what worked for the movie as well.

It's been a long association with Vipul. What is it that has you two working together so often?
He's watched my journey as a human being and an actor. I feel proud because when I came to Mumbai, people told me you can't make friends here. Vipul and I have broken this myth, whether our films have done well or average.

Now that you are turning producer, any tips from him?
Everything! So now I've put myself in his shoes and I realise this is what he's been so busy with. I respect producers more because of the awareness I have.

Was producing films always the plan?
Life's been so kind that I can't say I had planned it. When I came to Mumbai, I had no idea I would make it as an actor. I knew I would be a stunt man, but actor was a faraway dream. When I see people around me, I realise there's so much talent around me that has not been tapped just because we don't see them in the social circle. There are some introverts too, why not give them a chance? If I see talent, I approach them to do something together. This is how I got Sankalp Reddy for IB71. I had watched his work and thought, 'Wow, what a filmmaker!' Then he won a National award for Ghazi, but never worked in Hindi cinema. I flew to Hyderabad to meet him without any agenda. It's just that he's a quiet human being.

Your forte is action, but any genre that you haven't tried yet and would like to?
The answer would be in two parts. First - Action. There's so much that is yet unexplored. The human physical ability can inspire people and I still have to get there. Human beings can be superheroes if you know how to harness. After Khuda Haafiz, I've tasted blood of doing cinema with great meaning and stories. I'm excited to see what comes my way in any genre.

What's next?
I'm currently working on IB71. I have another movie with Aditya Dutt. I've finished about 80 percent of Khuda Haafiz 2.

Your engagement with Nandita Mahtani came as a surprise…
It was not a surprise engagement, it was completely planned. The only surprise was when I went to the Taj Mahal, there were so many people there. So people clicked pictures and posted it. So the picture came out before I announced it. You can't hide something being at the Taj Mahal, but it was just not the right time to announce. I proposed to her from a 150 feet high rappelling wall. I wanted to take her to an army camp to see where I had been raised. I had to do it according to where I came from. I feel very proud that I go to a wonder of the world and people are happy to see you also, you feel like an achiever. No matter how many people want pictures, if they get happiness why not?

Are you a romantic at heart?
I don't know many people who aren't romantic. It's an emotion we all have. I don't like watching action movies, I love doing action movies. The person who loves watching action movies is my mum, I didn't want to go down on my knees, that's boring. I'm the action star of India. It better be adventurous. We were harnessed at 150 feet, that's scary romance too.

Also Read: Three reasons why you shouldnt miss Vidyut Jammwal's Sanak