Heropanti 2: Tiger does not roar, but croons, courtesy A.R. Rahman

Heropanti 2: Tiger does not roar, but croons, courtesy A.R. Rahman

Young, macho, human weapon and dazzling dancer Tiger Shroff has sung a song in his latest film, Heropanti 2, titles Miss Hairaan. Is that taking you by surprise and making you hairan? It shouldn’t, because this is not the first time that Tiger has ventured into musical territory. Jai Hemant ‘Tiger’ Shroff has lent his voice to a handful of tracks, including Casanova and Vande Mataram, which got very popular as music videos too. Ah, but yes, this number is his film song debut, and is obviously picturised on him, and his co-star, Tara Sutaria!

After the encouraging reception to the trailer, and the previous tracks released, from producer Sajid Nadiadwala’s Heropanti 2, the team has released the latest song, ‘Miss Hairan,’ with vocals by none other than Tiger. The track, composed by A. R. Rahman, has been choreographed by Ahmed Khan (concept) and Rahul Shetty (execution).

The team of Heropanti 2, including leads Tiger Shroff and Tara Sutaria, and director Ahmed Khan, showcased ‘Miss Hairan’ to the media, at INOX Inorbit, Malad, suburban Mumbai, on 08 April, treating them to the track, brimming with pop LED colors and a cutting-edge, new-age vibe, on the big screen. It was a throbbing number, with dozens of black clad dancers doing robotics, almost like the real machines. At the event, Tiger spoke about how this was a special moment in his career, with Sajid Nadiadwala, having launched him both as an actor in Heropanti and as a singer in Heropanti 2.

After films like Baaghi 2 and Baaghi 3, the trio of trio Sajid Nadiadwala, Tiger Shroff and director Ahmed Khan are now looking to push the envelope and set a new benchmark in action, with Heropanti 2. This time around, the sequel of the blockbuster, which comes eight years later, has been mounted on a huge budget and will witness never-seen-before action.

At the event, Tiger was dressed to reveal only a flash of his toned physique, while Tara wore a costume that left, very, very little to the imagination. Although he insisted that he was shy by nature, Tiger agreed to sing a few lines from the song, with the audience joining in the chorus. With the signs of arrival of his tenth film in eight years, his fan following was palpable. Indeed, his persona remains an enigma, with his on screen exploits being swag personified, while he is a man of few words in real life, even confessing that he is ‘shy’.

During the Covid lockdown, he took some music lessons and releases a few songs on Youtube. The song ‘Hairan’ refers to the wonderstruck look on Tara’s face which perplexes Babloo (Tiger), and he makes a song about his Miss Hairan (Tara Sutaria in her fourth film; she had worked with Tiger in Student of the Year 2). It is written by Rahman’s favourite lyricist, Mehboob. A.R. Rahman co-ordinated with the team on ZOOM, from Chennai, and Tiger managed to record the song without preparation and rehearsals. In a video, screened before the formal launch, Rahman has praised the effort of Tiger, though a few media-persons, including this writer, felt that he still needs to learn the ropes. But he has a soft, crooning voice.

Talking about the song, Ahmed Khan, the short, a bit stocky, choreographer-turned-director, was one of the dance directors on Rangeela (1995), at the age of 21, said that lyrics were a source of great inspiration. He was worried whether the overkill of LED lights might make the song look gaudy, but after seeing it picturised, he felt that the LED lighting was just right. In answer to a question by this writer, he said that he paces the choreography and the dances on the 1, 2, 3, 4 beat cycle and never cuts on 1, 2, 3. Among Ahmed Khan’s notable works are Taal, Ghajini, and Kick. He also directed Lakeer – Forbidden Lines, and the comedy Fool n Final. He wrote and produced Paathshaala and Ek Paheli Leela, both films he co-produced with his wife, Shaira. His last directorial venture was Baaghi 2.

To enliven the proceedings, the lady compère (unnamed) conducted a game, promising the winners goodies. There was a Tiger team, comprising him and three members of the audience, and the Tara team, chosen likewise. Ahmed Khan was made the judge. He cracked a few jokes, and then declared both teams the joint winners. Both Tiger and Tara agreed that Ahmed had a whacky sense of humour and could make anybody break into a laugh, howsoever a bad mood the other person might have been in.

Tiger was asked whether he is now going to try and become another Mohammed Rafi or a Kishore Kumar, and he replied that he had no such delusions. Whenever he passed his father’s room, he could hear Rafi and Kishore songs, as well as poet Gulzar’s tracks (he has recited many), they being his father (Jackie Shroff’s) favourites, and he really admired their talent. Tara too is fond of singing, and revealed that both she and Tiger kept humming on the sets all the while. Adding a hilarious touch to the event, Tiger revealed that he had been taking singing lessons during the lockdown, and they included a warming up exercise that consisted of a gargling/yodelling like sound at rising pitch. He led the audience in doing a demonstration of the same.

Although he is not in the song, one missed the presence of Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who plays the villain and goes by the name of, hold your breath, Laila!

The movie is scheduled to release in theatres on 29th April, 2022, on the auspicious occasion of Eid. Heropanti 2’s ‘Miss Hairan’ is out now!

Song link: https://youtu.be/eKzE2JbIIIg