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Another son rise Vaibhav Anand to debut in Petrol Pump

One would have thought being part of a film family was passport enough for the next generation to enter films. Vaibhav Anand was drawn towards films rather late.“I watched films as a child, but was never influenced by the work of my dad (Vijay Anand) or uncles (Chetan and Dev Anand),”recalls the 26-year-old, who will join Bollywood this year with “Petrol Pump”, “a romantic drama with several layers to it. The story was originally written by uncle Chetan . This film is his son and my cousin Ketan’s interpretation.”

Vaibhav was bitten by the acting bug during his final year in school. “I opted to act in a play. I was adjudged the best actor. I discovered that I was inclined towards acting. When I discussed this with dad, he wanted me to also learn direction.

He said I’d become a good actor if I knew direction and vice versa,” he says. Vaibhav assisted Sooraj Barjatya in “Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon” before going to the Lee Strasburg Theatre and Film Institute in New York. “I returned after my course, and a week later dad passed away.

I’ve been on my own since then. I assisted Ravi Chopra for ‘Baabul’ later on.”

Getting a launch pad is not easy despite family connections, he cites. “I didn’t have to stand in a line outside the offices of producers and directors and got appointments easily. But no one signs you unless you are talented,” he says. In “Petrol Pump”, he plays a youngster from Mumbai. “In these weeks of pre production, I’ve become closer to Ketan bhaiyya. Though much older than me (65); we’ve become friends.”

Vaibhav picks “Tere Mere Sapne” and “Teesri Manzil” as his favourites among dad’s films. An instant confidence booster now is uncle Dev Anand.

“When I feel low, I drive down to his place and in two minutes, he makes me feel fresh and vibrant. At 84, he walks faster than most people, breathes every minute of his life and makes me feel 19 again. I remember what he always says, ‘Hum zindagi mein kabhi haar nahin maney’.”

SANGEETHA DEVI DUNDOO

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