Salman Khan`s new apple of the eye Sooraj Pancholi after Sonakshi Sinha and Arjun Kapoor wants to be a lover boy and not an action star.

Son of Aditya Pancholi who once had a short stint of romanticisms with today`s top paid actress Kangana Ranaut is making his debut in Hero` - the remake of Subash Ghai`s 1983 musical blockbuster of the same name that introduced Jackie Shroff to the industry.

When quipped why he wants to be a romantic hero, pats comes the reply, "Life of a romantic hero is long, you have more songs and following`. Given a choice between an actioner or a romance, I will opt for romance` says the debutant who is getting introduced along with Sunil Shetty`s daughter Athiya in Eros International and Salman Khan productions Hero` directed by Nikhil Advani.

Denying any involvement of his father Aditya`s relationship with Salman Khan.. the actor appeared a bit shy in this interview and reveals that he always wanted to be an actor but was shy to express it to anyone not even his father.

Assisting Kabir Khan in 'Ek Tha Tiger' gave Sooraj the dream opportunity where Salman spotted the talent in him and decided to launch him as a 'Hero`.

Giving all credit to his mentor Salman Khan Sooraj is aware of the responsibility that comes along with his launch.

Am not feeling any pressure, I have Salman Khan`s blessings and he was the one who helped our entire family - my father, my mother, my sister during the Jiah Khan trauma. He has put his shoulders on me and told me to be your own`. We have given our best and Hero` is our dream, our baby..

Am secure with Salman Khan around as a mentor, producer.. what else would you ask for. My family came to know about Hero` through me. After I heard the narration, I spoke to my mom and dad, I said, Mujhe yeh film karni hai` nobody from my family have spoken to Salman Khan for me. My father is also in the film and I came to know about that on the set while shooting..

Sounding optimistic about the remake Sooraj has watched the original and says they have modernized the settings but the screenplay is mostly the same. With omission of couple of characters and shortening the length to around 2 hours from the original 3 hours Sooraj hopes that the emotions will work again like they did in 1983.

On Jackie`s son Tiger Heropanti` which used the iconic flute from the original as the element and the probable comparison and competition Sooraj is open and says, "I am a fair dancer and yes comparisons will be there as both have connections with Hero` in a way or the other. Tiger is Jackie Shroff`s son and his debut was called Heropanti` mine is Hero`. Tiger has proved himself as a fabulous dancer in the film lets see how audience react after seeing Hero`.

When further quipped on his strong points that will make him stand in any competition, an honest simple reply comes from Sooraj, he says, "My strong points will be pointed out after the release of the film, I have not seen the entire film and when it is out my mother, father and the audience will find my strong points".

"Yes comparisons with Tiger are inevitable we both are in the same age group and star kids and I welcome that. Competition toh zaroori hai ( it`s a must). On personal front Tiger and me are childhood buddies and sometimes we laugh out loud when we hear rumours of tiff between us."

Fair enough.. when asked what did Salman Khan see in him to offer a film,Sooraj innocently says, "I don,t know`, I have asked him what did you see in me and Salman sir replied you don,t worry about this.. Just be your own."

A dream launch even for a star kid, a mentor and a producer in Salman Khan plus backing of a corporate production giant like Eros, a trusted director like Nikhil Advani and already a chartbuster in Main Hu Hero Tera` with more to climb.. Hero` seems to be safe but still Sooraj is prepared for any unfortunately unfavorable results, he says, "If anything goes wrong, I will take it as a destiny, bad timing, the unfavorable result won,t dampen my spirit and will continue my hard work, we know we have given our best`.

Seems the Jiah Khan trauma is finally over, Sooraj has come out strong as a Hero` and is looking forward to good sunny happy days ahead.. but Sooraj doesn,t believe that his dark days are over, Dark days are not over, they will come back in one way or the another but am prepared and nobody can take back my hard work`..

Finally Sooraj sounds like a Hero` as we sign off.. the debutant who began this conversation as a shy newcomer emerges as a confident newcomer the Hero` we would like to see.