Actor Pallav Singgh, who recently shot to fame with his remarkable performance in Mirzapur 3, had the incredible opportunity to meet legendary screenwriters Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar. The occasion was the premiere of the much-anticipated documentary Angry Young Men, a tribute to the iconic duo who shaped Indian cinema with powerful dialogues and unforgettable characters. For Pallav, this encounter with the legendary actors was surely a dream come true moment. Growing up in Kota, where entertainment options were limited to video parlors, cable television, and FM radios, Pallav’s connection to cinema was deeply influenced by his father, who often recited dialogues from classic films. These were written by Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, which captivated young Pallav, who imagined the writers as larger-than-life superheroes, much like the ones he read about in comic books.
Reflecting on the journey, Pallav shared, “The modes of entertainment in Kota were limited when I was growing up. There were video parlors, television with cable networks, and FM radios. Amidst that, I remember my father reciting dialogues, which were immensely enamoring, and he told us, ‘It’s written by Salim-Javed.’ The kid I was, I imagined them to be superheroes like I used to read in the comic books—like Batman and Phantom. Years later, I performed ‘aaj khush toh bahut hoge tum’ in my NSD selection interview and got selected. The angry young men helped me vicariously.”
Pallav who witnessed the Angry Young Man documentary along with the legends says, “Angry Young Man is an arresting piece of work that everyone should watch just to see what a life well-lived looks like,” was an emotional experience for him.
But what made Pallav on cloud 9 was the inspiration and a few words of motivation that he got to hear from the legendary Javed Akhtar himself on his upcoming film Superboys of Malegaon and his looks he said, “Yeh film bahut naam kamaaegi jahan bhi jaaegi. Bas yeh masumiyat banaye rakhna, bahut tarakki karoge,” Javed Akhtar told Pallav, leaving the young actor blushing with pride and admiration.
Pallav, who wore a pink t-shirt to the event, humorously recalls that “My cheeks matched the color of my shirt while I was getting photographs clicked along with my childhood heroes. I thought of them as superheroes in my childhood and got assured that they truly are in my adulthood,” Pallav remarked, reflecting on the surreal experience.
For Pallav Singgh, this moment was not just a career milestone but a full-circle journey from a young boy in Kota, mesmerized by his father’s recitations, to an actor recognized and praised by the very legends who inspired him.
