A sneak-peek into the life of Jimmy Shergill, the 'intense' actor

Meet the critically acclaimed actor Jimmy Shergill and his wife Priyanka - they have chosen to live a quiet life on the edge of largerthan-life Bollywood.

He looks every bit as debonair and enigmatic as he does on screen, stubble and all. She is vivacious and beautiful. Together, Jimmy Shergill and Priyanka make a striking couple, comfortable in their 14-yearold marriage with the chemistry still showing through. It's a hot day in Mumbai when we meet. But there are no complaints from our stars. Priyanka has done her makeup and hair already - the usual chattering entourage of star wives is missing. Soon, in walks Jimmy, casually attired in a yellow T-shirt and jeans, looking not a day older than 30. For a moment, I scramble to check my notes - is he really 45?

Jimmy Shergill with his wife

Roles That Defined Him
Jimmy Shergill is a "different" actor. The roles he plays stays in memory regardless of the length, and the sometimes even the movie: The explosive debut in Maachis (1996) where he plays terrorist Jaimal Singh was followed by a slew of meaty roles - cancer patient Zaheer in Munna Bhai M.B.B.S (2003); the "innocent" college student of Haasil (2003); captain Aman in Yahaan (2005) (which he says was his 'most heart-wrenching film'); inspector Arif Khan of the critically acclaimed A Wednesday (2008); the neglected "normal" sibling Zakir Khan in My Name Is Khan (2010); rebuffed lover Raja in Tanu Weds Manu (2011) and the power-hungry Raja of Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster (2011) that garnered rave reviews and fetched him various nominations as Best Actor. Jimmy has always chosen the "atypical" - despite the risks. Says the actor: 'I began with Maachis, a Gulzar film dealing with a serious issue. Thus, it moulded me in a certain way. It has a beautiful story… close to my heart and I enjoyed every moment. Now when a script comes my way, I look for that "wow" factor.' His next big hit was Mohabaatein (2000) - star-studded with a huge budget - the typical masala mix. Jimmy says this was breaking fresh ground for him. 'Working with Aditya Chopra was very different. It was another learning arena. I love the regular song-and-dance roles too.'

Jimmy Shergill with his son

The "Intense" Tag With Haasil, A Wednesday and Yahaan, this Patiala-bred actor's name became synonymous with intense characters. He did try to mix meaty roles with the regular chocolate-boy-types (Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai, 2002) - he felt this would offset stereotyping. However, things did not go as planned. 'People believe that they need to approach me with a "serious" script. But I want to do lighthearted roles as well… You need to have fun too. The intense characters drain you; they take a lot out of you.' Jimmy is articulate and prefers to speak in English for the most part. As our conversation proceeds, I learn exactly how patient he is - no question is frivolous; every answer is thought through carefully.

Punjabi Tadka
Jimmy had become the darling of the vast Punjabi diaspora since 2005, when he debuted in a Punjabi film, Yaaran Naal Baharan, directed by Manmohan Singh (cinematographer for Maachis), Jimmy's close friend. The actor confesses that he did this film for the "heck of it" - it was more of a vacation, spending 40 days with extended families and close cousins in Punjab. But the success of the film led him to dabble in producing Punjabi films. At that time, the Punjabi film industry was small and disorganised. In 2010, with Mel Karade Rabba, Jimmy hit the jackpot. The film grossed Rs 10.5 crores - it was made at a meagre budget of  Rs 2.8 crores. It was then that Bollywood really sat up and took notice. He says: 'Slowly, the Punjabi film industry began expanding and leading technicians from all over India poured in for work. Now, I make (produces and acts in it) one film every year.'

Childhood memories

The Real Romance
At the centre of Jimmy's world is his wife Priyanka. Very little is known about her - and that's the way this 37-year-old likes it - 'That's good!' she quips. Priyanka is originally from a typical Punjabi business family in Delhi. She studied at Mater Dei School and later did her graduation from Jesus and Mary College. An interior and product designer by profession, Priyanka is happily settled into the homemaker's role for the moment.

They first met at Jimmy's cousin's wedding in Delhi where he noticed her among a bevy of beauties. Her energy attracted him instantly and he shared his "love-at-first-sight" moment with his cousin. 'My cousin mentioned it to her sister and she in turn told Priyanka. Her answer was "no". At that time, I had just wrapped up shooting for Maachis and had come to spend time with family and attend the wedding. Then, two days before I was to return to Mumbai, my cousin planned a surprise meeting with her in a coffee shop. Here's where we broke the ice and got talking...' recounts Jimmy. But there were hiccups. He was in Mumbai, shooting back-to-back, and she was in Delhi - the courtship progressed over endless phone conversations and flying to and fro. Priyanka says she never felt insecure even though Jimmy was young, handsome and single in the film industry, spending time with beautiful women round-the-clock.

Family time!

They knew exactly what the other was doing every second of every day. And Jimmy till date, despite his engaging looks and screen appeal, has not been linked with any of his female costars. Jimmy says, 'I had decided that I would be responsible from the beginning of our relationship. If she didn't like something, I would just give it up. Small adjustments is our formula for a happy relationship.' And so went by four years - and it was the time to break the news to her parents. Jimmy's parents had no objections; they were from similar backgrounds - Punjabi, well-to-do families. But Priyanka's parents would not hear of it: 'An actor? Never!' - was her father's diktat. Says Priyanka: 'It took time to convince my father to at least meet Jimmy... Finally, my elder sister somehow managed a meeting.' Jimmy adds a word - 'I had met her mother, so it was just about melting her father.' Then came the historic meeting with such results that led them to tying the knot within six months. Jimmy's charm and commitment towards the relationship had worked its magic. He was 30 and she 24.

A Complete Family Man
In the initial years of their marriage, Priyanka travelled with Jimmy on his film shoots but did not visit the sets. 'Once I went and sat there for the whole day… It was so boring!' she says. But what hit her was just how tough the business of entertainment is really. It was far from song and dance, she realised, with new-found respect for what her husband did for a living. 'It's tiring! The heat, all the posing, display of emotions… I really don't know how Jimmy does this all the time!' Veer was born three years later. Priyanka took a break from travelling till he was six months and then she was back with Jimmy. It was only after their son started going to school that she stayed home when the actor went on location shoots. Jimmy says that he is happiest and most secure when his family is around. He's not into partying and heads home when the day's work is done.

With wife who is the star at home

'I don't go out unless I am promoting a film or doing promotions for a friend. And only on rare occasions does Priyanka make an appearance,' says Jimmy explaining her absence on red carpets. In fact, Jimmy was surprised when his media-shy wife agreed to the GH shoot. 'Well, I feel as if I have begun to date him again through the romantic poses we struck,' laughs Priyanka. Both are great models - sporting and fit. Says Jimmy: 'I begin my day with exercise. I follow my fitness schedule very seriously. But the most important thing is diet. I always prefer homecooked food, even while shooting. Nowadays, I have my own cook even on offsite shoots. I prefer to ask my friends to come home for dinners. Going out is usually rare for me.' Priyanka puts in her thought too, 'Jimmy likes good food. So I have to make sure the food that is prepared for him is always healthy and tasty.'

The Homely Star Wife
Priyanka is a complete homemaker, a hand-on mother, indulging her creativity on the side. 'Jimmy has never stopped me from anything. He is the most considerate husband one can ask for. Staying home has been my decision. I didn't want Veer, my son, to come home to an empty house after school.' With both sets of grandparents away (one in Delhi, other in Punjab), her being a full-time homemaker made sense to the couple. Not that Jimmy is not a hands-on father. The doting dad claims that Veer (now 11 years) has a busier schedule than him and starts his day much earlier too. 'My role has reduced now… only when the mother and son have a major tiff, do I intervene to make peace,' he jests. Just as we are talking about him, Veer walks in and it takes but a glance to ascertain how wellbehaved this pre-teen is. Says Priyanka, 'I am always there for him to answer his questions. We share a friendly relationship. He never sits with me to study; he manages that on his own. He knows his boundaries; I have kept him grounded without making any conscious effort,' she explains. The father had a parenting tip to share too: 'Keep the child busy and respect him. Only then will he respect you.'

The wedding day

Generally, Jimmy and Priyanka lead a regular family life - with a usual spattering of fun and feast - the family has just returned from 30-day trip to Vancouver where they had a great time with cousins and friends. Jimmy was there shooting for a film.

The Way Ahead
This year Jimmy appears in three children's films, a Bollywood comedy and a Punjabi love story. 'During the shooting of these films, I realised how much I was enjoying the 'light' roles. I love children and these films were an eye-opener,' he says. Does that mean "intense days" are over - 'No no, that is part of my being, I can't give that up!'

Jimmy's Mantras For A Successful Marriage
Be responsible: I have always tried to be true to my word. If I have said I will be home by a particular time, I will make sure I am home. If not, I will give her a call and inform her about the changes. I will never keep her waiting for hours without a word.
Space: Giving space to each other builds a strong and loving relationship. If I try to dictate, we will not last together even for a week!
Respect: The most important ingredient in a marriage, never demean each other. n Detach from work: Don't discuss work unless something major has happened. When at home, spend time with family. Involve yourself in domesticities. It will relax you.