Sooraj Pancholi is stepping back into the spotlight after a long and difficult chapter in his life. The actor, who was acquitted last year in the abetment of suicide case related to the death of actor Jiah Khan, is making his return to the big screen with the period action drama Kesari Veer. At the trailer launch of the film, Sooraj got candid about his emotional struggles, how he stayed grounded, and the role his family played in helping him heal.
‘My heart is clean,’ says Sooraj
Reflecting on the turbulent past decade, Sooraj said, “Dekho, dil saaf hai mera… aur jo log mujhe jaante hai, woh jaante hai ki mera dil saaf hai.” (Look, I have a clean heart… and the people who know me, know that.) He spoke about how the support from his mother Zarina Wahab and sister was what kept him going. “They never let me lose hope,” he added.
The actor, who made his Bollywood debut in 2015 with Hero, had been largely absent from the big screen since his last theatrical release in 2021. He explained that the break wasn’t something he chose, but something life demanded. “Many things had to be cleared from my life,” he said. “My mother always told me — achhi cheezein time leti hain. (Good things take time.) I was waiting for the right film, and I believe Kesari Veer is the one.”
Gym for the mind, not the body
Sooraj shared that staying mentally strong was a huge focus during the toughest times. While many assume his regular gym sessions were about physical fitness, the actor revealed otherwise. “People think I go to the gym for the body, but I go for my mind. It helped me stay focused and strong.”
Talking about his journey ahead, Sooraj said, “There’s a long way to go… jab itna jhel liya, toh aage bhi dekh lenge.” (If I’ve endured this much, I’ll face what’s ahead too.) He appeared calm and composed as he spoke, ready to start fresh without bitterness.
Directed by a yet-to-be-announced filmmaker, Kesari Veer also stars Suniel Shetty, Vivek Oberoi, and Akanksha Sharma. The period action drama promises grandeur, grit, and a powerful story, with Sooraj in a warrior avatar.

Back in 2013, Sooraj Pancholi’s life took a tragic turn when he was arrested after the death of his then-girlfriend Jiah Khan. The case garnered nationwide attention, especially after a note from Jiah, shared by her family, suggested their relationship had taken a toll on her. Sooraj consistently denied all allegations, maintaining his innocence and calling himself a scapegoat. After 22 days in jail, he was released on bail. In 2018, he was officially charged, and in April 2023, a special CBI court acquitted him due to lack of evidence.

Following the verdict, Sooraj posted on Instagram, writing, “The truth always wins,” with the hashtag #GodIsGreat.

Neha Kakkar’s recent live concert in Melbourne has sparked a major controversy after she broke down on stage, having arrived three hours late for the show. The unprofessional delay left the audience restless, and they reportedly asked her to leave. However, she apologised and became emotional on stage over the inconvenience.
Later, she clarified that the organisers had not paid her team and had denied them basic necessities such as accommodation, meals, and drinking water.
Australian organisers react to the issue
However, the Australian organisers — Pace D and Bikram Singh Randhawa — have now come forward with a different version of events, casting doubt on Neha’s claims. Speaking to Siddharth Kannan, the two organisers stated that the singer had agreed to perform at two back-to-back events — one in Sydney and another in Melbourne — under the same production company.
They shared that the Sydney leg of the tour was a success, attracting between 1,500 and 2,000 attendees. In contrast, the Melbourne concert drew only around 700 people. They admitted that the crowd was upset with her for making them wait so long, especially since many fans had paid approximately 300 AUD (around Rs16,000) for tickets.

According to them, Neha refused to go on stage after seeing the limited audience turnout and insisted that the venue be filled before she would perform. “What I was told by the organiser was that she said, ‘There are just 700 people, so until you fill up the stadium, I won’t perform,’” they alleged.
Neha had earlier claimed that the organisers failed to conduct a proper sound check and did not pay the sound engineers, resulting in technical delays. However, the organisers countered that the equipment had been fully operational earlier in the event. “Everyone performed, and all the setup was complete. I don’t think what she said is true,” they responded.
Pace D and Bikram also claimed that all necessary arrangements had been made. They confirmed that she had been provided with suitable accommodation and luxurious travel vehicles in Australia. “Even before the artiste flies to Australia, they are fully paid. She was 100 per cent paid in advance — this is something very basic in Australia,” they added.

They further clarified that a hotel had been reserved and transportation arranged. In their defence, the organisers stressed that due to the low turnout and Neha’s delay, the event suffered major financial setbacks, with reported losses amounting to 500,000 AUD.
Anyway, Neha’s team has not reacted to these claims as of now.
Neha’s initial reaction
Neha’s first reaction, following the viral video of her crying on stage, read: “Do you know that I performed absolutely free for my Melbourne audience? The organisers ran away with my money and others’ too. My band was not even given food, a hotel, or even water. Do you know our sound check was delayed by hours because the sound vendor was not paid and refused to switch the sound on? And when, after so much delay, our sound check finally began, I could not reach the venue. We didn’t even know if the concert was happening, as the organisers stopped taking my manager’s calls.”