What’s in a name
Sylvester Stallone with his son Sage in Rocky V (1990)
Action hero Sylvester Stallone’s son Sage was recently found dead in his Hollywood home after overdosing on pills. It’s a tragic story of a son not being able to step out of his famous father’s shadow.
According to some, the strained relationship between Stallone and his son could have been a cause for this sad end. In India too, star sons have had their share of trouble, be it Fardeen Khan and his drug case or even Salman Khan and his many run-ins with the law.
Actor Tilak, feels things could be different if approached with the right attitude. He says, “It’s an advantage to have a successful father. It definitely gives you the edge.” As for the inevitable comparisons, he sees them as a test. “Pressure is something you can deal with if you really have it in you,” he says.
Bharath MC, who runs his own production house in Bengaluru, says, “For regular people, success is very subjective but when you are a movie star, it is measured by the number of hits you’ve had. A star son should have the freedom to choose his own path. At the same time, I feel why not take advantage of the help that your father can give you launching your career. I’m no celebrity and I work in a very different field from my dad but he shares his knowledge and resources with me. He is the financial consultant for my company.” The youngster adds, “If a father is supportive, there is less ego, more respect for him and slowly, the relationship evolves to a friendship.”
According to psychologist Dr Anand Rao, idolising the father starts at a very early age. “Why do we see so many sons following or trying to follow in their father’s footsteps? Not just actors, take doctors, engineers, CAs...” he says adding, “Only when the son is able to outgrow the idolisation and become his own person, whether in the same field or not, can he succeed.”
“What carries you through is how secure you are in your own identity,” says musician Naveen Thomas of Galeej Gurus. “Everybody is trying to live up to somebody’s standard, be it a father, brother, uncle... A lot of people feel the need to match up to expectations and it’s more difficult when you’re in the limelight. That’s why it’s the father’s responsibility to establish a relationship where the son is comfortable being himself.”
The responsibility lies with the father in the formative years, sums up IT professional Santhosh Rao, “But in the end, it’s up to you whether you want to break free of the shackles or live in the shadow.”
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