Tiger Shroff Fronts Esquire India’s Digital Cover in a Sharp New Avatar

Even before the actor,35, with a physique that looks carved out of commitment, made his debut in Heropanti (2014), Tiger Shroff had already made an impression. While preparing for Dhoom 3, Aamir Khan turned to the then-aspiring actor for fitness advice. It was a telling moment. Long before his first scene on camera, Shroff was known for his control, consistency, and quiet work ethic.

Now, over a decade into the industry, that consistency remains his signature.

Born Jai Hemant Shroff to actor Jackie Shroff and producer Ayesha Dutt, he grew up around the film industry but never leaned into legacy. Instead, he carved out his own path with a work ethic that’s become its own thing. A fifth-degree black belt in Taekwondo, a lifelong vegetarian who avoids smoking and alcohol, and someone who continues to train daily, even when not filming, Tiger is an example of what a disciplined life can offer- peak physical health, a sculpted frame, and unwavering focus to achieve success.

Shroff emerged at a time when the Bollywood action romance genre was leaning heavily on spectacle. Instead of leaning into the spectacle bit and heavily relying on the stuntman, Tiger quickly established himself as the go-to name for action done right—technical, disciplined, and visually compelling.

From Heropanti and Baaghi to War opposite his childhood hero Hrithik Roshan to the upcoming sequel in the Baaghi franchise, Baaghi 4, where as Ronny the actor is set for a darker, more intense narrative, departing from the urban action style of its predecessors, Shroff has delivered a kind of physicality that is both intense and technically precise.

Outside of cinema, he’s no less committed. In 2019, he co-founded Matrix Fight Night, now one of India’s most promising MMA platforms. In 2024, he launched Mumbay FC, a football club competing in the Mumbai Premier League where he’s also signed on as a player. It’s a rare thing to see a mainstream actor walk onto a football pitch not as a celebrity guest, but as a registered athlete.

And that's not all. With his athleticism and the blend of acrobatics, martial arts as his language, dance is where Tiger truly speaks. There’s an unmistakable ease in the way he moves. It is fluid, controlled, and technically near-perfect. Not just choreography, but rhythm, musicality, and presence.

Trained from a young age and heavily influenced by icons like Michael Jackson and Hrithik Roshan, Tiger not only hits the beat, he becomes it. His performances in songs including Beat Pe Booty, Jai Jai Shivshankar, and Whistle Baja 2.0 are part of his storytelling toolkit and treats it like craft.

And through it all, he’s remained grounded—soft-spoken, rarely reactive, and always focused on the next move. So much of Tiger Shroff’s journey has been about showing up quietly, consistently, and without distraction. In doing so, he’s built a presence that doesn’t rely on noise, but on trust of skill, of effort, of staying in motion.

That’s why Tiger Shroff is Esquire India’s digital cover star. The cover is here.

The rest will be unveiled soon.

Credits

Chairperson: Avarna Jain

COO: Jamal Shaikh

Editor: Rahul Gangwani

Styling and Creative Direction: Vijendra Bhardwaj

Photography: Taras Taraporvala

Editorial Mentor: Saira Menezes

Managing Editor: Sonal Nerurkar

Deputy Editor: Mayukh Majumdar

Words: Team Esquire India

Hair: Amit Yashwant

Grooming: Rahul Kothavale

Fashion Team: Komal Shetty

Bookings Editor: Varun Shah

Production: P Productions

Media Consultant: Universal Communications

Esquire India Editorial: Saurav Bhanot, Nitin Sreedhar, Prannay Pathak, Abhya Adlakha, Rudra Mulmule, Riti Ghai, Kashish Mishra