Grazia India's February issue turns the spotlight on Veer Pahariya, who made his big Bollywood debut alongside Akshay Kumar in the action-drama Sky Force. It may be Veer’s first film, but his journey as a performer began at the age of five when he fell in love with dance and the stage. In this exclusive cover feature, Veer reflects on his path so far, sharing how, as a first-generation artist in his family, the absence of an industry legacy only fueled his determination to forge his own identity. Known for celebrating individuality and ambition, Grazia India provides the perfect platform for his story, one of passion, resilience and breaking boundaries.

For his role as a Squadron Leader in Sky Force, Veer underwent a transformative process to embody the mindset of a fighter pilot. Recalling the process, he shares, “I needed a lot of emotional training to get into the psyche of a fighter pilot. I did a lot of workshops and spent a lot of time in solitude to get to know myself better.”

Talking about staying true to himself, he says, “I really don’t care what anyone thinks. I’m here to have a voice, and in an occupation where everyone is trying to shoot you down for being different, I want to maintain that throughout my career.”

Opening up about his deep fascination for biopics, Veer shares, “I really enjoy biopics because I get to dive into the character I’m playing. It also scares me to get into the shoes of people who are recognised and followed – that is something that excites me.”

But his journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Having faced media scrutiny from an early age, Veer remains unfazed by the noise. He says, “I’ve seen a lot of ups and downs in my family and personal life. I’ve had bad things written about me in the press since I was very young. The good, the bad – nothing affects me. I want to work and make a name for myself. So, I cut the noise and focus on myself.”

With an insatiable hunger for new experiences, Veer constantly seeks opportunities to reach his limits and wants to embrace roles that demand emotional and physical extremes. He remarks, “I like experiencing different things and pulling myself to extremes; so, I quite enjoyed living the life of a fighter pilot.”