'I am divorced…': 'Bad Man' Gulshan Grover says he emotionally blackmailed his son to leave Hollywood and return to India

Bollywood actor Gulshan Grover, famously called the industry’s ‘Bad Man’, Bollywood actor Gulshan Grover, famously known as the industry’s ‘Bad Man’, opened up about his son Sanjay Grover and their father-son bond in a recent conversation with Archana Puran Singh and her husband Parmeet Sethi. Speaking candidly, he revealed how Sanjay left a budding career in Hollywood to return to India and live with him after his parents’ divorce.

Talking about his priorities at this stage in life, Gulshan said, “All I want to do is leave a legacy behind for my son, and to see my son succeed.” When asked by Archana’s husband Parmeet Sethi how he wants to be remembered, Gulshan said, “I want to see big success, big achievements, but for my son, Sanjay Grover. Sanjay went to study in UCLA, and one day, I had a meeting at the Hollywood studio MGM. Sanjay said that he wanted to accompany me, because he wanted to see all the Oscars that they have in the lobby of their office.”

'Blackmailed Sanjay to return to India'

Gulshan said, “I am divorced from his mother, and she lives separately. Any parent would feel like enough is enough. My son has lived outside for so many years, we should live together now.” He explained that they worked out an arrangement in their duplex house: Sanjay would stay on the top floor, while he remained on the bottom floor. “I will only come to his side of the house when I’m invited,” he added, emphasizing the importance of giving his son privacy.


He also admitted that he had to “emotionally blackmail” his son to convince him to come back from Hollywood and try his luck in India, combining parental concern with his desire to reconnect and collaborate professionally.

Pride in his son’s achievements

Gulshan called Sanjay the biggest achievement of his life. “All I want is to see big success, big achievements, but for my son, Sanjay Grover,” he said. He recalled how proud he felt when Sanjay impressed Hollywood executives at MGM during a meeting with former co-CEO Mary Parent, despite initially contradicting everything she said. “During the meeting with former MGM co-CEO Mary Parent, Sanjay kept contradicting everything she said. Like any Punjabi dad, I felt like taking him out and thrashing him. But, to my surprise, after the meeting, Mary handed him her details and said that a job would be waiting for him once he graduates. I was so proud. I felt like a village idiot,” he said.

In a previous interview, Gulshan highlighted his son’s exposure to global cinema. “His experience of making films in Hollywood as well as watching world cinema – German, French, American, Korean is fabulous. Jitna wo dekhta hai, utna mujhe dekhne me 10 saal lag jaaenge. So his experience and exposure to not just the most talked about projects but also the hidden gems, helps me get a certain kind of vision, which I do not possess,” he said.

Gulshan gives credit to son for idea of Bad Man brand

Apart from their personal bond, Sanjay has played a key role in Gulshan’s professional life. Gulshan credited his son with the idea of turning his iconic ‘Bad Man’ persona into a brand. “All those recall values need to be converted into a brand. That’s Sanjay’s idea,” he said. Sanjay also produced Gulshan’s upcoming film Heer Express and co-wrote its story, making the project emotionally significant for the actor.

Gulshan emphasized that the film Heer Express was made to be enjoyed by families together. “Sanjay said that India is missing one thing—films that the whole family can watch together. So this movie is for the entire family,” he said.