A1 Pacino is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors in film history, celebrated for his commanding presence, emotional depth and unmistakable voice. Over a career spanning more than five decades, he emerged as a defining figure of the 1970s `New Hollywood` era.

To this day, debate continues over which of his performances stands as his finest Michael Corleone in The Godfather (1972), Tony Montana in Scarface (1983), Lt Col Frank Slade in Scent ofa Woman (1992) or Shylock in The Merchant of Venice (2004). Pacino shares his story in his memoir, Sonny Boy, and like one of his performances, it reveals more than it conceals. The 370-page book not only revisits the iconic characters he has essayed but also explores lesser-known aspects of his life.

Born during World War II and raised in the South Bronx by his mother and grandparents, Pacino was shaped by a childhood of hardship and imagination. His mother`s love for movies and his own fascination with the screen planted the first seeds of his calling. It is also fascinating to learn how he came to be called `Sonny`.

The person he missed most, he admits, was his mother, who separated from his father when Pacino was still a toddler. Her struggles, culminating in a suicide attempt and eventual death, cast a long shadow over his youth. Yet even amid rooftop games and impromptu recitations of Chekhov, the encouragement of a schoolteacher helped channel his restless energy towards the arts.

Would you believe Pacino was touted as the `next Marlon Brando`after his very first school performance? Early in his career, he faced comparisons with Dustin Hoffman, whose rise to fame mirrored his own. The memoir also recalls his early days with Martin Sheen, when both were struggling actors, and details his first meeting with `Bob` the legendary Robert De Niro and the friendship that grew from it. The book reminds us that he always had a stronger love for the theatre than for the camera, and that his devotion to Shakespeare never wavered.

From his method-acting training under Lee Strasberg, to his discovery of refuge in the theater, Pacino pays tribute to those who guided him. Charlie Laughton, in particular, receives heartfelt recognition as the father-figure Pacino never found in his own home.

Laughton was a constant presence through Pacino`s highs and lows whether in calming him after a clash with a thespian, helping him rework sections of The Godfather Part II, or simply sharing the absurd misfortune of Pacino`s brand-new BMW being stolen just hours after he bought it.

Anecdotes such as turning down Star Wars, a chaotic lunch with Marlon Brando, and meeting Jackie Kennedy while still in character are equal parts revealing and delightfully human.

While Sonny Boy focuses more on his childhood than on his adult personal life, Pacino does touch on his romances, as well as his struggles with alcohol and the ways he overcame them. Nothing in his journey came easily. To pursue his dream, he worked a string of odd jobs ushering in theatres, scrubbing floors, and even working as a janitor just to pay for acting classes and remain connected to the stage that would ultimately define him.

For audiences familiar with his classics The Godfather trilogy, Serpico, Heat, Dog Day Afternoon, Scarface and Scent of a Woman the memoir offers a nostalgic return to those cinematic landmarks. Pacino`s anecdotes, such as working alongside the real Frank Serpico or injuring himself during the climactic Scarface shootout, add vivid behind-the-scenes texture.

His deep immersion in roles often pulled him into the filmmaking process itself, sometimes leading to spirited clashes with directors.

Few realise that, despite his Sicilian heritage, Pacino did not know any Italian while filming The Godfather.

When called upon to silence the local crowd, he paused, waiting in stillness.

Nor could he tango or drive a car, which came as a surprise to the director and had to be cleverly concealed on screen.

After the meteoric highs of the 1970s, and a couple of lows in the 1980s, Al Pacino took a step back during the late 1980s, only to return to an unusual extent, earning his long-awaited Academy Award for Scent ofa Woman.

His pursuit of the Oscar is described in his trademark style marked by shyness, hesitation and candid honesty.

From his very first nomination to his seventh and eighth in 1993, he carriedthe nervous anticipation of having to give a speech, a thought that haunted him with every ceremony. The memoir also reveals his financial missteps, including squandering a $50 million fortune, and the loyal friends like Diane Keaton and Adam Sandler who helped him through.

Sonny Boy is more than a memoir it is honest and unpolished, with pauses and bursts of passion that reflect Pacino`s acting style. It reveals the man behind the legend, someone who rose from hardship yet never abandoned his craft, proving that resilience and dedication are as central to his life as they are to his performances.

The reviewer writes on oldfilms and music and loves reading books.

X: @suhaybalavi