“Win 100 thousand dollars”: Dzhigarkhanyan’s son told what he does in the USA

– We see you again in Moscow. With what news did they come to us?

– To be honest, there aren’t any. Mostly in Russia, I spend the summer time, relaxing, attending some events. The period of the show, which was on the central channels, thank God, is over. They got me there a little. But life moves forward: some programs leave, others come. That’s how we live.

– Aren’t you staying with your mother here?

– Well, no, of course, I rent an apartment, I’m not 16 years old after all. There is also a personal life. I prefer to live, as a rule, in the center, in the Arbat area, in order to be within walking distance to my mother’s apartment (she lives on the Arbat – ed.). In general, I really like walking.

– How often do you visit Tatyana Sergeevna?

– I communicate approximately in a day. What is her main support? Communication. Human communication is the most valuable thing we have, so my help is in conversations, conversations. Come and chat. Everything is like in a normal family. And, of course, I’m not talking about financial support or bringing bags there, buying groceries. We do without housekeepers.

– Is anyone from the stellar artistic circle in contact with her?

– I now, perhaps, will not name anyone, I’m afraid to lie. She has her own social circle.

– On the sidelines, another fried news appeared that the businessman who bought a share in Armen Borisovich’s apartment does not pay for utilities. Who then pays?

– Well, now it’s done online. While I’m here – I cry. As far as I know, my mother really pays for the apartment herself. From the moment of buying a share, the businessman did not pay a penny for utilities, but gave Armen Borisovich the right to live in his half until the end of his days. And he verbally gave the same right to Tatyana Sergeevna. He doesn’t touch her, he doesn’t kick her out. Maybe he thinks that in return he has the right not to pay – I don’t know. You see, I can’t discuss anything with him because he doesn’t return calls. I don’t know where he might be.

– In general, it is surprising that such a story with an apartment has now arisen, because Dzhigarkhanyan’s fans are sure: after receiving the inheritance, you simply enriched yourself, and your life in paradise began …

– There’s nothing left. The cost of the funeral turned out to be more than his inheritance.

– Are there so-called royalties?

It only happens in Hollywood. For example, Tom Cruise says: “My fee should be 10 million and 15 percent – rental income.” Armen Borisovich received a rate for his films in Soviet times, and the rights to the picture belong to the film studio. And he had no deductions.

– Do you often visit the grave of Armen Borisovich?

– When I come to Russia, I go there. Tatyana Sergeevna also happens, of course. I won’t say often. And the theater of Armen Borisovich under the direction of Sergei Gazarov is also engaged in the grave.

– Your popularity, including during the TV show after the death of Armen Borisovich, aroused increased interest of the paparazzi. And mother from such attention did not suffer?

Well, she’s not a public person. Not only that, she had to be dragged to these shows on the lasso. Fortunately, she is doing well with her health, doing well. But now she reads the news about Dzhigarkhanyan, and, unfortunately, she worries a little more than necessary. I come to her, she tells me: “Look what they wrote again!” I told her, “No, you don’t.” I refuse to read.

– That is, this situation did not pass for mom without drama?

– Well, how can it go undramatic if they have been legally married for 48 years? Naturally, this is a huge piece of time, her whole life. Of course, she remembers this period.

– Is she mad at him?

– No, the insult is gone. Everything was back to normal a long time ago, even before he was gone.

– And you don’t communicate with Vitalina and didn’t communicate?

– Of course not. We never talked, only on the show a couple of times we ran into each other. I’ll leave the dressing room, she’ll come in. But we do not have particularly warm feelings for each other. We are at completely different poles with her.

– Stepan, we really don’t know anything about your life in America. What are you doing there?

– My gambling activity is going well. I am a participant of international tournaments. All kinds of cash games and so on.

So, do you have a good memory?

– Not complaining. Although it happens, they introduce themselves to me, but I no longer remember my name after five minutes. I only remember numbers well.

– Were there big losses?

– No, never lost a lot. You see, it’s a matter of taste and temperament. There are poker players who put everything on the line and, as a rule, then end their lives as a private driver. I know many such stories. The activity of a professional player is similar to the activity of a trader on the stock exchange. Only he gets the result in a day, a month, and the player – in a minute.

– How much did you win?

– The cash game was not impressive, I won around 14 thousand dollars. And in tournaments I won about 100 thousand dollars.

– It is interesting to know, how did it happen that you took up such a rare activity?

– Well, it’s rare and frowned upon here. In the West it’s different. I even declare taxes there as a professional player. I’ve always had a penchant for that sort of thing. Back in my fourth year at Moscow State University in 1986, I was almost expelled because I arranged a dice game in the basement. At that time, there was no specific address where one could learn poker, so I first learned to play against casinos in America. And then there were the 90s, the height of casino activity in the USSR, where I practiced.

– They say that there are underground casinos in Moscow now, have you ever been there?

– No, because they can fit marked cards, chemical marks (marked with a special tool – ed.), charged decks (with an electronic microchip – ed. note). Anything can be.

– Does Stepan Dzhigarkhanyan have a large living space in the USA?

– Well, I have a big house with a swimming pool, I swim there. In general, I have been involved in sports all my life, it so happened. At first I graduated from the circus studio, then I had a break, and in recent years I have been in close contact with the eminent gymnast Vitaly Shcherbo. He is a 14-time world champion. I took lessons from him at the gym.

– In the US, burgers and fries are everywhere. How do you avoid temptations, judging by your form?

– I buy organic food and try not to eat sugar, salt, bread.

Have you ever thought about becoming an artist? After all, you even had experience playing in the theater.

– No. I got into the theater by accident. And I was always an artist for a season and a half, and then at the beginning of the creation of the theater of Armen Borisovich, when he finished teaching the course at GITIS. The whole troupe was 7 people and I came to support. They had musical performances, and I sang well.