Aamir sir is slowly coming to terms with how I have grown up so fast: Darsheel Safary

Darsheel Safary aka Ishaan Awasthi from Taare Zameen Par, has been visiting Lucknow almost every year for professional reasons for the past decade and it is these trips that have helped him form a vivid connection with the city. “I have been coming to Lucknow for a decade, right from the year 2012; it’s like I have grown with this place. As actors and performers, you keep looking for that support and love in life. I feel that for me comes from Lucknow, my go-to place to soak in all the love and the positivity,” he said.
In awe of the city’s widely acclaimed tehzeeb, mehman-nawazi and mohabbat, Darsheel thinks the hospitality of Lucknow transforms even the simplest of meals memorable. “I am vegetarian who can’t eat the famous things here, unfortunately. But whatever I have eaten here, at whatever food preference I have asked for, I have been fed with utmost love and they take such great care of the food. Lucknow’s aura is indefinable.”

Darsheel, whose film Taare Zameen Par (TZP) with Aamir Khan released in 2007 and recently the actor reunited with his mentor for an ad shoot. The two are also acting in the supposed sequel to TZP, Sitaare Zameen Par expected to release later this year. Commenting on how his relationship with Aamir has evolved over 16 years since TZP released, Darsheel said, “Aamir sir is slowly coming to terms with how I have grown up so fast. I remember one small moment when I asked for a black coffee recently on the set of the ad film. He was discussing something with somebody and suddenly he gave me a surprised glare and said, “What?” And I was like what’s the big deal with black coffee and asked him did I do something wrong? He is like ‘no’ and then looked at the director saying ‘Darsheel is all grown up now’. This is how I would say our
relationship has evolved over the years. From watching me having chocolate milk on the sets of Taare Zameen Par to witnessing me asking for a black coffee 16 years later.”

He added, “There is an unsaid bond and chemistry on camera with Aamir sir which I have not felt with anybody else. Working with him gives me a certain relaxation as I have to switch off my mind and blindly follow the man. I also feel greedy sometimes to do more work with him. However, it was great reconnecting with him like always during our recent shoot.”
Adding on to the question of the sequel of Taare Zameen Par, the actor kept silent saying that he could not comment on it. “I can’t talk about it, however It’s going to be an amazing film that is Aamir sir’s promise.”
Talking about his future projects, the actor shared, “I have a few exciting projects lined up. One is a film with Pradeep Gandhi, Abhishek Banerjee, and other talented actors where I play the role of an east Delhi boy, something I’ve never done before. Then, there’s another film where I portray the son of Jyoti Rao Phule in a biopic alongside Prateek Gandhi. Additionally, I’m part of a murder mystery called Tibba starring Ada Sharma and Sonali Kulkarni, where I’ll be playing a dark character, a departure from my usual roles. These projects offer me diverse opportunities to explore different characters and genres. Apart from films, I’m also involved in web series. The idea is to act as much as I can till my body doesn’t move.”

When asked if doing a certain role as a child artist has gotten him only similar roles, the actor agreeing to it shared, “Typecasting is often looked down upon more than it deserves. Imagine you played a certain character on which the producers are betting their money on because they trusted your skills in that particular role. If I am offered more stuff in the same space, I would do it. Of course, there is an insane amount of want and wish to play different characters. However, if you are being stereotyped, just keep doing the work. Stereotyping has happened to me, but I am also on that wave where I can play new characters now. I am thankful for what change is coming up next.”

Being a successful child artist does not promise success as an adult artist. Discussing the same, the young actor who has transformed from the 8-year-old Ishaan, who still finds a home in everyone’s heart, to a grown-up actor, Darsheel remarked, “Even if you have done the biggest film in your childhood, it’s not a guarantee that you will get the same work when you grow up. How well you can perform as an actor, and how much willpower you have to make it in this industry can only mark your success. Everything comes at its own time when you let it be. Every single actor goes through a phase like this where you’re like, what next? You’ve come from a hectic shoot and you’re calculating if this is the standard that’s been met before, I need to match this standard later as well.”
-Amina Ashraf

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