Family time for Darrshan!

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Posted: 18 years ago

Family time for Darrshan
By: Shaheen Parkar
August 4, 2007

HUM SAATH HAIN: Darrshan Jariwala with wife Apara Mehta and daughter Khushali at the screening of Gandhi My Father and (below) as the Mahatma in the film

It's been years that actor-director Darrshan Jariwala and his actress wife Apara Mehta don't live together and lead their own independent and busy lives. Both also, especially Darshan, refrain from speaking about each other.

So it was surprising to see Darrshan with Apara and their daughter Khushali at the screening of Gandhi My Father on Thursday. It was a rare glimpse of the family, as the couple has not been seen together in public.

So, is it a case of letting bygones be bygones? Says Apara, "It was a big moment for Darrshan. We had to be present for him. Darrshan is a fabulous actor and was great in the film. We're together at family events. After all, I remain the family's bahu."

Home truths

Darrshan reasons their personal differences being a product of different work sensibilities. He says, "I can't see myself in a saas-bahu saga, she can't see herself in the kind of stuff I do. So we both lead our lives in our own distinct way."

As for his daughter Khushali he says, "She has already shown interest in the theatre whirl." She has acted in Feiroz Bhagat's Gujarati play Tame Hasatu Modhu Rakho and also conceived the outline story for Feiroz Bhagat's Marriage Ma Masti Masti Ma Marriage.

Would he cast Khushali in any of his plays? "Definitely," says Darrshan, who plays the Mahatma in Gandhi My Father.

Luck by chance

Though Darrshan was not the original choice for the role and was called in as a last-minute replacement, he believes he was the first and last choice for Feroz in such a situation. Their association dates back to the time Darshan acted in Feroz's play Gandhi Viruddh Gandhi (based on the same subject as the film).

"Feroz asked me to make himself available for the role and convinced Anil Kapoor (the producer) that I could do Gandhi's role.

Darrshan had to give up all his acting pursuits in theatre, television and films to prepare for the role as he says, "To play Gandhi, it's important to erase yourself."

He enrolled for a Vipasna course at Igatpuri followed by a stint at the Jindal Farms at Bangalore where he lost eight kilos in 19 days and later went on to lose 10 kilos to maintain the lean look.

The entire shoot experience was extremely focused and serious. "We did our work exactly as Feroz told us and went home," says Darrshan who will next be seen in Halla Bol.