article:- Talat Reiki interview

this is a starone article from talat reiki also known as darji!



A girl has to be strong: Talat Reiki

Daarji of Star One's Geet – Hui Sabse Parayi, like any other traditionalist patriarch of a family, is the authoritarian of the family. An arbitrator in the real sense, he wants the entire family to follow his words blindly without questioning him. Actor Talat Reiki who essays the role of Daarji has worked hard on the character and has thus impressed the audience with his act as a strong and arm-twisting patriarch.


Nothing similar to his on-screen character, Talat believes in giving space to his children to grow and believe in themselves along with respecting the norms of the society. This happens to be the reason why it was quite challenging for him to play such a ruthless character. But he definitely feels for the girls who have to go through the trauma of being deceived and dumped by their grooms post their weddings.

The veteran shares his journey as an actor, his views on the show and the real Talat.

Traditionalist to the core, he believes in commanding respect and authority. He had single headedly raised the fortunes of the family from a scratch, and had never shied away from arm-twisting or illicit tactics to achieve his goals. Bauji considers it his personal agenda to uphold age old values and beliefs, and believes in exercising severe retribution if anyone goes against them. In the family, the final say is his.

Describe Daarji as a character? How is your character going to evolve in the show? How does it feel to be a part of Geet?

Daarji as a character is extremely rigid and stern. He holds his family above everyone. He can sacrifice anyone for the sake of his family's respect. As far as the evolving of the character goes, it entirely depends on the creative team and the channel. I play the head of the family and what treatment they want to give to the character is entirely their prerogative. It feels great to be a part of Geet as Daarji is an interesting and a nice character. I hope I can justify myself as an actor and portray the character to the best of my ability.

In today's world, does it work for the patriarch of the family to be so arm-twisting and stern?

There are many families wherein you will see the existence of such characters. These are people who have the final say in almost everything. Nothing in the world deters them from their view-point and look-out. If they say no to something, nothing can make them alter their decisions. This is how they are brought up. I hear news wherein the family would murder the boy for marrying a girl of same gotra.

How are you as a father in real life? Are you strict or lenient to your kids?

I am a friend to my children – a daughter and a son. Yes, I want them to follow certain norms of the society but I don't force them. When your children are young, you can hold their fingers and make them follow the path that you are taking but things change when they grow up. You have to befriend them and become a little flexible with your approach. I just tell them never do something that would hurt others. The problem with youngsters of today is that they don't have patience. They will get involved in a relationship and come out of it in no time. They don't want to wait and know the person and his background. They realise their folly of not being with Mr. or Ms. Right once they are into it. Our times were different as the elders of the family were involved during any such alliance. They took time to give their nod of approval to a relationship. Divorce rate wasn't so high then. I can't force my kids to respect me. All I want from them is to grow up to become responsible citizens. I have seen children mistreating their parents after growing up, which is something I truly detest. One must know what kind of trouble and hurdles you face as parents to bring up your kids.

You played the patriarch to the Nanda family in Kkavyanjali on STAR Plus and now on Geet. How has the journey been so far and what kind of transformation have you seen in the shows from the past and present?

The two characters are in complete contrast with each other. Here on Geet, I have to work really hard on the character of Daarji as it's a rigid and extremist kind of a character, something that I may not be in the real life. Whereas, as the patriarch of Nanda family, I got an opportunity to play varied emotions – comedy, drama, sad, happy but as Daarji, I am just playing a man, who doesn't put his emotions on display.

What do you think of the current lot of actors? Channels are keen on casting never-seen-before and raw faces which is quite different from the past wherein they used to repeat the lead faces on different shows?

They all are nice. I think the channel wants a new image to the show and give a new face to the character. Also the established actors are too busy to take up these shows.

How do you get along with the cast of your show?

They all are really nice and respectful. If you give respect you get respect. But I miss those Kkavyanjali days. My co-actors from the latter respected me a lot and it was an absolute pleasure working with them. Geet has just launched and we have started knowing each other but it again is a pleasure working with the team.

What do you have to say about Geet's on-going struggle?

Geet is a girl, who is braving through the adversaries in her life. I opine that every single girl should have the courage like Geet to stand on her own, fight against the bad world and take her own decisions. A girl goes through multiple transformations and adjustments throughout her life and she needs to be extremely strong to face those transformations.

There are many cases which have come to the fore wherein the brides are cheated by the prospective grooms and their families who claim to be NRIs. What kind of action do you think should be taken against them and what precautions should one take before finalizing such an alliance?

I think strong action should be taken against such people. Every doting father and mother would like to marry her daughter into a well-to-do family but cases like these send shivers down your spine. Government should step in to take care of such matters. One must try to dig out all the information regarding the prospective groom's family to avoid any untoward incidents.

Such incidents are quite common in Punjab and in the North. Have you come across any such incident?

I have just read about them and feel sorry for those who have been through this trauma.

Has acting been the sole area of interest for you?

I have been a writer which not many people know. I have written around 20-25 movie scripts which include Vijaypath, Mahaanta, Dil Ka Kya Kasoor, Vishwavidhaata and Balma.

Are you writing now?

I have completed two projects, which I wouldn't want to divulge.

Would you like to write for television?

I am a free bird and television means restrictions. Here you are asked to make alteration in your story on a daily basis as per the viewers' demand, which is not the case in Bollywood. A track would end or extend according to the feedback it receives from the audiences. I can't work in such a scenario.

Where do you get your name, Talat Reiki, from?

My full name is Talat Mehmood Reiki and I am from Jammu and Kashmir.