Darsheel Safary set to make acting comeback

Darsheel Safary set to make acting comeback

Darsheel Safary was 10 years old when he debuted as Ishaan in the 2007 film 'Taare Zameen Par'. Pic/Nimesh Dave

It would take a second look to recognise Darsheel Safary today. But, as he keeps repeating, it's been 10 years since he made a stunning debut in 'Taare Zameen Par'. He is rehearsing for his new play, Can I Help You? in Juhu when we meet him on a cloudy Wednesday afternoon. He plays Rikhav, a teenage fast bowler, who is on the verge of committing suicide when he meets an odd bunch of characters and his life changes. "I decided to do theatre as I am also at the weird age, where I can neither play a child nor a full-blown grown up. And I still look young," he laughs, and we agree. He looks younger than his 19 years and has been busy in the past few years with a few films (he last appeared in Mira Nair's Midnight's Children in 2012), advertisements and special appearances in TV series.

In Can I Help You? Directed by Abhishek Pattnaik, Safary shares stage with theatre stalwarts like Dalip Tahil and Anant Mahadevan

"After Taare, I had started thinking of what to do. I had got good advice from Rahul Bose who told me, have a side business ready. So I studied BMM at HR College, so that I could get to know the field better," he says practically. "But I am in love with acting, so that's what I want to do." His part in this Out Of The Box production, directed by Abhishek Pattnaik, sees him share stage with theatre stalwarts like Dalip Tahil and Anant Mahadevan. "When I saw his recent pictures, and then met him, I knew he would fit this character that is brash - he had that quality. It just fit," says Pattnaik. But to match acting chops with the greats, Safary had to make sure he had the techniques of theatre down pat. He says his training started in college. "I told my father that I wanted to just enjoy college life as I did Std 11 and 12. But, during that time as well, I acted in so many stage and street plays, that this became my thing," he says, "I once played Mahatma Gandhi and was, for the first time, introduced to method acting. I roamed around with a stick and spectacles and even got his voice right. People told me they had never met a Gandhi like me."

But, rehearsals for the play have been rigorous for the last few days. And, he has built his character with care. "I kept every direction the director gave in my head and then registered the character," he explains, "Theatre is a one-shot medium. You need be loud without being over the top. If you mess up, well you have messed up your only chance. There is so much to take care of."

He gives us another reason for taking to theatre, and not doing any films for now, and it's a noble one. "I want young people to come to the theatre. When they see our play, they will know that theatre is not preachy or ruddy duddy. It's young and relevant." Next on the cards is setting up his Instagram and Snapchat accounts and getting out there, even if he describes himself as an anti-social, shy Piscean. But, as he says, he is still figuring out who is his, when he is not acting. "I am a little confused most of the time, but when I am acting, I know exactly who I am - a completely different person. Like my character Rikhav, who will teach you how a person adapts to life, which I don't think I have done yet," he laughs. Well, he still has lots of time to go.

Where: Tata Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point
When: September 18, 7 pm
Cost: Rs 300 to Rs 1,800
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