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Photo: Sandeep Saxena

Impressive Darshan Jariwala

He won many hearts as Gandhi in Gandhi – My Father. However, this larger than life role is “shadowing” all his current endeavours. But Darshan Jariwala, whose first passion is theatre, isn’t actually complaining. His portrayal of Gaekwad, a shrewd politician in Rajkumar Santoshi’s Halla Bol, released this Friday, makes the actor happy. The reason – the substance of the small role.

“No film can beat Gandhi. I have accepted this fact. But, I am careful about choosing roles, not because I want to ‘maintain’ an image but because I am not a struggling actor anymore. I prefer earthy roles with sensible directors. I chose to work in Halla Bol as it attempts to restore our faith in democracy. As far as the length of the role is concerned, I feel the opportunity to share screen space with a great actor like Pankaj Kapur is in itself an honour . If I start thinking about the length , many such good roles would pass by me,” says Darshan.

Probably, that’s why he has accepted small but significant roles in quite a few films . He is eagerly waiting for an yet untitled film with Amitabh Bachchan. “It’s every actor’s dream to share screen space with him. So, even if I speak a line standing opposite him, my dream would be realised,” says Darshan.

Ketan Mehta’s Rang Rasia on Raja Ravi Verma is another project he is banking on. He plays an arrogant and jealous courtier who creates hurdles for Ravi Verma, played by Randeep Hooda.

He says, “Ketan had earlier a softer role for me but later changed his mind and gave me the role of an arrogant man. He said I would be better as the villain, though many other directors feel otherwise.” His admirers would get to see him as a patriarch in Karma Calling, his forthcoming film. “I play the character, Ramraj who is the head of a family. I have two daughters, one of whom falls in love with a call centre employee. But, Ramraj’s sister who comes from the U.S., changes the atmosphere in the family. As the head of the family, I have to strike a balance .”

In Rohit Jugraj’s Superstar, Darshan would be seen as a film producer with grey shades who brings a struggling actor, played by Kunal Khemu, into the limelight.

He was also supposed to do Patang based on Gujarat’s spirit but “the director decided to recruit local, unknown talents who don’t carry a baggage,” he admits.

On his foray into acting, the chartered accountant-tuned-actor, who was also a business investor, says he “just couldn’t continue with numbers and data” and soon decided to pursue his passion.

Darshan recently “re-discovered” his childhood passion too – writing and reading poetry. He often sits down to write and has recently performed an “epic poetry reading” on Gujarati stage.

RANA SIDDIQUI

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