Sitaare Zameen Par, the spiritual sequel to Taare Zameen Par, which was recently released in cinema houses, is making noise for the right reasons. It not only offers a fresh take on neurodivergent adults but also explores emotions, childhood, and challenges faced by those people, which made the fans recall Taare Zameen Par. In the 2007 film, Aamir nailed his role, but it was Darsheel who earned a special place in hearts of fans by playing the sensitive role of a dyslexic kid, ‘Ishaan Avasthi’. Now, nearly two decades later, Darsheel is coming up with his new project and, amid that, he recalled how the release of Taare Zameen Par had changed things for him in his childhood.
Darsheel Safary reveals his school principal asked him to take a short leave after his film’s release
Darsheel Safary recently sat down for a conversation with Moneycontrol about his upcoming project, Gamerlog. During the conversation, he reflected on how he received immense fame overnight at the age of 10 after the release of Taare Zameen Par. The actor explained that nothing had prepared him for the attention which came after the film’s release. Darsheel revealed that he had only asked his mom to give him Rs. 50 to spend in the canteen on Monday after the film’s release, but what happened on that day in school left him surprised. Recalling the day he said:
“I was never able to go to class from the canteen after that. That day, yes. It was Monday. Friday, the film was released. We were in Delhi. And Saturday, Sunday. And then Monday, I had a school break. And all the students from the first, second and third floors came around us. I didn’t have two bodyguards. I was alone. And no angel can protect you from so many people.”
Since Darsheel was overwhelmed by the crowd, he quickly rushed into the principal’s office, who at first thought that he was involved in some fight. Eventually, the school management intervened, and the principal advised him to take a break from school for a few days. She also assured him that she would address the matter during assembly. Initially shocked and uncomfortable, Darsheel gradually came to terms with fame. At first, he struggled to do normal things like playing cricket or buying vegetables for his mom because fame followed him everywhere. Sharing how he dealt with it, the actor said:
“I didn’t know that there was a risk in this. So then, slowly, wearing a cap and goggles, wearing a handkerchief, and avoiding crowded places, it took me some time. I am a little naughty. I am rebellious. I hate these things. So, I used to rebel against that. But then I realised that you have to be within yourself. You have to maintain those boundaries.”
Darsheel Safary shares how fans share their emotional stories with him
Taare Zameen Par created awareness about dyslexia and the race for students to excel in everything. So, several people were able to relate to it and Darsheel admitted that he realised how emotional conversations with fans left an impact on him. He revealed that many fans used to tell him their stories and thanked him for the film, which inspired him as an actor. Even after he has grown up and his facial features have changed, people take some time to recognise him at first, but when they do, they share their feelings, which leaves Darsheel happy.
More about Taare Zameen Par
Taare Zameen Par was produced and directed by Aamir Khan which followed the life story of 8-year-old ‘Ishaan Avasthi.’ He had a knack for art but was weak in his studies, which prompted ‘Ishaan’s parents to send him to a boarding school. Initially struggling, he finds support in his new art teacher, ‘Nikumbh’ who realised that Ishaan was dyslexic and helped him overcome it. The film featured an ensemble cast including Aamir, Darsheel Safary, Tanay Chheda, Vipin Sharma and Tisca Chopra. Taare Zameen Par received positive reviews for its story, music, performances, etc and became a commercial success.
What do you think about Darsheel Safary’s experience of gaining overnight popularity after the release of Taare Zameen Par?
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