Darshan’s role needed emotional makeover

Darshan Zariwala may not have been a popular name in Bollywood, but the actor has became a household name after he essayed the poignant role of Bapu in Anil Kapoor’s Gandhi My Father. In terms of research, the actor says he did not go through Attenborough’s Gandhi because he was not playing the father of the nation as much as the father of Harilal. He shares, "This one delves into the father-son relationship — Gandhiji’s strained relationship with his son, Harilal. His troubled relationship with his son is not a very well-known fact. I read books and went through the archival footage on Gandhiji because I had to learn to smile and walk like him. His smile reflected in his eyes. I had complete faith in my director Feroz Abbas Khan."

Darshan explains, "It was not easy to represent a man, who is revered by everyone. I lost 18 kg with proper diet and exercise and underwent immense physical and mental training. I had to also exercise to get rid of the mental baggage that I, as an actor, had accumulated over a period of time. I went for a 12-day vipassana course to Igatpuri. Yoga and meditation helped me a lot to get that calm on my face."

A name to reckon with in Gujarati theatre, Darshan has earlier done some small roles in films like Style, Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd and Guru. He also starred in Himesh Reshammiya’s Aap Kaa Surroor. "I’ve been associated with theatre for over three decades. I was in the last year of school when I started off with Gujarati plays. My mother Leela (a contemporary of Deena Pathak and Pratap Oza), was a famous actress and was one among those who formed the Gujarati theatre group, Rangbhoomi," he shares. He further explains, "Some of my cherished Gujarati plays include Hathedi Par Baat Baaki, Mulraj Mansion and Andhalo Pato. I’ve also done a Hindi play titled Uncle Samjha Karo. I ventured into English theatre in 2000. Vikram Kapadia’s Going Solo 2 won me acclaim. People still recall that brilliant piece, especially my character, Yusuf Lakdawala."