The force of Zokkomon

Boy Wonder

The little buck-toothed boy from Taare Zameen Par (TZP) has come a long way from playing the dyslexic Ishaan Awasthi. For one, Darsheel Safary has lost his rabbit teeth, he’s in 9th standard, and the character he’s portraying is not a kid with a learning disability, but instead is one who is a superhero. No prizes for guessing that Zokkomon is this young boy’s favourite superhero. “Before Zokkomon, I used to like Spiderman, but now Zokkomon is my current favourite,” said Darsheel. “Zokkomon has his own costume; he has his own night-vision glasses, a golden and silver boomerang that’s the sharpest in the world. So, he’s really cool,” gushed the boy. Playing a superhero is every boy’s fantasy, and evidently, Darsheel knows he’s one fortunate boy.

“I was trained by Aamir uncle,” Darsheel told me during our conversation. After all, it was Aamir Khan’s film that kick-started his journey in the industry. I ask him if he thinks he’s a good actor. He chuckled, and then replied cheekily, “What do you think?” I tell him I loved him in TZP, to which he chuckled again and replied “Thanks!” It’s hard not to like the boy, on or off the screen. I wondered how he might have reacted to his second film Bumm Bumm Bole not doing well at the box-office. I later quizzed his mother, Sheetal Safary, if Darsheel had been upset when the film did not do well. “I really don’t think so. He always thinks that as far as he is happy with his work, and his parents and his friends like it, it’s enough. The film didn’t work, was another thing. But his work was appreciated a lot,” said the proud mom.

Does he like being famous? “Yeaah,” he replies. He even likes to give interviews, “unless and until the same questions are repeated every time!” “He always shoots during his vacations. If he needs to work on a school day then we make sure his tuition teacher comes, he comes during vacations also. And he calls up his friends and does all the work so that’s he done for the next day and doesn’t miss out on anything,” filled in Sheetal about how Darsheel manages school life with his films. “I live a life very close to normal. I spend time with my family, going out for films, studies, and all,” says Darsheel.

Handling films and fame and yet living the life of a regular school boy, Darsheel’s living each day with no less gusto than that of any superhero!

Anupam Kher on the magic behind the method

What attracted you to the role in Zokkomon? Tell us about the character.

It’s amazing. I play two characters in it, it’s a double role. One is of a wicked uncle and the other is of a person who trains Darsheel Safary to become Zokkomon. So, I’m playing the protagonist and the antagonist. In fact, for the character of the protagonist, my make-up was done by a French make-up artist, and it used to take five hours. I wanted to look completely different from the other character.

Are you a method actor or a more spontaneous actor?

I just do my job well. I’m not a method actor, and in cinema that’s not possible. I will do method acting only if I’m playing an alien, or for a role where I wouldn’t know how the character would behave. Otherwise, I can imagine how a jailer or a drunkard would act.

What comes more easily to you, comedy or serious roles?

Both of them are difficult. I have to work hard for every role. That’s how versatility happens. Otherwise you’ll be like any other person.

Which has been your toughest role, and which have you enjoyed doing the most? 

The role in my first film, Saaransh, was very difficult. Also, Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara, Khosla Ka Ghosla, A Wednesday and Daddy have been the toughest roles for me. I enjoy each and every role of mine. I enjoy the journey more than the destination.

What is your take on the films that are being made today? How has the industry changed?

The status of the industry is very good. Now, it’s a lot more professional, and in sync with the latest trends. It’s a golden period for Indian cinema.

You started your career in this industry without any godfather. How has the journey been?

Superb, fantastic! Only weak people go to godfathers!

What matters most to you while choosing a movie; the director, script or role?

Everything. The role, character, money…. But then, it also depends. At times it’s the role and director, but money is also very important. These three things are the preference.

On a high note: Manjari fadnis
 

Tell us about your role in Zokkomon.

In Zokkomon, I play a character who has nobody of her own, and is an orphan. She’s the kind of girl who believes that if you believe that everybody is yours, the whole world is yours. She doesn’t have a house of her own because she doesn’t want to be tied down to a house. She feels the world is her house. My character bumps into the character played by Darsheel Safary when he’s being troubled by some vagrants. I protect him from them. A beautiful bond develops between Darsheel and me through the film, as I help him to reach back to his house.

Did you and Darsheel also form a beautiful relationship in real life?

I think in our life we have formed the same bond as our characters did in the film. I think our chemistry has been wonderful, both on and off-screen. Darsheel’s quite a brat, a fun kid to work with. He’s really naughty. The whole set was like a house on fire, and I think we both had a wonderful time. Both of us are Shiamak Davar’s students, so we both love dancing, and between shots we’d go to the van, put music on full volume and go crazy dancing! The make-up van dada was really worried for his van!

Apart from being an actor, you are a singer too. Any plans of going professional?

Yes, I have plans. Singing has been a big part of me. In fact, I was a finalist in Channel V Popstars 2. But I haven’t sung for the past seven years. Because of my work, I have come to meet a lot of musicians. I’m getting back to my training and seriously, genuinely training myself. I want to make myself good enough at singing again, and then I will audition, like any newcomer, and I will get back to singing professionally.