Darsheel Safary

Darsheel Safary
Darsheel Safary at the Mumbai Juniorthon
Born (1997-03-09) 9 March 1997 (age 27) [1]
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
OccupationActor
Years active2007–present
Notable workTaare Zameen Par

Darsheel Safary (born 9 March 1997) is an Indian actor who appears in Hindi, Gujarati films and television. Safary made his film debut with the leading role of a dyslexic student in Aamir Khan's directorial debut, the critically acclaimed drama Taare Zameen Par (2007), for which he won the Filmfare critic's Award for Best Actor.

Career

Born into a Gujarati Jain family, Safary made his acting debut in Taare Zameen Par (2007),[2] playing the film's protagonist Ishaan Nandkishore Awasthi. Safary was discovered by script writer and creative director, Amol Gupte in late 2006 when he was looking for a male lead for Taare Zameen Par. After going through hundreds of auditions, Gupte found Safary at Shiamak Davar's dancing school, "Summer Funk". In choosing Safary, Gupte had a number of boys audition for a scene in which they would informally describe how they would "bunk" school after being given a few scenarios. He recalls, "It was a tough call. But Darsheel has the mischief in his eyes to be Ishaan. Everyone just naturally gravitated towards him."[3]

Safary's performance as a struggling dyslexic child was praised by film critics.[4][5] He won several awards for his performance. Taran Adarsh from indiaFM called Safary a "Master" and stated his performance merited a special award.[6] Rajeev Masand of CNN-IBN wrote, "Darsheel Safary steals your heart as Ishaan Awasthi. Darsheel is a revelation as an actor, he's spontaneous and lovable and carries this film completely on his shoulders".[7] Other reviewers called Safary the "real star of the film"[8] and his performance as "brilliant".[9] In a 2007 interview, Safary stated that his career plans may include singing, dancing, becoming a businessman or jewellery designer.[10]

His second film Bumm Bumm Bole came in 2010 and according to some sources he was paid ₹ 3 lakh, the highest amount paid to any child actor at the time.[11] He did two more films, Disney India's superhero film Zokkomon (2011) and Deepa Mehta's Midnight's Children (2012).[12][13]

In 2012, he participated in dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa with Avneet Kaur as his dance partner, but was eliminated and came in seventh position.[14] He took a break from acting to focus on studies.[15]

In 2016, he played the role of Abhay in the anthology series Yeh Hai Aashiqui.[16] He then appeared in 2023 Hindi sports drama film, Hukus Bukus.[15] and Gujarati film, Kutch Express (film).[15]

Filmography

Films

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2007 Taare Zameen Par Ishaan Nandkishore Awasthi Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Critics)
Nominated–Filmfare Award for Best Actor 		[4]
2010 Bumm Bumm Bole Pinu (Pinakin) [11]
2011 Zokkomon Kunal/Zokkomon [12]
2012 Midnight's Children Saleem Sinai [13]
2022 Capital A Small A Aadi Short [17]
2023 Kutch Express Avinash Gujarati film [18]
2023 Hukus Bukus Arjun [19]
2023 Ho Ja Mukt Vikram MX player
TBA Sitaare Zameen Par † TBA [20]

Television

Year Title Role
2011 Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah Himself
2012 Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 5 Contestant
2015 Lage Raho Chachu Himself
2016 Yeh Hai Aashiqui – Sun Yaar Try Maar[21] Abhay
2021 Butterflies Sharan

Web series

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2022 Aadha Ishq Jazz [22]

Music videos

Year Title Singer Label Notes
2020 Pyaar Naal Vibhor Prashar Desi Music Factory [23]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Film Result Source
2008 Filmfare Awards Best Actor Taare Zameen Par Nominated [24]
Best Actor (Critics) Won [25]
Zee Cine Awards Best Actor (Critics) Won [26]
Most Promising Debut (Best Child Artist) Won
Star Screen Awards Special Jury Award Won [27]
V. Shantaram Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role Won [26]

References

  1. ^ "Darsheel Safary: Want to explore the darker side of characters". 8 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Meet Darsheel Safary: Taare Zameen Par's child actor is now all grown up". The Indian Express. 24 November 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  3. ^ Vij, Gauri (3 February 2008). "A leap of faith". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2008.
  4. ^ a b Shahryar, Faridoon (27 December 2007). "Darsheel deserves National Award for Best Actor". IndiaFM. Archived from the original on 6 January 2008. Retrieved 17 January 2008.
  5. ^ Kelkar, Reshma (12 January 2008). "Darsheel Safary is best newcomer of the year!". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 15 January 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2008.
  6. ^ Adarsh Taran (21 December 2007). "Taare Zameen Par review". IndiaFM. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2008.
  7. ^ Masand, Rajeev (21 December 2007). "Taare Zameen Par may change your life". IBN-CNN. Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 10 April 2008.
  8. ^ Pandohar, Jaspreet (18 December 2007). "Taare Zameen Par (2007)". BBC. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
  9. ^ Bhaskaran, Gautaman (31 January 2008). "Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 15 January 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2008.
  10. ^ Rao, Girish (26 December 2007). "I want to be an actor, singer and dancer". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 14 January 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2008.
  11. ^ a b "Darsheel is highest-paid child actor". Hindustan Times. 13 May 2010.
  12. ^ a b "Meet the youngest superhero in the world". Rediff.
  13. ^ a b Hungama, Bollywood (31 March 2011). "Darsheel Safary to star in Deepa Mehta's adaptation of Midnight's Children : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama". Bollywood Hungama.
  14. ^ "I do not want leniency from judges: Darsheel Safary". NDTV.com.
  15. ^ a b c "Darsheel Safary on Moving Away from Films After 'Taare Zameen Par': I Took a Conscious Break to Focus on My Education". 29 November 2023.
  16. ^ "Darsheel Safary of Taare Zameen Par fame to play a teenager smitten by love in new TV show". 12 January 2016.
  17. ^ "Taare Zameen Par fame Darsheel Safary makes comeback with Capital A small a, watch trailer". 14 November 2022.
  18. ^ "Darsheel Safary reveals sleeping through 'two-three' screenings of Taare Zameen Par: 'I was a shameless child'". Hindustan Times. 24 November 2022.
  19. ^ "Taare Zameen Par actor Darsheel Safary in Hukus Bukus plays a diehard fan of Sachin Tendulkar". Film Companion. 9 October 2023.
  20. ^ "Aamir Khan, Darsheel Safary reunite after 16 years. Is it for 'Sitaare Zameen Par'?". India Today. 5 March 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  21. ^ "Lovebirds Rithvik Dhanjani and Asha Negi launch the new season of Yeh Hai Aashiqui". India Today. 11 February 2016.
  22. ^ "Aamna Sharif, Gaurav Arora, Kunal Roy Kapur to star in Voot Select's Aadha Ishq, a tale of forbidden love". India Today. 28 April 2022.
  23. ^ "Check Out New Punjabi Trending Song Music Video - 'Pyar Naal' Sung By Vibhor Parashar | Punjabi Video Songs - Times of India". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  24. ^ Bollywood Hungama News Network (23 February 2008). "Winners of 53rd Fair One Filmfare Awards". IndiaFM. Archived from the original on 25 February 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2008.
  25. ^ Bollywood Hungama News Network (6 February 2008). "Nominees – 53rd Annual Filmfare Awards". IndiaFM. Archived from the original on 15 February 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
  26. ^ a b Bollywood Hungama News Network (27 April 2008). "Winners of the Zee Cine Awards 2008". IndiaFM. Archived from the original on 30 April 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2008.
  27. ^ "TZP wins V Shantaram award for Best Film". www.hindustantimes.com. 28 January 2009.
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