Darsheel Safary looks back on his debut with Aamir Khan's Taare Zameen Par

It’s been a decade since the deeply moving Taare Zameen Par released, and the movie made a star out of Darsheel Safary. The boy is all grown up now, but he still feels a connect to the movie. We chat with the young actor.

How does it feel?
You mean to still be called Ishaan, and to have people tell me the film changed their lives? It feels great! I’m so proud of what I’ve achieved with Taare… Though, let me tell you, I had no clue what I was doing.

How so?
I was only nine-years-old. And I had no idea about camera, cinema or acting. No one from my family was a part of the movies. I still don’t know why Aamirji (Khan) and Amoleji (Gupte) chose me. But there I was, playing a character whose problems were completely alien to me. So I did what any child would do in my place — I surrendered completely to Amoleji, who had written the film, and knew the character inside out, as well as to Aamirji, who handled me with kid gloves.

How do you feel when you watch the movie now?
I saw it just a few months ago with my parents and sister. And I could see things that I could’ve done better. Now that I’m trained as an actor, I know the craft. But perhaps it was the lack of craft that made Ishaan so real. I didn’t fake anything. When Ishaan cried, I cried with him. Those were real tears.

You were nominated for best actor alongside Shah Rukh Khan for Chak De! India…
Looking back, that was amazing, yeah! But back then, I was clueless. I went through the experience of Taare... without really enjoying it. When I see Sunny Pawar of Lion on stage at the awards, I know exactly how he feels.

Do people still pinch your cheeks?
(Laughs) No, no. I put an end to that quite firmly, some years ago. Their first reaction on seeing me now is ‘My God, you’re all grown up!’ As if they expect me to be a nine-year-old all my life. Their second reaction is ‘You got your teeth straightened’.

You were in Bum Bum Bole and Midnight’s Children, but they made no impact. Did Taare... set a high benchmark?
Probably. I don’t know. I certainly feel the films were chosen for me by my parents, because they seemed right for me. We didn’t set out to beat Taare..., and I’m glad we didn’t. Because I don’t think Taare... can be repeated. None of us knew it was going to have such an impact.

Whose advice do you take now?
At some point in your life, you’ve got to take responsibility for your own future. I decided to do that a few years ago. When I wanted to be an actor, I started doing theatre, and I still do.

You’re also ready to make your debut as a leading man…
Yes, it’s a coming of age rom-com called Quickie, directed by Pradip Atulri.

A lot of child actors grow up to be non-starters as adult actors. Any fears?
What about Kamal Haasan and Sridevi? Weren’t they child actors? And look at where they are now. Having said that, one can’t predict the future. Audiences won’t come to see me in Quickie because I was Ishaan in Taare... But neither will they stay away from it because I played a child in a film they loved. So, I stand a chance.

Tell us about your girlfriend…
The day I’m capable of shouldering the responsibilities that come with a relationship, I’m game. Right now, I’m too focused on my career.