Exclusive! Darshan Kumar: Prakash Jha takes Aashram 3 a notch above

Darshan Kumar spoke to OTTplay about his preparation and feedback for The Kashmir Files character and much more.

Darshan Kumar (Instagram).

Darshan Kumar, currently seen in Vivek Agnihotri’s The Kashmir Files as one of the leading actors, is also prepping up for his upcoming project, Aashram 3. The actor promises that the series, which marked Bobby Deol’s comeback in the industry and OTT debut, will take an interesting turn. He promises that Prakash Jha has taken the series ‘a notch above.’

Darshan spoke about breaking barriers with his roles, including The Kashmir Files, how he prepared for his character, the feedbacks he received and more in an exclusive chat with OTTplay. Excerpts…

What have you been up to these days?

We’re getting amazing reviews. We’re loving it. The film is connecting with people. They’re liking it because it’s engaging and they want to see these kinds of content-oriented films.

I remember watching you as that sweet and supportive husband in Mary Kom. Honestly, back then, you kind of gave husband goals. Soon after, you played this deadly antagonist in NH10 who caused fear and panic among people in the film and those watching it. In short, I'm trying to say that you have constantly tried to break the barrier. Is The Kashmir Files another example of that?

Yeah. In this film, I play a college student. I never played a college student, who is inclined into politics. He’s a guy filled with complex thoughts. He’s a lonely wolf seeking the truth because of the different narratives that come in front of him and he doesn’t understand because his grandfather says something else and Pallavi ma’am (she’s playing my professor) – she says something else. He’s so confused and agitated. He wants more. He himself is a Kashmiri Pandit but because of these narratives, he believes in something. His take on this is very simple. He asks people to move on than be stuck in the 1990s but when he meets the aging friends of his grandfather, then the reality of Kashmir starts turning around. It’s a very complex character. I’ve never played something like this – where the character is always in a dilemma. It was very difficult to portray the character in this completely honest film. I had to feel the pain and show all the emotions and convey it in front of the camera. You can say that it is the most difficult role I have ever played.

What were you like in college? Were you able to connect with your character? Were your views similar to your character in college?

In my college days, I used to do theatre to hone my skills. I’m an actor. I don’t understand politics. For this film, I tried to learn what I could find in the public domain or observe how students behave in college during election time. I saw many videos.

How did you get into the character?

I remember my first meeting with Pallavi ma’am. She showed me videos of the real victims which she shot. She met the first-hand victims all over the world. It had more than 700-800 testimonies. It shook me inside-out. I couldn’t utter a word after watching those videos. While reading the script, I could feel and imagine the same thing which I had seen in those videos. Vivek sir depicted those incidents beautifully in the screenplay and dialogues. I was spellbound. After that, half my work was done. The dialogues, screenplay, the incidents I had seen on videos, they were all the same. I had to see a lot of other videos in the public domain to understand what exactly happened in 1990. It was very painful. As an actor, I had to feel the pain to emote in front of the camera. You can’t fake emotions. It was a tough journey for me as an actor.

Did you also meet the victims before diving into the role?

I met Bhasha, who is playing my mother in the film. She told me all the stories about how she was a year old when they had to flee Kashmir, stay in tanks and people died and not only because of the genocide but also because a snake or scorpion bit them. They couldn’t bear the extreme climate change. I heard that and saw videos on YouTube. It is why real vs reel is trending right now. Everything is in public domain. Bhasha is with us all the time. She helped me rectify the words I spoke in Kashmiri.

Did you have a language trainer? Did you know the language beforehand?

I’m from Delhi so I don’t know the language. I have heard it because I shot two-three of my projects there. I observed how people spoke. Here, Bhasha was there with us to help correct the language and pronunciation.

You also have a close role with Anupam Kher. He plays your grandfather. Did he narrate some incident on sets?

We didn’t get that much time. He’s a legendary actor, has a legacy behind of amazing films and brilliant performances. On sets, I found such a beautiful soul who was always there to support me as a teacher, friend and family. I felt like I was doing theatre. I forgot I was in front of the camera. We were doing rehearsals for each and every scene endless times till we didn’t get the perfect sur. That chemistry and working with this kind of actor, I’m blessed to work with him. We’re getting an amazing response when people are watching our scenes.

It took me back to theatre, since you both are theatre actors…

Yeah, we know our craft and want to work hard for each and every scene. We practice continuously. We try to understand what happened in their lives. We were discussing that more than the lines to develop a certain chemistry. I’m blessed to be able to work with these kinds of legendary actors.

The Kashmir Files trailer has touched many people but a few have pointed out how loud the characters are. Do you believe they are loud? What was your take after seeing how they turned out?

We have cut the trailer to show the graph of the film and for presentation’s sake. The tone that you are talking about, in one screening, people clapped after every line that I screamed. When you connect the characters to the situation, you will understand. The trailer is a journey to develop a certain emotion. My cut is in that scene, which is why people are feeling that. Most of the people will cry after my speech. People are tearing up after my last crying scene. They are left speechless. As an actor, I don’t believe in loud or underacting. The biggest thing for an actor is to stay true in the moment. We scream and sometimes just express our emotions with our eyes. You will get the answer when you watch the film.

You spoke about expressing with the eyes. Is that a journey in The Kashmir Files?

Most definitely. He’s in a dilemma and so, makes the most with his expressions. He paves a way for himself. It was challenging but I want to do such roles with layers so you can perform as an actor. It gives you an opportunity to work hard. I’m lucky to have found that opportunity.

I personally believe that emotions speak louder than words.

(Emotes of course with body language) Of course. Sometimes you have to shout also though. Since a few people don’t listen properly, it might not reach there.

I came across this news that Kashmiri Pandits broke down during the screening of The Kashmir Files. Do you believe that is the emotion which will resonate with everyone?

It is what’s happening ever since the trailer released. Be it Indians, Kashmiris, Pakistanis, Americans, Africans, you name it, people are connecting with the film. They’re getting emotional. It is what we showed in the film. We always talk about humanity and justice but when you see it in real life, it’s very brutal and heartwrenching. When people will see the film, the narrative will change for sure.

This is a very sensitive topic. So, while you were preparing for the project, how did you deal with the pain and every emotion associated with the film?

It was very painful right from the first day when I saw the videos and read the script right up to the point till the film got over. It took two-three weeks to get out of that character. I was very depressed. I took it too seriously and was feeling the pain. It’s our job. If we don’t feel the pain, how will we emote in front of the camera?

How did you manage to break out of that character?

For almost two weeks, I took a break. I meditated and one exercise helped me a lot. It was a breathing technique to breathe in and breathe out. I tried to not watching any TV or news. I saw good content like comedy films. I kept myself distracted.

While many people, like I mentioned, are loving the vibe of the film, some others also call this a propaganda. What would you like to say?

This is not happening for the first time with me. After the release of our trailer of Aashram, people said it was against all Babas. When they saw the web series, they apologized and thanked us for showing the real face of the conmen. It happens and is what’s happening with The Kashmir Files. The film is based on true events and whatever we have shown in the film, is available in public domain. After watching the film, even these people will connect with the project and believe in humanity. They will also think that what would happen if humanity doesn’t exist anymore. It is what we have shown in the film. They will also realize that. Whatever we showed in the film, is happening even now. We shouldn’t get trapped in divide-and-rule. I thought that during the COVID-19 pandemic time people would come together. It was a time when it showed us that we are nothing without each other’s help. I was thinking people will change after the pandemic but we are human beings who behave like old times. Everyone forgot about any community or party and focusing on each other. That is how it should be.

But don’t you feel that there is a section that has become united?

If I see around me, they are. They are respecting each other. I don’t know about the political side because I don’t understand it. When I was shooting in Kashmir also, I got a lot of love from Kashmiri people. They used to get homely food for me everyday. I had to refuse because I can’t eat that everyday. They pleaded for me to eat it. I’m blessed I got that kind of love. They were discussing their problems. They won’t progress in their state and life if they want to grow. One person said he wants to watch films in theatres like us. They want good hospitals, education and more tourists. It has slowly started again. Shooting has begun again and I think things will change but then again, it depends on people’s will.

You have quite a colourful character in Aashram as well. So, when do we get to see Ujagar Singh again?

Darshan: What colourful character? How?

OTTplay interviewer: You got into Baba Nirala’s den and brewed up a storm…

Darshan: Oh yeah! It was the most difficult scene for me. I can’t tell you what is happening with my character or Aashram 3 at this point but I can tell you this much, that we are done with the shooting and the post-production work is going on. They are planning to release in May or June hopefully. This time, people will get goosebumps because we have worked hard on the story. I can assure you that this season will take the series to a new level. Prakash ji has worked on every scene in detail. He’s a living legend and worked on the project passionately. Bobby bhai and we all have tried to take it a notch above.

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