A page from the personal diary of Darshan Jariwala Hello everyone, this is Darshan Jariwala whom you must have seen reprising various kinds of roles on television, big screen as well as on stage. I hail from a Gujarati family and my mother, incidentally, was a theatre actor. So the art of acting is something that she has gifted me; it’s in my genes. I am fortunate enough to come so far in life. For me, the proudest moment of my life was when I won the National Film Award in the Best Supporting Actor category for Gandhi…My Father. I also feel great when people still talk about my most remembered popular Gujarati TV serial Narasimha Mehta. Acting is my passion and I have always been loyal to my part. Theatre is my first love and I have never feared of performing on stage. My first appearance on stage was when I was in the 2nd standard. I have a different world backstage which is just like my second home and am lucky that, so far, I have got the best of roles in my career. I have even worked in the English play Going Solo 2 that is known for my finest acting prowess. I have left my benchmarks in many places and have left no stone unturned in the field of acting. My role as Mahatma Gandhi in Gandhi…My father gave an international exposure to my talent. I still remember the fun on sets of Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahani. While shooting the last fight scene of the film, our director Rajkumar Santoshiji was continuously laughing making it difficult for us to continue shooting as it was distracting everyone. The scene itself was so hilarious that nobody was able to control their laughter. For me, every bit of the film was extremely memorable. Acting carries two most important aspects: observation and imagination; both being equally important. The one thing I would like to advise a newcomer is that being a learner throughout your career will help you reach towards your goal. Sometimes, talent does turn out irrelevant in the beginning, but it slowly grows with remarkable changes. A lot of hard work and positive thinking will never put down your hopes.