Didn't feel overshadowed by Aishwarya, Randeep: Darshan Kumar

Actor Darshan Kumar, who will be seen sharing screen space with Bollywood beauty Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and actor Randeep Hooda for the first time in Omung Kumar's upcoming directorial "Sarbjit", says he never felt overshadowed by their presence.

"Sarbjit" is a biopic on Sarabjit Singh, an Indian farmer who was convicted of terrorism and spying in Pakistan and was sentenced to death. He was attacked by inmates at a prison in Lahore in April 2013 and died a few days later.

With Aishwarya playing sister to the title character and Randeep essaying the main character, didn't Darshan feel overshadowed?

"No. I never felt overshadowed by them (Aishwarya and Randeep). I knew what I was playing and I knew what Aishwarya's part was in the film. So why would I be insecure about that? When you work with a person like Aishwarya, who is so professional and humble that you get a different type of energy and kick. So it's fun working with them," Darshan, who plays a lawyer in the movie, told IANS on the sidelines of the Times of India Film Awards (TOIFA) held here last week.

The actor, who made his debut in the 2014 film "Mary Kom", said he shares a "very good comfort level" with Randeep, whom he knows for over five years and was a part of the same theatre group as him.

But they don't have many scenes together, pointed out Darshan, who essays the lawyer to Randeep's character Sarabjit in the film.

Talking about his role, Darshan said: "I am playing Awais Sheikh, he's a fighter... He stays in Pakistan and fights for an Indian."

The biopic, which also stars actress Richa Chadha, will be narrated through the perspective of the victim's sister Dalbir Kaur, played by Aishwarya.

There were reports that the last schedule for "Sarbjit" was halted not just in Manir Kotla, Punjab, but in Mumbai's Bhendi Bazaar too as the scene involved shouting of anti-national slogans.

Asked about it, Darshan said: "They (people) misunderstood the situation. They thought we are talking about anti-India slogans. We told them that we are shooting a film (and) this is a part of it. They did not understand and called the police."

"We had to compromise on the scene," said the "NH10" star, adding that for "Sarbjit", the makers have "tried to be as real as possible".

After "Sarbjit", which is releasing on May 20, Darshan will be working on two films.

"My next film is 'Mirza Juliet'. It has a political background and is a beautiful love story based in Benares. The actress is Piaa Bajpai and is directed by Rajesh Ram Singh. Then there's one more, which I will announce soon," he said.

(The writer's visit is at the invitation of TOIFA organisers. Durga Chakravarty can be contacted at durga.c@ians.in)