Yudhvir Dahiya: Playing 97-Year-Old at 19 in 'Shabaash Anarkali'

Versatile actor, singer, stage artist, and voiceover artist Yudhvir Dahiya has made Mumbai City his workplace for the last twenty years. Yudhvir Dahiya, originally a resident of Sonipat, Haryana, had prepared himself by taking training in acting and filmmaking before coming to Mumbai. But in Mumbai, he first got the opportunity to join the theater with Nadira Babbar. Then he became a voice-over artist. But now he has got the opportunity to act in films after twenty years. Yudhvir Dahiya's first film as a hero was “What! A Kismat' is scheduled to hit the theaters on March 1.

Recently, I had a long conversation with Yudhvir Dahiya at his home. Here is an excerpt...

You are doing many things at once. Has there been this kind of atmosphere in your home?

-To some extent, you can believe so. We are residents of Sonipat, Haryana. Later we came to Delhi. My father Shri Raj Kanwar ji has held a senior position in a government job. But I have heard him singing since childhood. He used to sing amateur songs and bhajans. Whenever there was any function or gathering at home, he used to sing. My mother Mrs. Nirmala ji is fond of singing bhajans. She does satsang etc. at home itself. This environment at home also developed my interest in music in me. Apart from this, I feel that there is a lot in me that is God-given. However, I did not take any training in music or singing. I was educated in Kendriya Vidyalaya in Delhi. When I was studying in the third or fourth class, I used to participate in some cultural activities there. In music class in fifth grade, the teacher called me from behind and made me sit on the first bench.

After just a week he called me onto the stage. I also got prayers done every day. At home, I used to sing songs and also play the dholak. But no one taught me. Seeing these activities of mine, my father got me admitted to the seventh class in Bal Bhawan located near ITO in Delhi. I used to go there for two months during holidays. My father got me admitted to photography and sitar playing. I was not interested in photography. Then I got my name crossed out from there and got my name written in Drama. I enjoyed playing sitar and participating in drama activities at Bal Bhavan. Then I acted in a play. Due to my ignorance, the big role in the first play slipped away from me. In this play, there was a role of a fan fanning the king, which no one was able to play properly. I said that I could move the fan well. Then I got this character. When I was on stage, I felt happy. Then I learned to play sitar for four years at Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Delhi. I enjoyed learning sitar from Bedi sir there. I broke the record of eight years here. The examiner who came to test us had told my teacher to tell Yudhvir not to stop playing the sitar.

Its hands and fingers move like Ravishankar's daughter Anushka Anshkar. Then in 11th and 12th I took Fine Arts. He used to make very beautiful paintings. Despite having a fever, I made a very good painting in the board exams. And I got 100% marks. Now my father was in a dilemma as to what to teach him next, so he asked me whether I wanted to pursue sitar or fine arts. Then I said that I wanted to do drama. My father said that one should be equipped with weapons before entering the battlefield. There is Sandeep Marwah's 'Asian Academy' in Noida, and I got admission to it. I did a three-month course in acting, direction, photography, and editing. This helped me understand filmmaking along with acting. I got a job there also. I also used to do editing there. Seeing my work, Sandeep Ji one day said that if you want to go to Mumbai and act in films, then this is the right time. Then, at the age of nineteen, I came to Mumbai with my father's permission to become an actor. The father had promised to give three thousand rupees per month. And I came to Mumbai on 13 May 2003.

What was the reason for choosing acting instead of sitar playing or painting or music?

-Even today, twenty years later, I feel that my decision was right. If he had not taken this decision, today I would have been a painter or sitarist. I still remember what famous actor Amrish Puri's guru Pandit Satyadev Dubey said if you know how to dance well, you will become a dancer. Or if you know how to play guitar, you will become a guitarist. But an actor includes all the arts. God also wanted me to do the same that is why he was teaching me all kinds of arts since childhood. I am lucky that my family also gave me full support.

How did you proceed after reaching Mumbai?

-A friend of my father lives in Mumbai. I stayed directly at his house in the beginning. I started going to the Prithvi Theatre. Got introduced to some people there. I also met Nadira Babbar ji and I did a workshop with Nadira Babbar ji. At the request of a friend, I wrote an article in my name in the workshop. That's why everyone on stage knows me by the name of Aalekh. Nadira Ji is my teacher. I didn't do backstage. In those days, Nadira Babbar ji's musical play "Chashma Ude" was going on. There were 62 students in the theater workshop. But the very next day after the completion of the workshop, I got a call that I wanted to join the play. I played many characters from small to big in the play 'Chashma Ude'. At the age of 19, I played the role of a 97-year-old Hakim in the play “Shabaash Anarkali”. We also went to Muscat with this play. Hakim was one of the nine gems in Akbar's court.

Apart from this, what other plays did you do?

-Look, now it is difficult to tell the complete list. Apart from Nadira Babbar, I also did many plays with some other theater groups. We have toured with our plays in almost every city of India. I did 'Foot Notes of Life'. Vibha Chhibber ji and Nadira ji's son Arya Babbar are also there in it. When Raj Babbar ji came to the rehearsal, he had tears in his eyes. After watching this play, Ashish Vidyarthi ji hugged me. He told me, 'You are doing well.' Keep moving forward like this. ‘So this boosted our morale... Then we did 'Hum Kahen Aur Aap Sune' with Anant Mahadevan and Nadira Babbar. We did shows of this play all over India. Apart from this, he did many plays including 'Dauda Dauda Bhaaga Bhaaga', and 'Manushi Ji Ki Gudgudiyan'. From 2003 till now I have been doing plays only. Now for the first time a film 'What! I have become a hero in 'A Time', which is going to hit the theaters on March 1.

Twenty years to get the first film..?

-Look, you belong to a rich family, you have money. Every day you are eating protein. You are traveling in big vehicles. So you would have to struggle less. But I came to Mumbai at the age of nineteen. He was able to get only three thousand rupees per month from home. By doing everything himself, he was slowly developing himself. In such a situation, I was doing whatever work I was getting, from acting in plays to working as a voice-over artist. I never sat idle or idle for a single day. I don't think I did anything wrong. I did only that which is related to acting, even while dubbing we act. Admittedly, it took me twenty years to get the opportunity to act in a film, but I don't regret it. We kept on acting...For me, the happy thing is that I am not sitting in an office doing Babugiri from 9 am to 5 pm. I am just doing my favorite work. We act even while dubbing. I aimed to act. Whether we are doing it in front of the mic in front of the camera or on the stage. Or doing ad films. But I am happy that I am acting.

You got the first film “What! How did you get 'A Luck'?

-My theater partner is Bharat Jha. Who is also a casting director? One day Bharat Jha himself mentioned this film to me and told me that he had heard its story and script and its character fits me. Bharat Jha himself told me that he wanted to introduce me to the writer and director of this film, Mohan Azad. Now Bharat is my good friend. So at his request, I met Mohan Azad along with him. As soon as Mohan saw me, he said that you are the Chandu of my film. Then he told me the story of the film. I liked the story and the character of Chandu very much. After about a week, Mohan Azad called me and said that he had to audition. I was called to a studio in Malad and was asked to act in three scenes with different emotions and situations. I tried to do my best. From the expression on his face, I realized that he liked my work. Then he also praised my work…and on the same day, I was selected for the role of Chandu. Now the film is ready for screening.

What according to you is the movie “What a Kismat”?

-This is a lovely film made with honesty. I related to the story of this film and every person will relate to it. This story is related to everyone.

What would you say about your character Chandu?

-Chandu is an innocent person, who wants to do a lot in his life. He wants to achieve a lot. But many obstacles and difficulties come in his path. There is a saying that when a person's luck is bad, even a person sitting on a camel gets bitten by a dog. If you touch gold when your luck is bad, it will also turn into stone. Whatever work you engage in, there will be loss in it. Chandu is going through a similar phase and is struggling. But when Chandu's luck turns, everything he does starts becoming successful. It is worth watching what Chandu does after the reversal of fortunes. But Chandu is a very noble and truthful person. He is a civilized human being. Respects people older than him. He thinks about others before thinking about himself. That's why I related to Chandu. I believe that there is Chandu inside every person. And I am Chandu. I think it's all a game of timing. A person has to stand firm. One should never give up.

During the shooting of this film, did any part of your personal life come to mind while doing any scene?

-I don't remember any single incident. But during the entire shooting of the film, I realized that I have also gone through such ups and downs in my personal life. We too have been facing struggles and troubles in our lives every day.

You have been busy with theater for twenty years. Now, when you shot the film for the first time, what difference did you feel?

-In my opinion, there is not much difference. It depends on the artist how many years he has devoted to acting and how much understanding he has developed within himself. How much has the artist developed? The artist decides from his own experience that he has to keep his tone low in front of the camera and deliver the dialogue in a loud voice in the theatre so that the voice can reach the person sitting on the last seat. I would like to say that most of my plays take place inside Prithvi Theatre. Today, there is no significant difference between acting inside Prithvi Theater and acting in front of the camera. While acting in any play in Prithvi Theatre, the artist even breathes, which is heard by the audience. Therefore, while shooting the film, I did not notice much difference nor did I feel any problem. Then the director was there on the set to correct us. I have devoted twenty years to theatre, and have developed a good understanding of it. Look, emotions are ours only. While doing theatre, we have to cry completely, whereas, in front of the camera, even a tear is caught by the camera.

You are also making music videos. You also play some musical instruments. Would you like to tell us something about this?

-I have not taken any training in music, but I am fond of singing. I haven't even learned to sing. I have taken training in sitar playing for four years. But when he came to Mumbai and joined the theatre, he gave up playing the sitar. But one day it came to my mind to go to the studio and record some songs. I did that, made a video of it uploaded it on my YouTube channel, and got a good response. Dancing, singing, acting, fighting, everything is there in theatre. I learned to play guitar from YouTube. I have a desire to learn something new every day.

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