Parikshit Sahni’s childhood photos with his father and siblings
Physical appearance
Height (approx): 5′ 7″
Hair Color: Salt & pepper
Eye Color: Dark brown
Family
Parents & Siblings
His father, Balraj Sahni (born Yudhishthir Sahni), is an Indian film and stage actor. His father died on April 13, 1973 at the age of 59. Before India’s independence in 1947, Balraj Sahni lived with his family in Rawalpindi (Pakistan). In 1936, he married Damayanti Sahni, who was also an actress. Reportedly, when Parikshit was born, his parents were working as teachers at Visva-Bharati Tagore University in Shantiniketan, Bengal. Balraj Sahni bought a Gurmukhi typewriter and learned Gurumukhi script writing. With Mahatma Gandhi’s blessing, Parikshit’s parents went to London, where his father joined the BBC-London Hindi service as a radio announcer and returned to India in 1943.
Parikshit Sahni with his father, Balraj Sahni
When they came to India from London, Balraj Sahni and Damayanti Sahni were associated with the Communist Party of India. Damayanti worked in the slums and also shared food with the slum dwellers which resulted in her being diagnosed with Amoebic dysentery, a parasitic infection that spreads in the body as a result of consuming contaminated water. In 1947, the disease resulted in a massive heart attack, and he died at the age of 26.
Parikshit Sahni’s father and mother (Damayanti Sahni)
Distraught over his wife’s death, Balraj Sahni (Parisshit’s father) often banged his head against the wall and cried,
“Dammo nahi rahee, Dammo chali gayee.”
In 1951, she married her first cousin, Santosh Chandhok, an author and television writer.
Balraj Sahni with his second wife, Santosh Chandhok
Balraj Sahni was part of the march led by the Communist Party. After the mob went out of control, the police took action against the lathi charge where Balraj Sahni was arrested and sent to jail. Balraj wrote his autobiography ‘Meri Filmi Aatmakatha,’ which was released in 1974. The last film Balraj acted in was ‘Garam Hawa’ (1974). He died the same day he completed the dubbing work for the film, and the last line he recorded for the film was “Insaan Kab Tak Akela Jee Sakta Hai?”
‘Meri Filmi Aatmakatha’ by Balraj Sahni
In 1947, Damayanti Sahni gave birth to their daughter, Shabnam Sahni. Shabnam is married to a man in Kolkata. Her mother-in-law started teasing her about her relationship with a Muslim man, which Shabnam didn’t like.” His marriage was not good so he left his in-laws and returned home. He works as a teacher at Sadhana School in Mumbai. In 1972, around the age of 26-27, he suffered a Brain Hemorrhage and died.
Parikshit Sahni’s sister, Shabnam Sahni
Sanober Sahni is Parikshit’s half-sister from his father’s second marriage to Santosh Chandhok.
Wife & Children
Parikshit Sahni is the widower of Aruna Sahni. They have two daughters, Aditi Sahni and Tania Sahni. Later, he married Nandini Sahni. They have a son named Varn Sahni. Parikshit has a granddaughter, Niharika Sahni, who is a film director.
Parikshit Sahni and his wife, the late Aruna Sahni
Other relatives
Parikshit’s paternal uncle Bhisham Sahni is a noted Hindi fiction writer who was honored with the Padma Bhushan in 1998. Parikshit’s wife Aruna Sahni is the niece of late Bollywood actor Dev Anand and cousin of Indian filmmaker Shekhar Kapur.
religious views
Parikshit Sahni’s father was an atheist. Parikshit grew up in an environment that also made him an atheist; however, when he read the scriptures of various religions such as the Bhagavad Gita, the Quran, and the Bible, he became a spiritual person.
Signature/Autograph
(22-3-1978); Signature of Parikshit Sahni
Career
Sahni started her career as a child artist. After Parikshit returned from Moscow in 1966, at the age of 26, he began his film career in India.
Assistant Director
Parikshit assisted Raj Kapoor in the Hindi film Mera Naam Joker, but Parikshit left him when he was offered a role in the film ‘Anokhi Raat’ in 1968. Parikshit did an apprenticeship in the Russian film ‘War and Peace.’ She is a helper and also does chores like sweeping and cleaning.
Actor
Movie
Hindi
In 1951, when Parikshit was around 10 years old, he made his debut as a child artist with the film ‘Hulchul.’
Parikshit Sahni in a still from the film Hulchul (1951)
In 1951, he played the role of Shyamu in the film ‘Deedar.’
Parikshit Sahni and Tabassum in a still from the song ‘Bachpan Ke Din Bhoolana Dena’ from the movie ‘Deedar’
He played the role of Kedarnath in the Hindi film Pavitra Paapi (1970), which was based on a Punjabi novel by Nanak Singh. Parikshit’s father, Balraj Sahni, also acted in the film.
Parikshit Sahni on the official poster of the movie Pavitra Paapi (1970)
In the 2009 Bollywood film ‘3 Idiots,’ Parikshit Sahni played the role of Farhan Qureshi’s father, Salim Qureshi.
Parikshit Sahni in a still from the movie ‘3 Idiots’
In 2014, Parikshit played Jaggu’s father, Jayprakash Sahni, in the film ‘PK.’
Parikshit Sahni in a still from the movie ‘PK’
Parikshit appeared in many Bollywood films including Preet Ki Dori (1971), Hindustan Ki Kasam (1973), Jallian Wala Bagh (1977), Insaaf Main Karoonga (1985), Waqt Ka Badshah (1992), Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006), Mere Brother Ki Dulhan (2011), and Housefull 4 (2019).
Punjabi
In 1989, Parikshit made his Punjabi debut with the film Marhi Da Diva. In 1978, he acted in the movie ‘Udeekan.’
In 1987, he appeared in the TV show ‘Gul Gulshan Gulfam’ on DD National where he played the role of an old man.
Parikshit Sahni (far right) in a still from the TV program ‘Gul Gulshan Gulfam’ (1987)
Later, he appeared in many TV shows including Mirza Ghalib (1988), The Great Maratha (1994), Heena (1998), and Saat Phere: Saloni Ka Safar (2007).
Balraj Sahni Productions
Parikshit started his own production company called Balraj Sahni Productions. He produced the TV series Firangi, Khoj, Kalpana, and Lal Kothi Alvida on Doordarshan. He produced and wrote the script for the 2008 TV program ‘London Ki Ek Raat,’ which also aired on Doordarshan. He directed the film ‘Pakda Gaya Par Kaun,’ a film for children, produced under his own production banner.
Writer
In 2019, Parikshit wrote a biography about his father titled ‘The Non-Conformist: Memories of My Father Balraj Sahni.’
‘The Non-Conformist Memories of My Father Balraj Sahni’ by Parikshit Sahni
Parikshit’s second book titled Strange Encounters was released on 28 August 2022.
‘Strange Encounter’ by Parikshit Sahni
Facts/Trivia
- Doordarshan fans still remember her for her performance in the DD show ‘Gul Gulshan Gulfam.’
- Parikshit enjoys reading and writing. In an interview, he said that he never wanted to be an actor. Furthermore, he added,
I am not serious as an actor like my father. My main love is writing and directing. I’m not really interested (in acting). I act only because of him. People dumped me because I was Balraj Sahni’s son, thinking I might know something good about acting.”
- During the shooting of the film ‘Veer Shivaji,’ Parikshit injured his spine. It took him a year to recover from the accident.
- Parikshit Sahni changed his screen name to Ajay Sahni at the suggestion of his friend Sanjeev Kumar during the shooting of their 1968 film ‘Anokhi Raat,’ but he changed to his previous name a few years later.
- He was very interested in painting during his school days and had a studio in Lokhandwala.
- During the interview, Parikshit shared that after the death of his father and sister, he became an alcoholic and started abusing substances; however, he quit within a year.
Parikshit Sahni holding a glass of wine
- When Parikshit was young, he used to accompany his father on his shoots. Many times, in the absence of the actor, Parikshit’s father would suggest Parikshit wear a fake mustache and play their part.
- The 1977 Bollywood film ‘Jallian Wala Bagh’ has a scene where Parikshit’s character, Uddham Singh, is required to spit on Mahatma Gandhi, portrayed by Parikshit’s father Balraj Sahni. It was a difficult scene for Parikshit as he did not want to spit on his father; however, Balraj tells Parikshit that he is not his father but a character in the script that Parikshit follows performing the scene.
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
