Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 3 Oct: Tulas University hosted the second day of the 11th Edition of the Dehradun International Film Festival (DIFF), bringing together an impressive line-up of actors and entertainment personalities for an engaging day of cinema, conversation and inspiration.
The festival offered students an opportunity to interact directly with some of the industry’s well-known faces and gain insights into acting, filmmaking, perseverance, creativity and the realities of pursuing a career in the arts.
The day featured interactive talk shows with Hiten Tejwani, Gauri Pradhan Tejwani, Mukesh Rishi, Raajan Modi, Rajesh Tailang, Deepak Parashar, Shweta Tripathi and Arjun Firoz Khan. The sessions were moderated by Vijay Vikram Singh, the renowned voice artist and actor whose voice has been associated with the narration of Bigg Boss since 2010 along with Shantanu Ganguly and Roopa Soni.
Founder & President of Tulas Group Sunil Kumar Jain extended his best wishes to all the guests and students present on the occasion.
The festival was attended by Co-Founder and Senior Vice President, Tulas University, Raunak Jain; Co-Founder and Director General, Tulas University, Silky Jain Marwah; Prateek Marwah, Sangeeta Jain, Co-Founder and Vice President Technology, Raghav Garg; Manju Garg, Ritika Garg and DIFF Founder Rajesh Sharma, along with the students of Tulas University and Tulas International School.
The trailer of the upcoming film Misaal was also screened during the festival. The film, directed by Rajiv S. Ruia, is based on a real-life story and features Hiten Tejwani and Gauri Pradhan Tejwani among its cast.
Popular television and film actor Hiten Tejwani, widely recognised for his roles in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Pavitra Rishta and Gangaa, spoke about his approach to acting and the importance of the audience. He said, “I don’t worry about the end result; in the end, it’s all about the audience. If you give 100%, it will be good.” Speaking about his role in Misaal, he added that it was a different character for him.
Gauri Pradhan Tejwani, known for her memorable television roles in Kutumb, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Special Squad, encouraged students to watch Misaal. She said, “Don’t miss the film. It’s a beautiful film and one must watch it.”
Veteran actor Mukesh Rishi, known for his performances in films such as Sarfarosh, Koi… Mil Gaya and Gunda, spoke about his personal connection with Dehradun and his journey in the entertainment industry. Recalling his college years in Chandigarh and his frequent journeys to Dehradun on his Royal Enfield, he said, “I’ve been to Dehradun quite many times and have done a few series here. I used to study in Chandigarh and used to travel to Dehradun on my Royal Enfield. It was a lovely time.”
Reflecting on his own journey from a small town to the entertainment industry, Rishi spoke about the importance of hard work and perseverance. He also advised students not to feel disappointed if their parents have different professional expectations, reminding them that parents ultimately want the best for their children and support them.
Actor Raajan Modi spoke about the relationship between an actor and the character being portrayed. He said that he likes to live his life according to the character he plays. Reflecting on success in the film industry, he said, “Every actor wants a blockbuster or a super hit, but not every film works. One shouldn’t stop their hard work despite the success or failure of their film.”
Acclaimed actor Rajesh Tailang, known for his widely recognised performances in Mirzapur, Delhi Crime, and Bandish Bandits, shared several insights from his artistic journey.
Recalling his experience of working with Amitabh Bachchan in the 2004 film Dev, Tailang spoke about how meeting Bachchan briefly made him break character while witnessing the legendary actor’s personality. He observed that people coming from small backgrounds often have bigger and more realistic dreams. Addressing the younger generation, he advised students to learn two important skills — managing their emotions and processing information. He also reflected on his characters in Mirzapur and Bandish Bandits.
Veteran actor Deepak Parashar, also participated in an interactive talk show with the students. The session provided students with an opportunity to hear from an actor with decades of experience across Hindi cinema and television.
Actor Arjun Firoz Khan, best known for portraying Arjuna in B.R. Chopra’s landmark television series Mahabharat, shared an inspiring account of his unexpected entry into the film and television industry.
Recalling how he landed the role of Arjun, Khan said that it happened almost by accident. He was initially rejected because the audition script was in Hindi and he could not read Hindi at the time, but B.R. Chopra eventually saw something in him and gave him the role. Speaking about religious discrimination in the entertainment industry, Khan emphasised that art transcends religion. He said that whether an individual is an actor, singer or dancer, “an artist doesn’t belong to any religion.”
Actor Shweta Tripathi, known for her performances in Masaan, Haraamkhor and the acclaimed series Mirzapur, spoke about the importance of nurturing one’s interests and remaining open to different possibilities in life. Sharing her own journey, she said, “For me, dance and drama has been more than a hobby for me since childhood.” She encouraged students to continue pursuing hobbies that genuinely make them happy and not to restrict themselves to a single career path.
Tripathi shared that she initially wanted to become a lawyer after school because she wanted to bring about social change, but went on to explore multiple professions while continuing theatre throughout her journey. Addressing the young women present at the festival, she strongly emphasised financial independence, saying, “To all the girls present here, please be financially independent and do not depend on anyone.”
She also spoke about mental health awareness, encouraging students to seek professional counselling without hesitation. Addressing women’s safety in the film industry, she advised young women to trust their instincts and follow their gut feeling if they ever feel uncomfortable around someone.
The festival was anchored by Vani, who kept the sessions engaging and interactive throughout the day.
