A projector screen was being mounted in Saurav Das and Darshana Banik’s cosy Chetla pad when t2 dropped by for a chat with the actor couple who got married last month. “I started renovating the house because I was getting married and I had to make sure that she is comfortable,” said Saurav, in between getting ready for the shoot and coordinating with the technicians. Darshana, looking easy-breezy in a dress, walked in and our shoot began. Cute and oh-so-romantic. The vibe that eased into our chat as well. Excerpts.

How did it all begin for the both of you?

Darshana: We first met in 2015 on the sets of a shoot for the small screen and worked for four-five days, but there wasn’t anything special between us. Around 2021-22, we started working on back-to-back projects and were going through similar patches in our lives and would share our experiences. A friendship developed which led to a connection.
Saurav: It was actually from reel to real. I was her first reel hero in 2015, but before we met each other, we didn’t know about each other’s existence! She was into modelling then and I was from theatre and had done a couple of serials. Aami bhebe nitam manushjon aamai chene, but Darshana Banik didn’t know me. I had been hearing the name ‘Darshana Banik’ since the morning of the shoot, but didn’t know her. Then ekjon dhoke, jake aparup sundori dekhte. The first thought was she was out of my league.
Darshana: That was my first acting assignment and I wasn’t able to grasp the nuances fully.
Saurav: I explained things to her and I liked interacting with her. After that shoot, we weren’t in touch much, barring rare interactions on social media. Then when we became friends, I never really had the future in mind, but when the possibility did occur to me, I confided in her.
Darshana: I told him he wasn’t my type! (Laughs) Back in 2015, I had found him to be flamboyant, irresponsible and immature.
Saurav: She said, I talk too much.
Darshana: Then he just stopped talking for the next 15 minutes. I always had this notion that the man I’d get married to would be calmer than me. Then he proposed to me in 2022. Our marriage got fixed in December of 2022.

What made you so sure about each other?

Darshana: I didn’t really have a long checklist. I wanted my man to be responsible and a nice person and for our upbringing to be similar. He is very caring and on sets, he is the same with everyone. In a relationship, it is important to be on the same page. At the beginning of our relationship, we both were clear that we wanted to get married and settle down.
Saurav: When we both developed feelings for one another, she said I’d have to talk to her father for marriage. Family plays a pivotal part in her life. She has this power to bind everybody together. From the time we became friends, she would speak to my mother more than I would and would remind me to visit home. I left home when I was 17 to pursue theatre and would live alone and speak to my parents on and off. So, the distance that had started to build up, after she came into my life, that has gotten bridged. We had an intimate celebration with both the families after our marriage and it was Darshana’s idea and I’ll cherish it forever. What I truly admire is that she is such a positive person. Earlier, I would follow very few people on social media. Oke dyakhar por, aami shobaike follow kori. So what if he or she doesn’t follow me, I’ll follow because I like their work.

Is it your faith in the institution of marriage that made you decide to tie the knot early in your lives?

Saurav: It’s faith in the person. There was a phase when I didn’t want to get married at all. But with her (Darshana), I couldn’t think of anything else other than marriage. So, the right person has to come into your life. I want to spend the rest of my life with her.
Darshana: I always had faith in this institution and all the marriages around me have been successful. I always wanted to get married in my late 20s or early 30s. Of course, I have had failed relationships too, but that hasn’t been able to shake my faith in marriage.
Saurav: There was a phase when I felt aami thik na and there was a lot of self-doubt. And, our friendship started when I was going through this phase.

So, how has married life been so far?

Darshana: He made breakfast for me and when he stepped out for a meeting, he had phuchka sent to me because I love phuchka.
Saurav: I am learning every day. I have lived alone all my life and I am enjoying this but the thought that this might get taxing at one point is also playing on my mind, but no, this has to become a habit just like you take a bath or have your meals. I have also started watering the plants. So, yes, this is a huge change for me.

Darshana, what are the things you have done for Saurav?

Saurav: Majhe majhe shudhu bolchhe aamakeo korte hobe! (Laughs)
Darshana: He hasn’t given me any opportunity!
Saurav: I have seen how pampered she is at home and I want her to experience the same here. Maybe it’s not possible to replicate it fully, but that’s what I want.

Darshana, what have you learnt from Saurav?

His passion for his work. He is committed and dedicated to a T and I have realised my mistakes at work. I can say this has made me dedicated even further in my work. But this engagement is also his minus point because once he is involved in something, o aar char pashta dekhe na.

What do you have in common?

Darshana: We are both kind, honest and hardworking. We motivate each other to keep our chins up in the face of rejection.
Saurav: We are learning about each other too, every day.

What kind of films do you like watching, Saurav?

I like documentaries, especially those on crime, and thrillers. Since I have lived alone from the age of 17, I have seen life and the characters I play have references from my experiences.

What about you, Darshana?

I like all kinds... thrillers, rom-coms and documentaries. He likes dark themes...

Darshana, what would you like to introduce Saurav to?

Darshana: He hasn’t seen a lot of ‘90s films like Mohabbatein, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and I keep telling him, he won’t enjoy it that much now if he watches these films.
Saurav: I have seen Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai. I started watching after Hrithik Roshan debuted. I love Hrithik Roshan as an actor.

What are the advantages of being married to someone from the same profession, especially acting?

Darshana: I often crib that I am not getting the right opportunities, but he tells me to give my best to whatever I am doing even if one person is watching it. He is very understanding and I know even if I had to leave a day after our marriage for work, he would be the first person to encourage me to take it up.
Saurav: She knows I don’t have a phone on me while I am shooting. If you are not from the same fraternity, you would never understand. The kind of series or work I do often entails intimate scenes and for me, art comes first. My partner has to understand that.

Darshana, can you view Saurav’s work as a viewer per se?

Darshana: I can. This is his work and I know how much he loves his work. I never interfere in his professional sphere. I have always maintained that we should have individual identities and have strong personalities... like a Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone...
Saurav: Same goes for me... I am very lucky that way. There are a lot of actors who say they can’t do a particular scene...

What are your expectations from each other?

Saurav: I have learnt that you should not expect, but if you talk about our lives together, I see a bright future, like a fairy tale, which doesn’t happen, but I shall try.
Darshana: There will be ups and downs, but I would want us to stick it out and never disrespect one another and always make time for each other. We should do good work and may the family increase!

Darshana’s costumes: Soumya Nandi
Styling: Kiara Sen
Makeup: Babusona Saha
Hair: Gini Halder