How a failed architecture student became a titan of Indian cinema and television
In short: Born in 1939, Parikshit Sahni was named by Rabindranath Tagore and raised in a family of legendary actors. Though he initially struggled with mathematics in Moscow, his pivot to film direction launched a prolific career spanning decades of Hindi and Punjabi classics, television staples, and blockbuster hits like 3 Idiots.
Parikshit Sahni was born in Murree, British India, into a family deeply embedded in the arts. His father, Balraj Sahni, was a renowned actor, and his uncle, Bhisham Sahni, was a celebrated writer. His early life was defined by intellectual and creative influences; he was named by the poet Rabindranath Tagore while his father taught at Visva-Bharati University. After attending the Lawrence School in Sanawar and St. Stephen's College in Delhi, his path toward the arts seemed natural, yet his journey into filmmaking was initially circuitous.
Following his uncle's advice, Sahni moved to Moscow to study architecture. However, his difficulty with mathematics led him to pivot toward the Moscow Cinema Institute, where he completed a five-year course in film direction. Returning to India in 1966, he began his professional career, briefly assisting Raj Kapoor on the production of Mera Naam Joker before transitioning into acting. His early work included the 1970 film Pavitra Paapi, which featured his father, and the 1968 film Anokhi Raat, during which he briefly adopted the screen name Ajay Sahni at the suggestion of his friend, actor Sanjeev Kumar.
Sahni’s career is marked by a versatile range across both cinema and television. He appeared in iconic films such as Kaala Patthar and the 1989 Punjabi classic Marhi Da Diva. In later years, he became a familiar face in contemporary hits, notably playing the father of R. Madhavan’s character in the 2009 blockbuster 3 Idiots, as well as appearing in Rajkumar Hirani’s Lage Raho Munna Bhai and PK. His television work was equally significant, including roles in Gul Gulshan Gulfaam, which he also produced, and the long-running series Heena. Beyond his screen work, Sahni has authored books, including a memoir about his father titled The Non-conformist and a collection of personal adventures, Strange Encounters, published in 2019 and 2022 respectively.
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