Parzaan Dastur became a familiar face to moviegoers after he played the young Sikh boy in Karan Johar’s ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,’ which was released in 1998. His brief appearance alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol created a lasting impression. Decades later, audiences still remember his emotional request to Kajol’s character, Anjali: ‘Tussi Jaa Rahe Ho? Tussi Na Jao’.Parzaan Dastur was just six years old when he appeared in the romantic drama. However, his career eventually moved beyond acting, taking him into assistant direction, writing and production. He has since worked on several film projects and built a career creating content across different formats.
Parzaan Dastur recalls working with Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol
During a 2021 conversation with Brut India, Dastur reflected on his experience filming ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’. He described the shoot as ‘party time’, remembering it as an enjoyable experience during his childhood. People frequently remind Parzaan Dastur of his opportunity to share screen space with Shah Rukh Khan. Some tell him how fortunate he was to have been held by the Bollywood superstar during filming. Parzaan Dastur also recalled spending time with Kajol away from the camera. Their interactions included going on walks together during the shoot, leaving him with fond memories of working with the actress.
From ‘Mohabbatein’ to ‘Parzania’, his acting career expanded
Following his appearance in ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, Dastur continued acting in Hindi films. His credits included ‘Mohabbatein’, ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’, ‘Zubeidaa’, ‘Hum Tum’, ‘Haathi Ka Anda’ and ‘Break Ke Baad’. He later appeared in projects that explored more serious subjects. In Rahul Dholakia’s ‘Parzania’ (2007), Dastur played a boy who goes missing during the 2002 Gujarat riots. He also appeared in Piyush Jha’s ‘Sikandar’ (2009), portraying a young football enthusiast whose life changes after he discovers a gun. His work extended beyond live-action performances. Parzaan Dastur appeared in advertisements and lent his voice to an animated character in ‘Hum Tum’ (2004), starring Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji.
Parzaan Dastur worked behind the camera on Bollywood films
After studying business management, Parzaan Dastur returned to the entertainment industry in a different role. He began working as an assistant director, gaining experience across film productions.His credits included Karan Johar’s ‘Student of the Year’ (2012). He also worked on the television series ‘Kareena Kareena’, Imran Khan-starrer ‘Gori Tere Pyaar Mein’ (2013) and ‘Fitoor’ (2016), featuring Katrina Kaif and Aditya Roy Kapur. Parzaan Dastur’s last on-screen appearance was in ‘Pocket Mummy’ (2017), a project that also involved him as a writer.
Actor starts production house and filmmaking podcast
As reported by News 18, after working as an assistant director for several years, Parzaan Dastur joined a digital marketing firm. His experience there helped develop his interest in writing, eventually prompting him to establish his own production house. For nearly a decade, he has worked on advertisements, music videos, branded content and fiction projects. He also hosts TCP Originals, a filmmaking podcast featuring discussions with writers and filmmakers about screenwriting.
Parzaan Dastur questions why he did not find acting success
Despite continuing his work in the entertainment industry, Parzaan Dastur has spoken candidly about not achieving the mainstream acting success he once hoped for. In his 2021 interview with Brut India, he explained how he still wonders what held him back. “I am working really hard as a writer, director, producer. I don’t know why I didn’t find success in mainstream cinema; I keep asking myself that question. Is it because I am short? Or my voice is not so deep? It might be that I am not as talented as I need to be. Maybe if I had somebody to tell me what it exactly was then, I would have known better.”Although audiences continue to associate him with his childhood role, Parzaan Dastur has built a professional path beyond acting. His work now spans writing, production and filmmaking.