“Tagore told my father, ‘You gave your exam, and your child also gave the exam. So you can name him Parikshit.’ That’s how my name came to be,” he said.
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Veteran actor Parikshit Sahni who is popular for his roles in films like ‘Lage Raho Munna Bhai’, ‘PK’, and ‘3 Idiots’ recently shared a fascinating story behind his name, and it involves none other than Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
In a conversation with ANI, Sahni opened up about his early life. His mother Damayanti Sahni passed away when he was very young. And his father, legendary actor Balraj Sahni, was often away for work including trips to the United Kingdom. This meant Parikshit was largely raised by his grandparents.
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“I grew up in Rawalpindi until I was seven,” he recalled. “My parents went to Calcutta to spend some time with Tagore and then planned to travel to England. But when World War II started in 1939, my grandparents didn’t let me go with them. My father was fearless, adventurous, and went to England anyway. I stayed behind with my grandparents, and I didn’t see him again for almost six to seven years.”
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Parikshit also revealed the charming story behind his unique name. “My mother was pregnant with me while living in Shantiniketan. She was preparing for her BA exams at the time. Tagore told my father, ‘You gave your exam, and your child also gave the exam. So you can name him Parikshit.’ That’s how my name came to be,” he said.
The actor also reflected on the personal losses in his family and their profound impact on his father. He spoke about the tragic death of his sister Shabnam at just 26 and his mother’s untimely passing at the same age.
“My father was deeply affected by Shabnam’s death. He was heartbroken, and a year later, he too passed away,” Parikshit said.
Born in the Rawalpindi district of what is now Pakistan, Parikshit Sahni has carved out a remarkable career in Indian cinema. Over the decades, he has shared screen space with acting greats like Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha. He has also been part of blockbuster films by Rajkumar Hirani performing alongside stars such as Aamir Khan and Sanjay Dutt.
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