‘As thick we are as family, we don’t indulge as one while making a film’

It wasn’t director Saandeep Patel at the helm during our fun shoot celebrating the International Day of Families, as his actress-daughter Aarohi took over, donning the director’s hat. Be it her actor-husband Tatsat Munshi, actress-RJ-mother Aarti Vyas Patel or her sister Sanjanaa, who’s pursuing music, Aarohi ensured each frame captured their natural chemistry. “That is how our family has always been – fun, chaotic and supportive,” Aarohi tells us, adding, “It is very important for families to encourage and support your careers and decisions, and for us, that has come quite naturally.”From sharing their personal and professional dynamics, to sharing their “ideal break as a family”, here are some fun excerpts:‘On set, our film takes precedence over family’While Aarohi and Aarti have worked with Saandeep in Love Ni Bhavai, it was Aum Mangalam Singlem where Tatsat and Sanjanaa (in costumes department) too joined in. Talking about their dynamics, Aarti says, “While there is a certain ease and comfort of working amidst the people you know, our on-set dynamics are very different. Sanjanaa and Tatsat used to bond well, Aarohi and Tatsat were thorough professionals. In fact, Saandeep and I don’t even talk on set until required. He’s the director and I am an actor.”Saandeep adds, “We don’t indulge as a family while making a film. In fact, we seem the most distant during the shoot, kyunki sab ka working style aur thought process different hai.”Aarohi laughs, “Mainly Papa and I; we are at loggerheads most of the time during the production, especially on the treatment of the character I am portraying.” Aarti interjects, “As for me, I choose to disappear from that space immediately! (laughs).”It was inspiring to grow in a family full of artistes: TatsatThe recent addition to the growing family is son-in-law Tatsat and his family. The actor is the nephew of the sugam sangeet maestros, Shyamal and Saumil Munshi, while Padma Shri Tushar Shukla is his uncle, and writer Mitai Shukla is his cousin. Talking about growing around such artistes, Tatsat shares, “Our discussions at home always centred around art and artistes. I have grown up listening to and reciting poems or singing sugam sangeet, and meeting veterans including Jagjit Singh and Pankaj Udhas. My uncles have been a solid support system while I was entering showbiz.”My father too was a theatre artiste, and he always told me that whether it is the biggest of successes or lowest of failures, you must keep your stability and maturity during both the phases. And that is how we continue to deal with the ups and downs of our respective careers-Saandeep PatelThe best thing about being a part of a family who is also in the (film) industry is that their opinions and suggestions are honest and real. Whenever I am offered a project or a role, I come to Aarohi and our parents to seek their advice-Tatsat MunshiI am only starting my journey in music, while my family is already excelling at what they do. I do want to live up to the legacy they have created. Although I am stepping into a different field, this is one pressure I have taken up myself, to prove myself (smiles)-Sanjanaa PatelWe all have our hectic schedules, and our timelines usually don’t match. So, jab sab saath hote hai, wo humara Sunday hota hai. We all bond over coffee, films, games and gossip-Aarti PatelAll of us deal with trolling differently. When I am the target, it takes me a day or a two to come out of it, but Tatsat handles me well. Papa is very curious and gets affected more, while mummy has adapted to ‘ignorance is bliss’. But when it comes to our family, Sanjanaa and I are at forefront and fight it out sometimes-Aarohi