As someone with a checkered past, I have a million regrets about myself, and I spend many days beating myself up over some of them. What if we could just go back in time and fix those blunders? Wouldn’t that solve anything and make life greater? It’s not possible, at least not yet, but in one particular movie, it is. I’m talking about Desi Standard Time Travel, a movie that has gotten to a lot of places as of recently, and tells the story of a man named Imran who has just become a father, but loses his own dad. As someone who was distant from his parents, Imran has no idea who his dad was, and all he thought about his dad was what set father and son apart. The same thing could happen to Imran and his daughter if he’s not careful, so he consults a time travel agency to reconnect with his dad and discovers the truth of both his father and himself. It sounds like a very heartwarming tale that will make you consider the connection between you and your parents. It kind of is for me right now as I’m writing this during a time when my parents are taking the most extravagant vacation since before I was even born, and while the goodbye was extremely neutral I find myself feeling pretty concerned, since I’m now overlooking their residence, keeping the landominium clean and feeding the three cats. One advantage is that me and my brother seem to be connecting better and have figured housekeeping out after playing it by ear. But let’s get more into this movie. Desi Standard Time Travel pretty much brings a tear to my eye at just the thought, and I just had to talk to Adolyn H. Dar about his performance as Imran, and how the whole experience went. We had a short but fantastic and fact-filled interview discussing the whole thing together. The time to read is now.
HNMAG: Let’s start off by talking about Desi Standard Time Travel. What was it like being in such an interesting sounding movie?
Adolyn H. Dar: It was a fantastic time, the film is a sci-fi film but it really is a universal film about family, the connections we have to our parents, and how a conversation can bridge generational divides.
HNMAG: And when you heard you got the role, how did you feel about getting it?
Adolyn H. Dar: I was really excited about it. A personal story related to that is before I had auditioned for that role, my father had been diagnosed with cancer, and is still fighting today. But a couple months before that, I had basically taken a couple years off of acting and this was one of my first auditions. What’s really amazing about this is that it’s the story of a young man who loses his father and gets a chance to go back in time and have one last conversation with his dad. While I was auditioning for it, I was thinking “I’m kind of in that stage right now, these might be the last conversations I have with my dad.” and when I finally booked the part, I felt so honoured and so happy but what’s really serendipitous about it is the character’s name Imran, which is the same name as my dad’s name. I just thought it was one of those things that happens because fate decides.
HNMAG: Was there anything you studied or looked into before taking on the role in this movie?
Adolyn H. Dar: I definitely looked up time travel: What are the rules?, and that’s a debate that can go on forever and ever. I felt really connected to the character, and I felt like the script gave me a lot to work with and I didn’t feel like I had to do any external research. It was set in Ontario where I grew up and it was a story for and by a South-Asian so there was something that felt like home.
HNMAG: While on set, did you come across any particular challenges?
Adolyn H. Dar: On the very first day, it was me playing the ending of the movie, without any other actors. I hadn’t met my co-stars who were playing my mom and dad at the time, so I had to build a relationship as many actors do to a proverbial green screen, an empty phone, or a space in the air while someone else read the lines. I’m really grateful for the training that I’ve had because it prepared me for that moment.
HNMAG: Were there any particular advantages on set?
Adolyn H. Dar: One of the advantages was I had a great crew, great cast, and a great director, great producers. Everyone came together to create an inclusive and safe space, which meant I could take the character to emotional depths that felt really supportive.
HNMAG: It sounds like you had a great time working with everyone.
Adolyn H. Dar: Absolutely, it was a labour of love so everyone gets credit when it comes to making a movie like this.
HNMAG: Have you done similar roles in the past or is this something new to you?
Adolyn H. Dar: Many of the roles that I’ve had in the past haven’t been necessarily at this level of depth or written by and for a South-Asian lead. For me it was an incredible breakthrough opportunity to bring 100% of who I am to the story. From the fact that I was able to improvise in my own language, to how I was surrounded by South-Asians both behind and in front of the camera.
HNMAG: Would you hope to take on a similar role like this again?
Adolyn H. Dar: 100%, absolutely. I would hope that a story like this gets lengthened a feature further, or any other opportunities I might get to work with all kinds of different storytellers out there.
HNMAG: I hear you also got an award nomination. How did you react to that?
Adolyn H. Dar: That was a surprise for sure, but it was a big win just to get nominated by my peers across Canada for the work I did on this film. Especially, because I did put my heart and soul into this role bringing it to life and a personal touch of my own story with what I was going through.
Adolyn felt his dad’s story also got brought to light because of the performance and with a nomination for a performance like that meant the world. Now how about an actual award? Well, I found out in a bit. And now, so will YOU.
HNMAG: It’s currently on a festival run. How have audience been enjoying it?
Adolyn H. Dar: The audiences have loved it! We have been wracking up all these audience awards, judge awards, jury choice awards, and I think the most beautiful thing is people coming up to me afterwards and telling me how they’re going to call their parents after watching the film.
HNMAG: And for those who haven’t seen it, what can they expect?
Adolyn H. Dar: They can expect a heartwarming story, that will leave you hugging your loved ones by the end.
HNMAG: If you had the power to time-travel, where would you go to?
Adolyn H. Dar: I’ve been asked this question a few times now (laughs) and the very first time someone asked I was 18. I was writing an essay for a scholarship and they asked that question. What would you do, and where would you go if you could go back in time? and for that essay I wrote that I wouldn’t go back in time and I wouldn’t change anything because that kind of responsibility and the power that comes with that kind of choice is beyond me. I’d be too tempted to make little funny changes here and there that I don’t think I’d know what the ramifications could be. I think I’m going to stick with that answer, and say I don’t think I’d go anywhere. Who knows what could happen? The butterfly effect, you know?
Adolyn makes a very valid point. As tempting as it is to right a whole bunch of wrongs throughout my life, I think it’s best I don’t consider time travel at all. Of course, if it could show that my life did improve for the better, MAYBE it would be worth it. In fact, I would like to make a point in warning EVERYBODY not to consider time travel, but in case you feel the notion to even after reading this, where would you travel to and what would you do? Leave your answer in the comments below, maybe some of these things will actually benefit everybody. In the meantime, consider watching this movie in the future when it’s available, and it might help you re-evaluate your past even more so than this present-day interview.