‘Not in a mental space to joke’: Dhyan Sreenivasan on first public appearance after father’s passing

Actor-director Dhyan Sreenivasan attended a public event for the first time since the passing of his father, Sreenivasan. He was at the first anniversary celebration of the Blue Hill Foundation. Dhyan said that as it has been only a month and a half since his father’s demise, he is not in a frame of mind to crack jokes. However, he added that he chose to attend the event keeping in mind the good intention behind this initiative. On stage, the actor also spoke about the advice once given by one of his father’s friends regarding how the contentment one gets from helping others is more than merely accumulating wealth in life.

“This is a heavy burden. Usually, when I arrive somewhere, people expect that I will crack a few jokes and make everyone laugh. To be honest, I am not in that mental state right now, because it has only been a month and a half since my father passed away. But considering the sincerity of intention behind an event like this, I felt I should come. This is my first public appearance after my father’s death. So, when something like this comes up, and when I think about its intent, I felt I should attend. Therefore, please do not expect any jokes from me,” Dhyan Sreenivasan said.

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“This was a few years ago, when I was in college. I was not really studying, just going about aimlessly. One day, when one of my father’s friends, someone associated with the film industry, came home, he told me something. He said, “If you ever make it in life, when money starts coming into your hands, you should open three bank accounts.” This was at a time when I did not even know what lay ahead for me. He said, “If you earn ₹1,000, put ₹600 into the first bank account. Put the next ₹300 into the second bank account. Transfer the remaining ₹100 into the third bank account.” He was giving me this advice at a time when I did not even have fifty rupees to spare.

Then I asked him, “Why, uncle?” He replied, “The money in the first bank account is for your needs and expenses. With the money in the second bank account, you must pay the taxes in this country. If you are a responsible citizen, you are obliged to pay tax, so make sure you pay it properly from that money.”

Then I asked, “What about the third, with the hundred rupees?’ He said, “That is what will give you the greatest happiness in life.” I asked, ‘What is that?’ He then spoke about this charity foundation. “You may buy many vehicles and build houses, but the happiness you get from wholeheartedly helping someone will never come from building a house or buying a car,” Dhyan recollected.