The inseparables: Indian television and talented child artists

Today is the day when the air is filled with a certain degree of sweetness and innocence. Today is also the day when on seeing a puddle on the road you feel like jumping into it and getting out all dirty, but happy. Today is the day to get covered with the mist of freedom and gaiety. Today is Children’s Day, when the kid within all of us takes a leap and tells us… “All is well”. And when it comes to the enigmatic and enchanting world of Indian television, we can state firmly that it cannot entertain us without the fascinating performances of the child artists. Over the years, we have seen some superb young talent across shows on GECs who went on to redefine the meaning of success and popularity. Who can forget the doe eyed Avika Gor from Balika Vadhu or the current Bhavesh Balchandani from Star Plus’ Veera? Put them in front of the camera and they give the biggest of stars a run for their money. But over the time there have been concerns that early entry into the world of glamour and entertainment, takes away the innocence and the fresh childhood hue from their lives. Is it a fact or these kids enjoy posing for the shutterbugs? Let’s find out… The very cute and adorable Shivansh Kotia, better known as Naksh of Star Plus’ Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, to know if he likes acting on a TV show to which he jumped and replied, “I like acting. I take my toys and I play with Yash and Anaya (other child artists on the sets).” The little thing further went on to add, “Mumma brings my books on the sets and my friends like clicking pictures with me as I am an actor. I feel good” And you’d be awestruck to know this youngster’s dream - “I want to be a rich businessman when I grow up so that I get to buy all the big cars in the world.” Can’t stop smiling right!!! Shivansh and many other little ones fill the screen space with their energy and aptitude. But doesn’t it affect their studies? We liked the answer which Mehnaz Mann’s father Hardev Mann shot at us. Mehnaz as we know is seen in Ek Mutthi Aasmaan and was a find of India’s Best Dramebaaz. “When Mehnaz joined India’s Best Dramebaaz she missed school for one and a half month but she managed to cover her syllabus on getting back home (Punjab). It’s just that I told her one thing and that was ‘everybody excels in studies if they have to just do that but if you have to grow in life you need to do something more than you’re doing’. Thus, if she likes acting she’ll have to balance it all. We (he and his wife) as parents know that studies are important as that’s what gives one wisdom, so we just can’t put it in the backburner.” We agree that kids are a bundle of pure energy who can be super multi-taskers, but given the errant working hours, television can be taxing. How do they manage when they are asked to stretch hours (and their supple bodies) to give that extra shot? “Mehnaz puts in 10-12 hours a day but since she is passionate about acting she still has the same amount of energy even at the end of the shoot,” stated Hardev. Commendable, indeed!!! Moving on, Bhavesh Balchandani’s (Veera) mother shared with us, “He puts in eight hours a day which at times gets tiring for him. Thus, post Veera, I will allow him to take up only those shows that won’t have him in the lead.” We further went on to ask her if she did not know that her 12 year old would have to shoot for eight hours before signing the contract a day to which she averred, “Bhavesh was to shoot for three months initially but then the track did well and now it’s been almost 13 months that he has been shooting. As a mother I feel he needs a break.” Bhavesh is a star now, but break from work would do the lad good to grow as a person and of course, as an actor. “Nothing in life is easy but one can manage things. With me I take my children’s books on the sets. I also take home made food and milk for them. I do not let them eat anything on the sets. I make it a point to put them to sleep during the break hours so that their heath and studies aren’t affected. Trust me, looking after them on sets is easier for me that looking after them at home. As back home they just want to watch TV and run down to play with their friends,” states Shivansh and Navika Kotia’s mother Bindu Kotia. Her kids have been a part of various TV shows as well as films, the most popular being English Vinglish. The cute and adorable Amrita Mukherjee, renowned as Pihu of Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, too likes acting though she is on a break at the moment. “I miss acting these days,” says the little bundle of joy. Amrita’s mother Mrinmojee Mukherjee likes being a responsible parent thus; she takes offers that would give her child enough time for herself. “Too much of work can get hectic for a small child therefore, I try and take work where she would have to work just for four to five days a month.” Sensible!!! Moving on, the TV producers too have been acting very responsible, of late, when it comes to dealing with kids, as Producer Sunjoy Wadhwa goes on to tell us, “When we had the little Avika Gor and Avinash Mukherjee on Balika Vadhu we made it a point to convert a room into a recreation center much before they began shooting. We also had a tutor who used to come to teach these kids.” Beyond Dreams’ Yash Patnaik (Veera) is also a caring producer. “We have two kids (Bhavesh Balchandani and Harshita Ojha) on the sets therefore much before they joined us I had briefed my team on the same. Their make-up rooms are basically filled with posters and soft toys. They also get to watch cartoon channels on the sets. We also have a tutor for them. They have an insurance policy and a car pick-up and drop facility so that they don’t get exhausted. In fact, we also have a separate food budget for them. They do not have the same food as others on the sets. I am a father to a 12 year old son, so I know how important it is to treat kids lovingly,” winks Yash. Next we got in touch with a couple of child artists who have gone on to become teenagers now. First we contacted Bhavya Gandhi of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah fame and he averred, “I just wanted to be in the industry. Plus, we’ve never had to work more than two to three hours on Taarak. And the episodes focusing only on us are rare and that’s when we have to work for eight hours, other than that all is cool.” “Everyone knows that acting is a tiring job and I wouldn’t say that my studies did not get affected because of acting but then one learns to balance. Plus, parents play a very important role here. They must get their kids in the industry only if they are interested in it. As far as I am concerned I am passion driven person thus, I can do anything for acting,” said Avinash Mukherjee who has grown up to be a big boy today. Lastly, we also contacted the President, Federation of Western India Cine Employees, Dharmesh Tiwari to get his views on children and their safety while working in the industry. “Every parent who enrolls with us is asked to sign on certain clauses which neither they nor the makers can break. In case the kids are forced to give in extra hours they can complain about the same and we take action against it. Most of the things are taken care of under Child Rights Act.” Sounds good!!! Well, on Children’s Day it’s a little comforting to learn that the kids in the glam world are not being exploited. We are glad that today’s parents know to put their foot down when need be and that the producers are acting as the big responsible daddies and the Federation being the grandfather. Wishing you all little twinkling eyes a very Happy Children’s Day!!!