A Winning Role

“I did not know what a National Award was until Nila Madhab Panda,director of I Am Kalam told me that I had won. Once I was informed that famous people have received this award in the past,I became conscious of its relevance,” says Mayar over phone from Mumbai,where other film correspondents are waiting to interview him. “Ever since I started participating in school plays,I have wanted to join Bollywood. I hope this award will fetch me some good roles in the Mumbai film industry,” he adds in carefully rehearsed tones.

In the film,Mayar plays Chotu,a tea stall boy from Rajasthan who wants to break free from the clutches of his employer. The film focuses on child labour and was shot in 2009. Mayar took acting lessons from the director besides observing tea stall boys near his house and at his ancestral village in Bijnor,Uttar Pradesh. “I also watched Slumdog Millionaire to observe how slum children behave,” he says.

The film was screened at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival last year,won the Best Film award at the 2010 Lucas International Film festival and earned Mayar a Special Diploma for Best Actor Work at the Minsk International Film Festival,Belarus. Mayar followed up I Am Kalam with a small role for a TV serial for POGO,Coco Ki Story Bori,which will be aired later this year.

Acting,he says,comes easily to him. He loves to mimic Bollywood stars and imitates their mannerisms in front of the mirror. “My favorites keep changing. I loved watching Shahid Kapoor when Kaminey was released,” he recalls.

In his LIG flat in Delhi,Mayar’s family is getting used to his sudden prominence. “My younger brother gets very excited when he sees my picture in the papers,” says Mayar proudly. “My neighbours were curious when they saw news-people arriving at my house shortly after the National Awards were announced but now they don’t bother and that suits me. I do not want too much attention either,” he adds,rushing off for his next interview.