Love to Labour

Are kids acting in teleserials an exploited lot? You wouldn't think so if you met the kid stars of television who visited Lucknow on Friday.

Are kids acting in teleserials an exploited lot? You wouldn’t think so if you met the kid stars of television who visited Lucknow on Friday. Even the girl who played underprivileged daughter of a maid servant could make a child labourer look all the more miserable.

“We have the highest regard for those who have aired concern over the well being of child actors working for TV serials and we have set to rest all their aspersions,” said Rameet Arora,marketing head of entertainment channel Colors,in the city with the channel’s ‘Shukriya campaign’ on completing their first year. He even hinted at a time leap in the serial that would turn Anandi into a grown up. “As popular as they are,children working in our serials,have always been given all convenience to deliver while pursuing their studies.”

To endorse his assertion,the kids who came in tow smiled their happiest smile.

“I enjoy acting and it has never come in the way of my studies or performance in class,” chirped Avika Gor,who plays the role of Anandi in Balika Vadhu “rated No. 1 serial in India by TAM”. The girl,who scores “up to 86 per cent but never below 76”,is sure of her future plan: “I aspire to be Miss Universe. I want to act like Aishwarya,look like Katrina and dance like Madhuri,” she gushes.

Her co-actor,also in class VII like her,too wants to continue acting when he grows up. “I really don’t mind Anandi/Avika hogging all the limelight…she’s my beendni (wife in Rajasthani colloquial,the language spoken in the serial),so it’s ok with me.”

The channel’s representatives have time and again asserted their commitment to social causes with serials that are “relevant as well as engaging”. Has Balika Vadhu,a voice against child marriage,made a big difference?

“Rekha Kalindi of West Bengal,who received an award for putting her foot down on her family’s decision to marry her off at the tender age,cited the serial as her inspiration,” said Arora.

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“I was in Rajasthan on the occasion of Akkha Teej,a day when child marriages take place there on a mass scale. Over a 100 girls pledged with me to shun child marriage and protest it tooth and nail if subjected or witness to it,” said Avika.

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