Childhood in balance

Being a child actor is fun, but at the same time, striking the right balance between studies and passion is important. In cases where young children are working, parents should make sure that their children balance the time between their studies and shooting schedules. I love shooting, but in my case, I always made sure that I manage my time properly.
Parents are motivating factors for child artists and they are the ones who can really help us on the sets, apart from the cast and crew. I feel parents should always try to accompany their children on the sets, as it boosts their confidence while working. But at the same time, any kind of pressure can affect the child’s psyche. My parents were always there on the sets when I was shooting for Balika Vadhu, as I was barely 15 years old then. I remember, my father used to read the scripts for me. He would take care of my needs and look after my health to make me feel secure.
It’s a misconception that child actors have to give up on their personal life, while pursuing a career in acting. Yes, there are times when you cannot go out with friends, but then the cast and crew of the show become your friends and somehow, you stop missing your friends too much. Also, I believe that you cannot get everything in life. Having friends is important, but meeting them is not a priority in life. However, when it comes to family, I never missed the opportunity to spend time with them.
In a profession such as acting, where fame comes with the territory, handling attention from strangers can get tricky. People relate to the character one plays and are curious to know more about you. Therefore, being presentable is of utmost importance. Hence, child actors should go through proper training, before they are approached by the media for interviews.
The best part of being in the spotlight is that you become confident and are exposed to the world. I have realised that child actors are media favorites, as they speak their hearts out and don’t give very diplomatic answers. There can be some peer pressure in school, as the other children tend to get fascinated by you, but for me it wasn’t too much as there were other child actors with me so the level of fascination amongst the kids was comparatively less. But, that might not be the same for every child actor. It’s vital that young actors are trained for dealing with this kind of pressure.
When it comes to shooting schedules, it depends on the placement of the child actor. If he is playing the lead in a show, then you have to allot extra hours. But that is no reason to bunk school. So, setting priorities and focusing on them is important.
As told to Dhwani Mody