Not Kidding

In the early years of television in India, a certain chubby-faced Master Bittu was cast to add that cutesy element to shows.

Being a child artiste is not child8217;s play anymore. It takes much more than being chubby and cute

In the early years of television in India, a certain chubby-faced Master Bittu was cast to add that cutesy element to shows. Or a pretty-looking Baby Guddi who viewers could adore. Few episodes into the serial, their role was restricted to a bare minimum or they grew up to be the main protagonist. But in recent times, the responsibilities of child artistes have increased manifold. 8220;They are the backbone of our script and they can carry the entire serial on their tender shoulders,8221; says Arun Mavnoor, director of Main Teri Parchayi Hoon on NDTV Imagine, a serial which narrates the plight of three children after the death of their mother.

Megha Gupta who plays Aanchal in the same show has a similar view but she feels this sudden transition towards performance-oriented roles for children is because of advancement of television in India. 8220;Today, directors want to capture all kinds of emotions and they want character to be uniquely different from each other,8221; says Gupta.

While children these days are required to laugh, cry and fight in serials, Colors8217; show Balika Vadhu deals with a more mature topic, that of child marriage. 8220;While there have been roles written for children of late, this is the first serial that actually has children playing lead roles and addressing the age-old problem of child marriage,8221; says Sunjoy Wadhwa, producer of Balika Vadhu. Wadhwa also praises the maturity and dedication these tiny tots exhibit. 8220;You don8217;t have to repeat the scene to them. They listen very attentively to you and grasp every detail. In fact it is easier working with them.8221;

Mavnoor talks about the special needs one has to bear in mind before having children as part of their cast. 8220;When you have really young kids, playing major roles, one must make sure that they are provided food on time. Adequate rest and sleep are also a must.8221;

But these young guns are not main protagonists for nothing. They work as hard as the adults in the unit. Nine-year-old Aditansh, who plays the role of Ayush in Main Teri puts in 12 to 14 hours of shooting per day. 8220;It is very difficult to manage shooting and school. But I make sure I study whenever I get the time,8221; he says, adding, 8220;Initially it was tough mouthing dialogues, but all the senior actors were very supportive and helped me out.8221;

If you thought performances are restricted to just soaps, then you must watch Amey Pandya and Swini Khare perform on the reality dance show Zara Nachke Dikha. 8220;They are more talented than the older members of the team. Their raw energy and enthusiasm just makes you feel that there is more competition than ever before,8221; says Ali Asgar, the captain of the boys8217; team on the show.

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Having children on a show also lightens the atmosphere on the sets. 8220;Playing with them and listening to their stories could have you rolling on the floor with laughter,8221; says Gupta. Wadhwa agrees, 8220;But at times when they are unwell, it does take a toll on the entire unit.8221;