Bollywood and the Indian television industry have often come under attack by many for casting child artists. However, the debate on whether casting children in the showbiz industry is right or wrong is never-ending, both the industries have (and sometimes, even Hollywood has) given the audience some brilliant and adorable child actors, some of whom have taken the limelight away from the superstars. Child actors like Parzan Dastur and Sana Saeed in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Darsheel Safary as a dyslexic child in Taare Zameen Par, Sunny Pawar as Saroo in Lion (if you haven’t seen the movie, add it to your must-watch list) have delivered such powerful performances and secured a place in the heart of millions.
Talking about the latest child stars who have left an impact, not only with their cute looks but also with their powerful acting, you can’t not talk about the extremely adorable Harshaali Malhotra, who featured in Salman Khan’s Bajrangi Bhaijaan. In past as well, Bollywood’s child artists like Urmila Matondkar (Masoom), Hrithik Roshan (Bhagwan Dada), Shahid Kapoor and Ayesha Takia (Complan ad), Aftab Shivdasani (Mr India), Fatima Sana Sheikh (Chachi 420) have, later, made it big in the industry.
We have a list of 7 such brilliant powerhouses of acting from recent past and now, who have surprised many with their talent.
1. Ali Haji, Fanaa (2006)
Who doesn’t remember the cute little kid, who played Aamir Khan and Kajol’s son in Fanaa. Ali has also acted with Salman Khan in Partner and Saif Ali Khan in Ta Ra Rum Pum. He is 17-year-old handsome boy now but he still looks super cute.
Ali Haji in a still from Fanaa
2. Darsheel Safary, Taare Zameen Par (2007)
Playing a child with learning disability isn’t easy but Darsheel Safary as Ishan Awasthi in Taare Zameen Par made it look so effortless. Ten-year-old Darsheel played his part brilliantly and bagged many awards that year.
Darsheel Safary in Taare Zameen Par
3. Aman Siddiqui , Bhoothnath (2008)
He might have not acted in a number of movies but we all remember him as loving adorable child in Bhoothnath, who becomes friends with the ‘ghost of the house’ played by Amitabh Bachchan.
Aman Siddiqui in Bhoothnath
4. Partho Gupte, Stanley Ka Dabba (2011)
Partho Gupte grabbed the National Award for Best Child Artist for his outstanding performance in Stanley Ka Dabba. Directed by his father, Amole Gupte, Partho definitely did his dad proud.
Partho Gupte in Stanley Ka Dabba
5. Siddharth Nigam, Dhoom 3 (2013)
You may have seen him on small screen as young Asoka in Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat, but Siddharth Nigam appeared with Aamir Khan, and Katrina Kaif’s in Dhoom 3.
Siddharth Nigam in Dhoom 3
(Also Read: Salman Khan inaugurates driving school in Dubai. Obviously, Twitter’s got jokes)
6. Harshaali Malhotra, Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015)
All of 7 when she acted in Bajrangi Bhaijaan alongside Bollywood superstars Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif, this cuteness overload surprised everyone with her feisty performance.
Harshali Malhotra in Bajrangi Bhaijaan
7. Sunny Pawar, Lion (2016)
His first movie may be in Hollywood but this kid from Mumbai definitely made India really proud. At the age of eight, his effortless acting in Garth Davis’ Lion is beyond words. If you haven’t watched the movie yet, you must.
Sunny Pawar in Lion
Tell us in who you’d like to add to this list in the comment section below.
