Even as 2015 is still young, there are a few young actors who have sprung a surprise with their performances. These young thespians aren?t mouthing cute coached lines, which can be spotted a mile away; the little ones even give the requisite expressions. Their talent is well exploited by the directors, who wemust laudfor their foresight in picking the right child actor; as for the actor he/she is like putty, just waiting to be moulded.
For starters, Aryan Prajapati, who plays the pintsized Pritesh in Bade Door Se Aaye Hai, has been consistently entertaining viewers with his alien tracking misadventures, snooping on the Ghotalas, who in turn foil all his efforts and with his ears to the ground, he always pipes in with a quip. Little wonder that Ba calls him Pipori. Sunshine Colony?s menacing little brat, sprung a surprise for the colony folk, and the viewers by doing a stunning impersonation of Anarkali with a Pyar kiya toh darna kya? sequence. Such an effortless performance, complete with expressions, lip sync; he ends the sequence with his characteristic quip to Ojha, but kept in character with Anarkali as he shot back: ?Gustakhi maaf, Anarkali ki asli pehchan to Shehezade kar sakte hain!? With that he flashed his cheeky smile. Probably detecting the pint sized actor?s natural flair for quipping and mischief the makers should be happy with their choice. Madhuri Nene-Dixit please check out this chota packet.
In Udaan, though SpandanChaturvedi has turned in a sparkling performance, the tour de force is yet to come. Her USP is her expressive face and of course her dialogue delivery. As much as Spandan?s facial expressions are captivating, an occasional deadpan face is a front; but her eyes are the window of her scheming little mind. The little actor?s classic scenes are with the formidableKamalnarayan Rajvanshi and his wife Tejaswini, as she plays cat and mouse games with them, despite their oppression of her spirit, she checkmates them, with an impish grin. Spandan is among the few child actors, who can use her face and dialogue to advantage. She makes Udaan a compelling watch. She may show disinterest when Dadi Ma talks about Gandhiji, but she quietly heeds Dadi?s gems of wisdom and later strikes at her tormentors, victorious in a quiet way. Her test was in the early episodes, at the Rawat?s home in Lucknow where, like Alice in Wonderland she is in awe of the spatial dwelling and the food on the table. As she blunders about with the cutlery, she does it so naturally.
I know it?s premature, but juries for television awards will have a tough time choosing between these two exceptionally talented little actors.
When Ekta Kapoor?s Itna Karo Na Mujhe Pyaar started a brooding young man struck a chord of familiarity. Avinash Mukherjee was a surprise as Ranbir Nachiket Khanna. Sporting a lean, mean and a chiseled look, it seems the young actor has been working hard on his look. He has strayed away from his boyish look of Jagya and is now ready to play characters with shades of grey. Already, he has creditably showcased his ability to play the quiet, but angry young man. It is good to see a child actor return as a refined, good looking young man.
When BalikaVadhu started, Jagya was played by the same Avinash Mukherjee to Avika Gor?s Anandi. He was picked from 12 other boys. His talent was often overshadowed by Avika?s sprightly scenes. Even then, in some sequences he acquitted himself well; especially when an outburst would follow a seething rage, and then a calm, he was able to control his dialogue delivery. When the serial took a leap both actors were replaced. Though he did Sanskaar - Dharohar Apnon Ki, Avinash?s talent will surely get its due in Itna Karo Na Mujhe Pyaar.
Another child actor who claims a berth in this list is Siddharth Nigam. He has concluded his sequence a the child Rudra in Mahakumbh- Ek Rahasaya Ek Kahani! The casting was so perfect that, it was an easy association with the adult Rudra now being played by Gautam Rode. The young Siddharth seemingly well understood the silence he was required to effect. He did so with expressions which ranged from deadpan to wonderment about his strange powers. Already having essayed a young Aamir Khan in Dhoom 3, Siddharth?s portrayal as Rudra is memorably action packed also.
Like Avinash Mukherjee and Avika Gor, one looks forward to seeing Aryan Prajapati, Spandan Chaturvedi and Siddharth Nigam emerge as actors of merit in the coming years.
More power to the little thespians.