Here’s how telly’s small wonders juggle work and academics

Child actors don’t just bring a lot of innocence, cuteness and great acting chops to telly but also a multitude of eyeballs. No wonder then that the number of child actors has gone up substantially in recent times with most shows having a host of youngsters adding fresh spunk to their small screen outings.

A juggling act

These young guns are managing work and studies with equal aplomb. While some are taking extra classes, others make it a point to devote enough time to academics daily to ensure they don’t lag behind.

Ananya Agarwal, who plays the young Sita in 'Siya Ke Ram', is one such 11-year-old. Her mother Rinku Agarwal, says, “I teach Ananya daily, thanks to her school which is very tech-savvy and uploads the syllabus covered daily. Her teachers and friends are also very helpful and prompt with the notes.” Like most other child stars, Ananya gets leaves for outdoor shoots and reports to work post school hours for episodes shot in Mumbai.

Each child actor swears by his/her vital support system. Bhavya Gandhi, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’s 'Tappu', who has been with the show since its inception, says, “I started doing this show eight years ago. Initially it seemed very tough, but thanks to all the support from my family, school and production team, I have managed well. My school has been supportive enough to reschedule exams, issue new and tougher question papers and at times, I have even had my teachers dropping by on sets to teach and guide me.”

Similarly, Balika Vadhu’s 12-year-old Gracy Goswami who plays Nimboli, attends school only twice a week but makes it a point to cover her course every night. “Gracy’s teachers are impressed with her. While she shoots during the day, she studies at night and has stood first in her class throughout,” says her mother Vaishali Goswami.

Star status at school

The younger lot in Ananya’s school addresses her as Sita and most child actors carry a bit of their on-screen image to their schools, even if unwillingly.
For 15-year-old Siddharth Nigam, who plays the lead in 'Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat', it has been a great outdoor run. “I do get special treatment at school and it feels great. Everyone has been very nice and very appreciative so far and it just feels great to be loved by all.”
For Siddharth, who shoots long hours, breaks are dedicated solely to academics.

Tackling fame

While all these youngsters love the fame that their work has brought them, each one of them deals with it differently.

"Most times when people ask her if she is 'Siya' from the show, Ananya refuses and says she just resembles the actor. Like kids her age, she simply wants to be herself and play around instead of doing photo shoots and giving autographs,” said Rinku.
“When Gracy meets fans, she insists she is Gracy and not her screen character. She prefers going around unnoticed,” adds Vaishali.

For Spandan Chaturvedi who’s all of seven, it’s been a different story. Thanks to her get-up on the show, 'Udaan', she mostly goes unrecognized once she’s off the sets.
"In the one and a half year that she has been doing the show, we have hardly had people recognize her as she looks different in the show. But when people do come up to her, she loves posing for pictures with them,” reveals Ashwini Chaturvedi, Spandan’s mother.
Speaking on similar lines, Jayashree Bhanushali, mother of Ishant Bhanushali who plays the young 'Hanuman' in 'Sankat Mochan Mahabali Hanumaan', says, “Ishant is very friendly and meets and greets everyone politely. He has no attitude and is warm and down to earth.”

Time pass on sets

While most of these youngsters have their books and other young co-actors for company on sets, there are some who use this time to pursue hobbies and hone their skills. “I study, read, practice editing, spend time with my Tappu Sena and annoy my director with a plethora of questions as I too aspire to become a director someday,” said Bhavya.
The younger lot, if in company of other kids, mostly have a riot on the sets. “Ananya has three on-screen sisters on the show and they have become very close. They keep playing between shots. She’s having a party at the sets,” said Rinku.
Spandan devotes her time on sets to her homework, studies, drawing and dancing. Spandan reports to work only post her school hours and once her assignments are done, she’s free to do what she wants. My husband and I ensure that she is up-to-date with her studies.”

Money matters
While the younger lot is clueless about the moolah they are raking in, the teens are simply not interested and are only too happy having their parents managing their funds. Most parents are safeguarding their wards’ funds till they can take responsibility of it eventually.

Nidhi Bhanushali, who plays 'Sonu' on 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah', said, “I am least bothered about my money as my parents handle it. I don’t even ask them for pocket money as my mother is always around and whenever I need something I just tell her and she buys it for me.”

Speaking about her daughter’s pay cheque, Rinku says, “We have a separate account for her and my husband who is a CA is investing the money so that by the time she is 21-22 and has a sense of finances, she can take charge.”

Similarly, Siddharth says, “My mother takes care of the finances and all our needs. Whenever we need something we just go up to her and she takes care of it.”

Hobbies
The youngsters insist that they do find enough time for hobbies, either on the sets or otherwise. “I hate sitting idle for even a second and find time for all my hobbies such as acting, short films, editing etc,” says Bhavya. Similarly, small screen’s young Hanuman, nine-year-old Ishant Bhanushali, says, “It takes half an hour to put on the makeup/costume and between shots I play and study.”
His hobbies include swimming, cricket, football and cycling, things that he does take out time for.

Dreams galore
Passionate about dancing, Gracy has also been working hard towards this hobby of hers. “She is pursuing a course in Kathak and has completed five of her seven-year term. We go to Vadodara twice a month for it and she religiously practices at home, seeing videos that her friends send her from there,” says Vaishali.

Siddharth, nurtures dreams of making it big in gymnastics. “I am very passionate about gymnastics and wherever I am, I make it a point to practice it. Even on days when I wrap up the shoot at 2 am or 3 am I practice even if it’s for only an hour. My biggest dream is to become a superstar and win an Olympic gold for India.”

Besides being TRP- trippers for their shows, looks like these youngsters sure know how to get the work-fun balance right.