MOVIES

The Most Successful Kids in the Movies

By Joginder Tuteja
August 03, 2015

Children can be quite lucky at the box office too!

Harshaali Malhotra, the little girl in Bajrangi Bhaijaan, has almost the same screen time as the film's leading man, Salman Khan. And it's one of the biggest hits of the year already.

Children have had pivotal parts in the movies, which may not even be children's films.

Here's looking at the most successful movies with child protagonists.

Note: The child's age mentioned is when the film was made.

Harshaali MalhotraBajrangi Bhaijaan
Age: 6
Box office collection: Rs 275 crore+ (expected) 

Image: Kareena Kapoor Khan and Harshaali Malhotra in Bajrangi Bhaijaan

Harshaali Malhotra was the star of the film, never mind Salman Khan.

The little girl, who plays a mute character, mightily impressed the audience.

Want to know more about her? Click here!

Bajrangi Bhaijaan has become an all-time blockbuster, and the credit is shared with the key cast members, Salman, Nawazuddin Siddique, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Harshaali Malhotra.

Read the review here

 

Darsheel Safary, Taare Zameen Par
Age: 10
Box office collection: Rs 60 crore

Image: Darsheel Safary and Aamir Khan in Taare Zameen Par

Darsheel Safary became a big success post his film Taare Zameen Par, starring and directed by Aamir Khan.

In fact, Aamir appeared only at the interval point of the film.

Read the review here


Parth Bhalerao,
 Bhoothnath Returns
Age: 14
Box office collection: Rs 60 crore

 

Image: Parth Bhalerao and Amitabh Bachchan in Bhoothnath Returns

Newcomer Parth Bhalerao was quite impressive as a slum child in Bhoothnath Returns.

He enjoyed almost the same screen time as Amitabh Bachchan, and seemed undeterred by the superstar presence.

His recently released Marathi film Killa got him a lot of praise. 

Read the review here

 

Ayesha Kapoor, Black
Age: 11
Box office collection: Rs 60 crore

Image: Ayesha Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan in Black

Ayesha Kapoor played perhaps the toughest role ever written for a child in a Hindi film, in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Black.

She had to play a deaf, mute and blind girl, and she did it exceedingly well.

With Amitabh Bachchan co-starring the film, Ayesha came up with a confident act.

She was seen again in Sikandar but has now taken a break from acting.

Read the review here

 

Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail and Rubina Ali, Slumdog Millionaire
Ages: 10 and 9, respectively
Box office: Rs 20 crore (India)

Image: Ayush Mahesh Khedekar, Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail in Slumdog Millionaire

Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail became overnight sensations internationally after the release of the Oscar-winning film, Slumdog Millionaire.

There were special shows, documentaries and books woven around the two slum children from Mumbai.

Click here to see what the Slumdog Millionaire children have been up to.

Read the review here

Partho Gupte, Stanley Ka Dabba 
Age: 9 
Box office collection: Rs 5 crore

 

Image: Partho Gupte in Stanley Ka Dabba

Partho Gupte was just nine years old when he came up with a sensitive act in his father Amol Gupte's directorial debut Stanley Ka Dabba.

Though he comes from a well-to-do family, he was quite convincing as a child labourer in the film.

Later, he also stepped in as a skating champion in Hawa Hawaai, which did better commercially. 

Read the reviews here: Stanley Ka Dabba and Hawa Hawaai

 

Naman Jain, Chillar Party
Age: 6
Box office collection: Rs 7 crore

 

Image: Naman Jain, Chillar Party

Naman Jain was about six years old when he featured in ensemble affair Chillar Party. Though there were many kids in the film, he made an impression as Jhangiya.

Later, he was also seen as the kid who cross dresses as a girl and dances to Sheila Ki Jawaani in Bombay Talkies.

Earlier this year, he impressed again in Hawaizaada. He is continuing to get good assignments for films as well as television.

Read the review here

 

Shweta Basu Prasad, Makdee
Age: 11
Box office collection: Rs 1.5 crore

Image: Shweta Basu Prasad, Makdee

In the news for all the wrong reasons recently, Shweta Basu Prasad made a very good start as a child artist with Makdee.

She had a double role to enact and though the film didn't do well commercially, she won a National Award for her performance. Later she came up with yet another good performance as Shreyas Talpade's sister in Iqbal.

Today, she is trying to rebuild her career as a heroine in the film industry.

Read the review here

 

Riya Vij, Gippi
Age: 13
Box office collection: Rs 5 crore

Image: Riya Vij in Gippi

Not all child artists have been successful. Riya Vij played the title role in Gippi, and though she did well, the film didn't find too many takers.

As an overweight teenager, who finds her identity and self esteem, she was reasonably fair.

However, despite Karan Johar producing the film, Gippi was a letdown commercially.

Read the review here

 

Harsh Mayar, I Am Kalam
Age: 12
Box office collection: Rs 1 crore

Image: Harsh Mayar in I Am Kalam

Belonging to the lower economic strata of the society, Harsh Mayar was quite a natural in I Am Kalam.

The film found some good appreciation and even went on to fetch Harsh a National award for the Best Child Actor.

But it did not work commercially. 

Read the review here

Joginder Tuteja in Mumbai

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