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 Malhotra, Bajrangi Bhaijaan
Age: 6
Box office collection: Rs 275 crore+ (expected)
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.
Darsheel Safary, Taare Zameen Par
Age: 10
Box office collection: Rs 60 crore
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.
Parth Bhalerao, Bhoothnath Returns
Age: 14
Box office collection: Rs 60 crore
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.
Ayesha Kapoor, Black
Age: 11
Box office collection: Rs 60 crore
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.
Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail and Rubina Ali, Slumdog Millionaire
Ages: 10 and 9, respectively
Box office: Rs 20 crore (India)
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.
Partho Gupte, Stanley Ka Dabba
Age: 9
Box office collection: Rs 5 crore
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
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.
Shweta Basu Prasad, Makdee
Age: 11
Box office collection: Rs 1.5 crore
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.
Riya Vij, Gippi
Age: 13
Box office collection: Rs 5 crore
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.
Harsh Mayar, I Am Kalam
Age: 12
Box office collection: Rs 1 crore
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.
