Children's Day 2024 | Aftab Shivdasani On Not Missing Normal Childhood: Did All Things That... - EXCL

Long Before MAST Aftab Shivdasani was a star as a toddler! He went on to do some unforgotten roles as a child in big productions. Today Aftab looks back fondly at his stint as a child actor.Aftab, you were the Farex baby as a toddler? What did they tell you about being a star as a toddler? What did my parents tell me? They didn't tell me anything; they just allowed me to be in front of the camera. I think the person who was making the Farex commercial was known to my father, and that's how it happened. I mean, obviously, I have no recollection of it, but I am told apparently I was on the tin of Farex for a really long time. In fact, I haven't seen the commercial, unfortunately. That's it, really. You then graduated to child roles in Mr India and Chalbaaz? Of course, I have more recollection from Mr. India Days onwards, but the Farex, no, I have no recollection. I was only told that I was on the tin, and I mean, I came to be known as a Farex baby after that. Do you regret losing out on a normal childhood? I think I cherish my childhood because, like I said, I had a balance; I could balance. I was good in my studies, and I managed to balance it with my extracurricular activities, such as films, and then, of course, even then go on to play sports at the same time for the school. So yeah, I had a great balance of that, and no, I don't regret it at all. In fact, I am grateful that I got that exposure to the camera and that world because that changed my entire life, and yeah, I would get a little extra attention in school because of that, but that would be the only thing that would be kind of a little annoying because I was a very shy kid. Did you enjoy facing the camera at that young age? I was an introvert except when it came to the camera. Then, of course, I was just, I had no shyness at that point, but then again, when I was just by myself or with my friends, I would be a quiet sort of guy, not a very loud in-your-face kind of guy. I mean, that's how I am even today, but when it comes to my work, of course, that lack of inhibition is the prerequisite of my work. I'm not shy in front of the camera because that's my work. So, no, I don't regret having that childhood because, in fact, it gave me everything that I am today. If you had a chance to relive your childhood, would you want to do the same? It's a difficult question. I've lived this one lifetime, and that was my childhood. So, I don't know what I would do in other circumstances, but I can only say that I think everything was meant to be; it was destiny; it is destiny, which I'm a firm believer in, and that's what my destiny was about. So, I don't know if I'm, if I have to do that again, would I do that again or would I not do that again, but I know one thing is that I enjoyed it, and I'm just grateful that I got this exposure to this line of work. It carved out my path for the rest of my life. Was the transition to a grownup actor difficult? I never frankly stopped because I did commercials right up to the time where Ramuji (Varma) saw me in a Coca-Cola commercial. I was working in commercials. I was not doing films. The last film I did before being launched by Ramuji as a leading man in Mast was when I was 12 years old, Sau Crore with Dev Saab, and then I got Mast when I was little under 20, but yeah, I mean, I was doing commercials right up to then. I had done over 350 commercials, full circle for you, and I was spotted in one of my commercials. Coincidentally, that commercial that I was spotted in the Coca-Cola ad, which I think I've also posted on social media in the past, said that the director of that ad was also the director of the Fairex commercial that I did when I was 14 months old. So, that was the entire circle. That was a full circle for you. The lady who directed me in the Farex commercial when I was 14 months was also coincidentally the director of the Coca-Cola commercial, on the basis of which I was selected for Mast without an audition. So, I guess she's got a very special place in my life. What’s her name? Ayesha Sahni is her name. She's an ad film director. I'm unfortunately not in touch with her. I haven't spoken to her for many, many years, but wherever she is, I hope she's happy and I hope she's blessed. I continued working right up to the beginning of Mast, and then, of course, when Mast happened, it was a whole new journey altogether. Did your schooling suffer? No, my studies didn't suffer. I would have to miss school here and there depending upon where the shoot was and how long the shoot was. But my mom would literally go to class and take down my assignments from my friends and even the teachers. I mean, hats off to her for being so diligent about my education, both my parents. And because of that, I would study even on sets. That did feel a bit funny, but that was the need of the hour, and I did it, and I loved what I did. Only thing, I would have to do my homework in between shots, which would be the balance that I would have had to maintain in order to balance both parts of my life. But you know, I just think it was an incredible experience. Of course, I had to abstain from school for some time.I used to miss a couple of days and whatever when I used to be working. But my mom used to make up for it, and we should do our homework on the sets. Literally, my mom used to make me study on the sets. Yes, that was not normal for a school-going child to be in front of the camera. But I think if it wasn't for that ground training, I would not feel the passion that I do for what I do as a living now. I think that was the groundwork that happened, and then I realized that this is something that I want to do for the rest of my life. Of course, I didn't have any ways to do it because I was not from the film family or film fraternity. But I knew then that this is something that I feel most drawn to and most passionate about, and it's like my inner calling. So it is because of that, you know, groundwork when I used to do that in school as a child actor when I realized this about myself. But yeah, I mean, I didn't miss a normal childhood because, other than that, I had a very normal childhood. So none of the childhood trauma that other well-known child actors like Sarika, Naaz, and Daisy Irani experienced? No. I used to play sports. I used to have a very, very normal childhood except for those five or six or seven films that I did as a child actor. That was the time I stayed away from school, but I made up for it. I was always a first-class student. I played three or four sports for my school and college. So I was also a sportsman. So I pretty much did all the things that a normal school-going, college-going boy would do. The only advantage I had was that I was getting exposed to films that perhaps not everybody gets the opportunity, you know, at that age. And for me, then I realized that because of that, it was my calling. Which was your most memorable film as a child? I did six or seven films, I think, as a child actor. And Mr. India was the first one, which was then followed by Shahenshah, etc.Of course, working with the legendary Sridevi in Mr. India and Chaalbaaz was a delight because, I mean, she was just the embodiment of, you know, class and professionalism. And of course, what a wonderful, wonderful actor. And just to be in her company was amazing. You know, she was a very reserved person and a thorough professional, but, you know, warm when she needed to be warm. Mr. India, of course, has cult memories attached to it. And of course, you know, I always looked up to her, thinking she was just one of the best, if not the best ever. And of course, I met her much again, much later after I became an actor as well. I worked with Boney Kapoorji as a producer again in Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche. So, I mean, of course, I was in touch with Anil sir as well as his family. And so, I mean, I knew the entire family. So it was wonderful, you know, meeting them again as a grown man and as a leading man. You also worked with Dev Anand as a child; I mean, you were the child, or maybe he too? Ha ha. With Dev Anand Saab, I did two films, Awwal Number and Sau Crore. Awwal Number, we just shot for one day where I played Junior Amir Khan. And I remember he was shooting at CCI Club, which was right opposite my house. And that's how I met him when he was shooting with Amir Khan and Aditya Pancholi. And then he called me for the role. I shot one day; it was like four or five scenes, that's it. Then I shot Sau Crore as his son soon after, but I had obviously a longer role. And as far as I remember, he was the most hardworking man in the room—you know, ultra, ultra passionate about his craft, his films. He used to just breathe cinema; he used to just love cinema. I mean, for him, cinema was everything. His passion was unparalleled, you know; his energy, you know, even at his age, was just unparalleled. I mean, he was the fittest man in the room. And, you know, he used to be up early and, you know, be on the sets, be the first one to be on the sets, and the last one to leave because he's also the director. But yeah, I was, as far as I remember, his energy; he's just his energy that I remember, his warmth and affection, and just the way he used to speak and the way he used to direct, also with the same amount of passion.