There were many charismatic child artists of screen who captured our attention with their charm, smiles and infectious personalities. Their performances have brought so much joy into our lives, we still remember them even they have grown old or died.The early years of Hindi cinema saw some of the super stars of later years playing as child stars.
Meena Kumari as Child Artist
Madhubala as Child Artist
Baby Nanda
Leading heroines of Golden Era such as Nargis ,Meena Kumari, Madhubala, Nanda started their career as child artist but they became stars only after becoming heroines in films.Neetu Singh also started as Child artist and she became a child star with the release of Do Kaliyan in 1968. Before that she appeared in Suraj(1966) and Dus Lakh (1966).Some of the other known films as child artist were Waris(1969).Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani(1970) and Pavitra Paapi (1970)
Song from Do Kaliyan 1968
There were many artists who became big stars when they were child but were not clicked when they grew old to become Hero or Heroine the only exception was Neetu Singh from Baby sonia.
Daisy and Honey Irani
Honey Irani
The Irani sisters, Daisy Irani and Honey Irani, became household names and the films, which had both these sisters, fetched the biggest openings. These two sisters were enjoying the star status in that era.Stories were re written to include them in the film or their roles were increased in the film.
Scene from Ek Hi Rasta (1956) - Daisy Irani & Ashok Kumar
Their most important films of that era were Bandish ,Jaagte Raho,Bhai Bhai Naya Daur.Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan,Bombay Ka Chor.Hum Panchi Ek Dal Ke, Musafir, Sahara, Quedi No. 9211, Duniya Na Mane, Do Ustad, Dhool Ka Phool, Soorat Aur Seerat and Chandi Ki Diwar.
Song from Masoom 1960
Another equally popular child star was Baby Tabassum who first faced the camera at the age of three as a child actor with Mera Suhaag (1947), Manjhdhar (1947),Nargis (1947) and Bari Behen (1949). Later in Deedar (1951), directed by Nitin Bose, she played the childhood role of Nargis; the hit song Bachpan Ke Din Bhula Na Dena sung by Lata Mangeshkar was picturised on her.Also in the same year, she appeared in another important film Baiju Bawra (1951) directed by Vijay Bhatt, where she appeared in the childhood role of Meena Kumari
Baby Tabassum with Dev Anand
This song from Sangram is Picturized on child Shashi Kapoor and Baby Tabassum
Song from Sangram 1950
Baby Naaz and master Rattan were another two child artists who came to limelight after Raj Kapoor's Boot Polish. Baby Naaz worked with leading directors in outstanding films. These included Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Musafir, Bimal Roy’s Devdas, K A Abbas’ Munna and the Nargis-Balraj Sahni starrer, Lajwanti.
Baby Naaz
Song from Boot Polish
Master Rattan Kumar became the most-sought-after child-actor in India in the 1950s after his initial success in 1952. After the popular Indian movie Jagriti(1954), Ratan Kumar migrated to Pakistan in 1956, with his family, and remade the movie into Bedari (1957).Some of his famous films were Afsana,Baiju Bawra and Angarey.
Song from Jagriti(1954)
Another Child star emerged in 1962 with the release of Main Chup Rahungi,Some of his known films were Sehra(1963),Mujhe Jeene Do (1963),Sant Gyaneshwar (1964) and Purnima(1965)
Song from Main Chup Rahungi 1962
Another child star emerged in late 60s was Jr Mrhmood.He became a household name after the release of Brahmchari.Remember the hilarious dance act on 'Hum kaale hain toh kya hua dilwale hain...' from the movie 'Brahmachari'? He ruled millions of hearts and received a lot of accolades from the industry. Interestingly, the name Junior Mehmood was given to him by Mehmood.Some of his important films were Do Raste (1969),Bachpan(1970) ,Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani (1970),Aan Milo Sajna (1971)and Caravan (1971)
Song from Brahamchari 1968
The Child Star of the 70s was Master Raju.With Gulzar's Parichay in 1972 he came into limelight,the same year he appeared in Bawarchi.After that in Yash Chopra's Daag: A Poem of Love (1973) , Basu Chatterjee's Chitchor (1976) and Gulzar's Kitaab (1977) he became the most sought after child artist of Bollywood. He won the National Film Award for Best Child Artist for his role in Chitchor (1976).Over the years he has acted in around 200 films .
Song from Kitaab 1977
Sarika started her film career as a child actor at the age of 4.Her most notable and popular appearance as a child artist was in the year 1967 in the musical superhit Hamraaz, where she was seen as the daughter of Vimi named baby/saarika. She appeared in many children's movies. Later, her most known films as child star were Satyakam,(1969),Jyoti,Balak both in 1969, Devi in 1970 and Haar Jeet(1972).She moved on to films with Rajshri Productions Geet Gaata Chal with Sachin, with whom she starred in many Hindi and Marathi films.
Song from Balak 1969
In the 80s with Masoom of Shekher Kapoor emerged two Child Stars Urmila Matondkar and Jugal Hansraj both of them later actedas hero and heroine after growing up.Urmila Matondkar came with hit movies like Rangeela as heroine opposite Aamir Khan
Song from Masoom 1983
Today's hero Kunal Khemu started as child star from the film Ham Hain Rahi Pyar Ke followed by Raja Hindustani and Zakhm for which he won National Award as Child Artist.Another child star made it big is Ayesha Kapoor who played Rani Mukharjee's child role in Black and also Munni of Bajrangi Bhaijan played by Harshaali Malhotra became popular among the people.
Another Little Star Twinkled in Bollywood was Harsheel in Tare Zameen Par.These little Stars have been mesmerizing the audience since the beginning of Bollywood Films and will forever be shining.
