He was only 10 when he did the popular serial Balika Vadhu. Today, at 19, he has done a couple of shows, serials and desires to accomplish his goals. Avinash Mukherjee interacted with Spectralhues’ Suyash Karangutkar and Rutuja Bhosale about getting a break as a lead in a popular serial, how it feels to have bagged three awards for the Best Child Actor, the competition in the industry, his dream of becoming popular that never altered, and much more. Below are the transcripts:
How did you get a break at such a young age as a protagonist of a serial?
I was doing a show called Rajkumar Aryan of the same production house and me and Avika were together in that show. At that time, the casting of Balika Vadhu was happening. So, in Balika Vadhu they needed a pair of small children. They saw the episode of Rajkumar Aryan. Komalji and Sanjayi, the producers of Balika vadhu thought, would be a good match and that they would connect well with the Indian audience. So they called us, we auditioned and that is how we got the roles. But I have done a few shows before that also. My first proper break is of course Balika Vadhu, but I have done like ads. I have also had my share of struggle for 8-9 months after coming to Mumbai. After doing tiny roles, coming across people, putting in hardwork, and as my dad says, possessing the luck factor, contributed in getting me the role.
So does it get difficult now to manage studies alongside your acting career?
It was difficult when I was in 10th and 12th. The formative years where I had different subjects. But now, when I am in graduation, it is a bit more easy because the subjects are related to media as I am studying mass media. The subjects are related to my field. But subjects like maths and science needed to be focused on, but that also I used to manage somehow.
You have got three awards as the Best Child Actor for Balika Vadhu. Were they expected?
To be honest, I had not realized the gravity of the awards back then. It is something big. It is something people work for, for years. I remember one incident when I was in an award function, Raza Muradji was there on the podium. So he said, “Waha se stage tak ki doori kam hai, par ye safar tay karne me log sadiyaan beeta dete hai aur kuch log to pohonch bhi nahi pate”. So, at that tender age, I didn`t realize much. But I understood the gravity of the situation when my dad cried on me receiving my first award.
Because he didn`t expect it at all. Even though I didn`t realize it, I know how hard I had worked for it. How hard I am working now and how the will of betterment is there everyday, that is what I am certain of.
Were you very certain that you wanted to be an actor?
Not until I was 6 years old. Because before that I was in Noida. I came to Mumbai when I was 6. How I got into acting is also a story of fate. It is not like I wanted to come to Mumbai, wanted to give an audition or wanted to get selected. I came here in my summer vacation because my dad got posted here. He told me that there is this audition and asked if I would like to go. He told me Jackie Chan would shoot with you. I was like, Oh, Jackie Chan will shoot with me, then I don`t have any problem. So, I went there, I showed some karate moves and I got the ad with Jackie Chan. So, within 30 days of me coming in Bombay, I had got an ad. Then slowly my interest developed in acting. Now, when I look back I think it is all a part of destiny. Earlier I never used to believe in destiny or fate. I used to think all is science. But now I have started believing that all you see, feel or touch are all above science and above our mortal reach. Like Ronit da says, “Not even a snowflake falls down by an accident”.
How old were you when Balika Vadhu was offered?
I was 10.
How do you look at the competition in the industry?
Competition is a word which people often misunderstand. Competition is not about making others lose. Yes, people say that competition is about me and making myself better than I was yesterday. That is true, but down the line, they have this mindset that if I am running the race with my opponent, I have to make him lose. But that is not how I believe, hold my moral values and plan to win. I will set my standard, I will set my ground so high, work hard and then go farther, so much so, that no one would even think of touching me. My mindset is not that I want to make that person lose. My mindset is that I want to win so big that it is untouchable.
But you are a successful actor, today, what about those for whom the struggle never ends?
It is a whirlpool. I think and I believe as an individual that it is completely in your power to get inside that whirlpool or maintain your individualism. And if you maintain it, that is what counts. Once you get inside the whirlpool, I think it is impossible to hold the individualism. So, that makes the difference further.
I remember seeing you when you were probably 10, playing innocent, yet slightly mischeivious Jagdish in Balika Vadhu. But post that, you were not seen on television, before we saw your grown up avatar recently in Itna Karo Na Mujhe Pyaar. How was the transition process for you?
I was 86 kgs, I think, if we divide the period till now, after Balika Vadhu, I think we can phase it into two parts. The first part was busy handling, re-mapping and trying to understand what actually happened. I wouldn’t understand why my dad would tell me that I could not go and have golgappas on street with other friends, I couldn’t stand in the sun for a longer time, I couldn’t play cricket, etc., But the other half gave me all the answers. Why I couldn`t do all those things? And also the reasons. These are the sacrifices, I agree, but the reasons for sacrifices were met and it is so great that I am working on the things I have to achieve. So, my dad always says lifting weight is always easy, but holding it is damn difficult. So, the latter half of this period was about finding the answers, finding myself. I was interested in reading books, spending time in gym. Many people question why I wasn`t seen much in this phase. So, like I said, it is all a whirlpool and it doesn`t take time to get into it. It doesn`t have a door, you can only get once into it and keep churning around. I have never been in that whirlpool, thankfully.
You have been lucky enough to work with all senior actors in the industry, be it Ronit Roy, Smita Bansal or Anup Soni. Tell us about your experience with them.
I have worked with Abhishek Bachchan also, for a day in Balika Vadhu. I have learned a lot from Surekhaji (Dadisa of Balika Vadhu) and Ronit (Roy) da. Surekhaji is very special. The level of submerging into the character, just ripping self apart and putting Dadisa inside: that is what she used to do. Experience of working with such senior actors makes the entire learning process more enjoyable.
Take us to your first day on the sets of Balika Vadhu. Tell us how was it?
I was the hero. I forgot to remove my glasses and the director was shouting at me. We were shooting the very first episode in a village, in the interiors of Rajasthan. So, people and small children in the village were fascinated and they came to me. There was all pampering, touching me and they came to know that I am the lead. So, they came to me. It is interesting to reminisce that I signed my first autograph there. I didn`t even know what an autograph was, but I just signed. Then my dad taught me the difference between a signature and an autograph. First day was more like a picnic because we were staying in a hotel 20 kms away from the shooting area. It was very cold, I remember. The place where we were shooting was like a big palace, which you see in Balika Vadhu. It is an original palace of Mewar`s king. We had turned that house into a hotel. The photographer and directors were very happy that we are getting that real feel. The entire experience was crucial, fantastic and mindblowing.
What would you have become, if not an actor?
I wanted to become an astronaut till I was 6. (laughs) But one thing I didn`t alter was the desire of becoming famous. I was 3 or 4-years-old and even at that time I had this desire. So, I had chosen to be an astronaut because I knew about Neil Armstrong going to moon. So, I had thought I would go to the sun. (laughs) When my destiny showed me my destiny, I thought what could be a better way to become famous than this. By becoming an astronaut, I would just be a part of a history page, my photo would be in textbooks. By this, my photo would be in every household through newspapers and wallpapers. That is what I crave for. I crave for love. I crave to be admired by people. And here, I am talking about the selfless sense of popularity. My dad has not only taught me about acting, but has also given me the things to survive, to live in this industry; he has given me the power.
Who do you look up to?
Right now if you ask, it is Shah Rukh Khan. Because he is not only a great actor, but also a great human being, a good family man, a good business man. He has a good foresightedness. In the era when people used to consider ads as minor, he started doing ads. People would think that if they come in a 3 hours film, why should they get featured in 30 seconds ad. That was the ego. But SRK broke the stereotypes.
Your message to our readers and your fans?
I hope they keep loving, admiring me and continue blessing me. I am working hard and I will continue with it. I promise that I won`t disappoint them. I would keep entertaining them. Whenever I will come on silver screen, I will make sure that I am better, stronger and more worthy of being loved.
Thank You.
Tags: Avinash Mukherjee Avinash Mukherjee interview Balika Vadhu
