A day in life of Harshali Malhotra is nothing glamorous. Yes, she gets to see and do things most kids don't -- cameras, lights, shootings and rubbing shoulders with Bollywood stars, but when it comes to day-to-day life, it is as regular as it comes. Handling a famous child, and ensuring they stay grounded is a tough task. I spoke to her mother, Kajal Malhotra, about how she helps her 7-years-old handle all the pressure, exposure and fan following that comes with the job. Here are excerpts from our conversation.
How does Harshali react to all the attention she attracts? How do you help her?
All this attention isn t new to her, she started acting in television commercials and has also done print advertisements since she was 2-years-old. However, Bajrangi Bhaijaan has made her a bigger star overnight, and she usually enjoys the star status. However, we try to let her enjoy her childhood like any other child. We do not want her to lose her innocence. I keep explaining to her that people appreciate her work and that s why they keep coming to her for pictures and interviews. I do not want her to feel and act like a star .
How did the idea of pursuing acting come up? Was it her decision?
Acting has always been a passion for her. I remember, once we had gone for a movie and Harshali said I want to see myself on this big screen . I am glad we found her passion so early on, and as parents we always support her. We never force her to take up assignments or go for shoots. She can continue acting as long as she enjoys it. If one day she decides that she no longer wants to act, we will support that too. As parents, it is important to give your kids the freedom to pursue things they are passionate about, instead of forcing kids into doing things their heart isn t into.
How do you balance her studies with her acting assignments?
Harshali is in grade 2 currently, hence she does not have a lot of school work. Till now, she has managed to maintain her grades and is a good student. My husband and I often discuss that we should make her focus solely focus on studies once she reaches grade 5. However, even this decision lies with her. Acting is her first love, and I am glad that she is doing well.
Have you seen any changes in Harshali s personality post her Bollywood success?
Not really. We still maintain the simple lifestyle we are used to. We do not give her any special treatment at home. She gets scolded when she does not behave and we pamper her just the way we used to. She enjoys spending time with her brother, Hardik and they both have a very normal, regular childhood.
This is one thing we, as parents, decided early on. We do not want her to lose her innocence and act like grown ups. I want my daughter to be the cute, little girl she is. I want her to be curious as children are, to ask me innocent questions and be intrigued by the myriad things she sees around herself. With her stardom, she is bound to taste fame and feel special, but we make sure to keep her grounded. That is the reason we do not share all the social media activities revolving around her. She does not know how famous she is on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
Have there been any hiccups so far in parenting Harshali, given she is famous?
Not really, because as I said, we never treat her like a star. Rather, we did put a stop on all her acting assignments a few years ago as she used to keep sick. However, this began to take a toll on her self-esteem. She used to keep questioning why she wasn t doing any shoots or assignments. She thought that she wasn t good enough and felt rejected. It was then we realised that pursuing acting meant a lot to her. I am proud of her achievements and hope that she goes from strength to strength.
What message would you like to give to other parents?
As a parent, it s our responsibility to help our kids explore and recognise their passion and to pursue it freely. Do not live your dreams through your child. Let them grow independently.
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Image source: Harshali Malhotra/ Facebook
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