Playing Big on the Small Screen

At a press conference in Delhi recently,sharing the podium with him were the two child actors,dressed in the manner they appear on screen. While Jannat essays the role of Ishita,Khushali is seen as Mahika. Wearing fuchsia pink and yellow lehengas,bindis on their foreheads and hair tied in tight plaits,the television series portrays the duo not just as excellent dancers,but also seasoned actors who are well-acquainted with television terms like cut,action,repeat and make-up. While they act their age occasionally,at other times,they are child brides,young widows and teen queens with a perfect pout.

However,life up there can be lonely and tough,and this forms the crux of the narrative.

“Children stop living their life at a very young age and start living their parents’ dreams,” added Tewari.

While the show,that started on October 3,looks promising and the issue sounds realistic,there is a great amount of irony attached. After all,Haar Jeet is television’s commentary on itself.

“Children often come back home with a lot of mature questions that we do not have answers to. At that time,I tell Jannat to just rehearse her lines and get out of the character after the shoot,” said Jannat’s father,Zubair Rahmani. Gorging on chicken lollipops and paneer tikka,his young daughter,meanwhile,had rehearsed answers to most questions. How does she handle shooting and homework? “I don’t get any homework from school,I only get worksheets and I finish those on the sets,before shooting,” stated Jannat.

Khushali added,“I get homework,projects and notes from school. I complete the work in my free time.”

After nine television shows,Jannat has her heart set on acting,but Khushali would prefer being an engineer.

“She doesn’t like doing television shows. They are very time-consuming. She has told me that this is her first and last show and she has taken it up because it will showcase her dancing skills and it’s for a good cause,” said Punita Hirani,Khushali’s mother.

The two child stars do have strong opinions about the show’s concept. “Parents ko apne bachho pe pressure nahi dalna chahiye. Woh galat hai (Parents should not pressurise their children. It’s unfair). All parents are not like this and my family never puts any pressure on me,” said Khushali.

Once the girls were done with answering all questions and the audience left the hall,Khushali went to her mother,hugged her tightly and said,“Bol bol ke mooh dard ho raha hai mumma(After talking so much my mouth is hurting).”

A tight embrace and a kiss on the cheeks and the parents escorted their child stars back to the television sets.