Indian cinema has always been in love with child stars. Their innocent charm, raw talent, and ability to connect with the audiences made them instantly unforgettable. But what happened to those child prodigies when they grew up? Let’s find out about the journeys of some of India’s most beloved child actors, now in their 20s or older, and where life took them.
1. Shweta Basu Prasad
- First Film: Makdee (2002)
- Then: Shweta Basu Prasad got the immediacy of recognition as her first acting appraisal came for Vishal Bhardwaj’s Makdee as Chunni and Munni. She acted so impeccably that she was also awarded the prestigious National Film Award for Best Child Artist.
- Now: Shweta continued acting in adulthood, too, and has had prominent roles in films like Iqbal (2005) and The Tashkent Files (2019). She also did work in some television series and web series, showcasing that an actor is not limited to just one kind of role.
2. Kunal Khemu
- First Film: Raja Hindustani (1996)
- Then: Kunal Khemu was 13 when he played the role of young Raj in the blockbuster hit Raja Hindustani. His cute performance made him a darling among audiences.
- Now: Kunal smoothly segued into adult roles in films like Kalyug, Golmaal series, and Malang. He has also been known to be comic with good timing as well- he is into dramatic roles that have proved his staying power in Bollywood.
3. Hansika Motwani
- First Film: Koi. Mil Gaya; the year 2003
- Then: Hansika Motwani charmed everyone with her role as one of Hrithik Roshan’s young friends in the sci-fi hit Koi. Mil Gaya. Her innocent face and expressive eyes were hard to forget.
- Now: Hansika is the leading lady of South Indian film industry. Her first movie as a heroine was Desamuduru in 2007. Further, she did many films in Tamil and Telugu, thereafter cementing her place in the industry.
4. Darsheel Safary
- First Film: Taare Zameen Par (2007)
- Then: Darsheel Safary, as Ishaan, the dyslexic child in Taare Zameen Par, stole the hearts of millions. His natural act won him critical kudos and several awards.
- Now: All grown up, Darsheel is trying his hands at various facets of the entertainment world. He has acted in plays and short films, and has even danced his heart out in a dance reality show. He continues acting and is slowly building his career as an adult actor.
5. Ayesha Kapur
- First Film: Black (2005)
- Then: All of 10 years old, Ayesha Kapur came up with a thundering performance as young Michelle McNally in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Black. As a blind and deaf girl, her performance was nothing short of extraordinary.
- Now: After Black, Ayesha took a break from acting to focus on her studies. She made a brief comeback with the film Sikandar 2009 but has kept a low profile since then. Now, she is an entrepreneur and runs her own fashion brand.
6. Jhanak Shukla
- First Film: Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)
- Then: Jhanak Shukla stole hearts as little Gia in Kal Ho Naa Ho as the adopted daughter of the character of Jaya Bachchan. Sweet, innocent role made her a favourite among fans.
- Now: As Jhanak grew older, she decided to take a backseat from the limelight. She studied archaeology and since then has been busy with books and history-a far cry from her acting days.
7. Parzaan Dastur
- First Film: Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)
- Then: Who can forget the silent little Sikh boy from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, whose one line, “Tussi jaa rahe ho? Tussi na jao,” became iconic? Parzaan Dastur’s brief role made a lasting impression.
- Now: Parzaan has grown up and is working behind the camera as a writer-director. He has acted in a couple of films and short films, but his interest now lies in filmmaking and telling stories.
8. Sana Saeed
- First Film: Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)
- Then: Sana Saeed stole everyone’s heart as the bubbly little Anjali in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai with her cute looks and energetic performance.
- Now: Sana came back on screen as a grown lady with Student of the Year and that too in an extremely glamorous role. Since then, she has been making appearances in reality shows and continuing acting in films and web series, although keeping herself within the circle of the entertainment world.
9. Imran Khan
- First Film: Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988)
- Then: Imran Khan as young Aamir Khan in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992)
- Now: Imran as lead actor with the hit film Jaane Tu. Ya Jaane Na (2008). He went on to act in other films like I Hate Luv Storys (2010), Delhi Belly (2011) etc before he packed his bags and started concentrating more on direction and other interests.
10. Aftab Shivdasani
- First Film: Mr. India, 1987
- Then: Aftab Shivdasani did the role of the orphan in Mr. India. Much later, he did several commercials and films as a child.
- Now: Aftab did grow up and started doing adult roles in films like Mast, 1999 and Kasoor, 2001. He is doing quite a few films in Bollywood – a mix of both commercially and experimentally. 11. Siddharth Nigam First Film: Dhoom 3, 2013
11. Siddharth Nigam
- First Film: Dhoom 3 (2013)
- Then: The kid was impressive enough in all his athletics and acting in Dhoom 3 as the younger version of Aamir Khan’s character.
- Now: Siddharth went on to become a big television star in series such as Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat and Aladdin – Naam Toh Suna Hoga. He also continues working in films and enjoys a huge fan base of his own.
12. Zoya Afroz
- First Film: Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1999)
- Then: Zoya Afroz starred as an adult in Hum Saath-Saath Hain as the daughter of Neelam’s character.
- Now: Zoya won the title of Miss India International in 2013 and later transitioned into acting in lead roles in films like The Xposé, 2014, and various other television shows.
13. Shah Rukh Khan
- First Film: In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones, 1989
- Then: Not traditionally a child star for the big screen, Shah Rukh Khan began with small roles in TV movies such as In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones, before he became the “King of Bollywood.”
- Now: Currently one of India’s biggest superstars, Shah Rukh Khan’s career has spanned over three decades, with blockbusters such as Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and My Name is Khan.
14. Urmila Matondkar
- First Film: Masoom (1983)
- Then: Urmila Matondkar was a child when she acted in Masoom. Her performance is still remembered.
- Now: Urmila definitely grew up to be one of the most sought-after actresses in the 90s with films like Rangeela (1995), Satya (1998), and Bhoot (2003). Strong performances and versatility has made her a name to reckon with.
15. Alia Bhatt
- First Film: Sangharsh (1999)
- Then: Alia Bhatt played the young version of Preity Zinta in Sangharsh. Though a short role, she did show promise.
- Now: Alia’s first film as a leading lady was Student of the Year (2012), which put her on the radar, and soon enough after a spate of mediocre films, she left critics and audience alike chasing after her talents in Highway (2014), Raazi (2018) and Gully Boy (2019).
16. Rajat Barmecha
- First Film: Udaan (2010)
- Then: Rajat Barmecha played the angst-ridden teenager Rohan in the film Udaan, which reached cult status and launched him into the limelight.
- Now: Rajat continues acting in movies and web series. He has done films like Girl in the City. Recently, he acted in a short film titled The Wedding and is still active within the indie circle of filmmakers.
17. Jibraan Khan
- First Film: Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001)
- Then: Jibraan Khan as the cute Krish, son of Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, in the blockbuster Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.
- Now: Having studied filmmaking and acting, Jibraan is gearing up for his big Bollywood innings as a full-grown actor. He is active on social media sites and is grooming himself for the bright future ahead.
18. Avika Gor
- First Film: Morning Walk (2009)
- Then: Avika Gor was an overnight sensation when she played the character of Anandi in the very popular TV series called Balika Vadhu, but her first film was Morning Walk in 2009.
- Now: Grown-up Avika is now doing fantastically well in South Indian films, having acted in several Telugu films back-to-back. She keeps appearing in both TV as well as films.
19. Ashnoor Kaur
- First Film: Sanju (2018)
- Then: Ashnoor Kaur started her career as a child artiste in television but made her film debut in Sanju, where she played a young Priya Dutt.
- Now: Ashnoor continues to work in television series and web shows. She is popular on social media and has a huge fan following for her fashion and lifestyle content.
20. Ahsaas Channa
- First Film: Vaastu Shastra (2004)
- Then: Ahsaas Channa entered the industry as a child artist. She used to play the role of boys in films like Vaastu Shastra and My Friend Ganesha. She was known to be an upcoming versatile actor playing different roles in different films.
- Now: Ahsaas has grown into teenage and adult roles with popular faces in the web series Girls Hostel and Kota Factory. She continues acting in web series, short films, and commercials, enjoying a commendable social media presence.
These 20 child actors have all taken very different paths, with some remaining in the cinematic world and others moving to fulfil other desires. Of course, their lives were changed at the very start by the industry itself, but now-grown adults, they make their ways in life and show that their stories are not even close to over.
