Which child actor best lived up to their potential?

 A few names from India…

Shalini

Baby Shalini, as she was fondly known back in the 1980s was the apple of every south Indian movie goer’s eye :) She wowed people with her endearing performances and those big expressive eyes.

Even her trademark haircut was the top favorite for a lot of little girls of that era.

Shalini acted in a handful of extremely good movies as a lead actress before settling down to a quiet married life with one of Tamil cinema’s superstars Ajith Kumar.

They now have two lovely children.

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Sridevi

Baby Sridevi acted in many movies of the black and white era before she arrived on the big screen with a bang as a lead actress.

She ruled the Indian movie industry for many years until she got married and called it a day.

Her second innings in movies had also taken off to a flying start before the shadow of death fell on her and took this talented actress away from us way too soon.

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Fahad Faasil

Master Shanu, as he was known then, acted in a blink and miss role in the movie ‘Pappayude Swantham Appoos’. The lead child actor of the movie never made it big, but Master Shanu returned to the big screen as Fahad Faasil and still continues to give sterling performances that keep the Box Office ringing for weeks.

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Keerthi Suresh

Daughter of two movie industry stalwarts, Keerthi appeared in a handful of Malayalam movies, most of which were produced by her father, Suresh Kumar.

After a break, she returned as a lead actress and worked mainly in Tamil movies opposite several top actors. She recently won several accolades for her magnificent portrayal of yesteryear's actress Savitri in the multilingual blockbuster ‘Nadigar Thilagam’/ ‘Mahanati’.

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Shane Nigam

Son of noted comedian Kalabhavan Abi, Shane was a known name as a child actor on Malayalam television before he made his grand debut with the movie Kismath for which he was well appreciated.

He still continues to give very moving performances in almost every movie that he has acted in.

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Hansika Motwani

Hansika was one of the top television child stars when she forayed into mainstream Hindi cinema as a child artist.

She is best remembered for her role as one of Hrithik Roshan’s little kid friends in the movie ‘Koi Mil Gaya’.

After taking the shortest of breaks, she suddenly arrived back on the scene as a lead actress. After a minor debut in Hindi, Hansika moved south and has worked in several south Indian language movies as the lead actress.

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Nazriya Nazim

Nazriya arrived on the screen in the much appreciated role of Mammootty’s elder daughter in the critical and commercial hit, ‘Palunku’ in 2006.

Not so long after, she moved on to do lead roles in several hit movies in Malayalam and Tamil. She got married to her co-star from the blockbuster hit ‘Bangalore Days’, Fahadh Faasil, in 2014.

After a gap of four years, she has now returned to cinema with the movie ‘Koode’.

Is birth of a child in Amavasya considered inauspicious or is it just a myth?

 Namaste,

Amavasya IN Jyotish:

Amavasya stands for together to dwell. The Day when the Sun and Moon are conjunct together at 0 -Zero Degree, it’s the day called Amavasya. Amavasya is the lunar Phase, the Tithi as per Vedic Jyotish, that is also known as New Moon. New Moon is the day when the new journey is going to start for the soul that comes to this Earth.

If you are born on Amavasya Tithi, that is considered your Vedic Birthday. Your birth Tithi is an essential aspect of the Panchang.

It marks the day you were born, carrying a specific emotion that is inherent in your soul. This can be interpreted in terms of the relationship between the emotions of the Sun (Shiva) and Moon (Parvati), as well as the water element (Represent Emotion) that you embody.

Amavasya is considered inauspicious, or is it just a myth?

If someone is born on the New Moon, the Amavasya, it signifies the Purification process that the soul will undergo in its experience, encompassing all Six Ripus (inner enemies).

This Purification word is used here because if a planet comes closer to the Sun, it is the Sun's responsibility, being the king, to guide the correct rules, ethics, and behavioural patterns to make their birth successful.

The Sun is the fire, the Shiva, the ultimate wisdom that never wants you to be in darkness. It will enlighten you through experiences with various Emotional Experiences.

What happens if someone is born on Amavasya?

The Prataydhi Devta, the higher form of Sun, is Shiva, and for the Moon, it is Parvati. When these energies come together, Shiva guides Parvati, the preceptor of the Moon in Vedic Jyotish, as Mother, who represents the consciousness of our soul.

The guidance of Shiva (the Sun), the King in astrology, gives the direction to perform the Tapasya/penance, which is not an easy journey, so the pain of Six Ripus and the experiences to control those with discipline by our Manas, the Moon, as Paravati, the higher consciousness, will experience the purification.

These are as follows:

• Mad & Matsrya: Get rid of excessive self-importance & Envy of others.
• Lobha: control the greed to attain the higher goal.
• Moha: Get rid of attachment to all achievements, which is hindering the attainment of the desired result, which is suitable for the higher goal of the soul.
• Krodh: overcoming the Anger to win the rivals,
• Kaam: through struggle in life, learn from having desires.

These Six Ripus will burn out through significant ups and downs if one is born on a New Moon.

People born on Aamvasya-New Moon are always in a questioning mood because they don’t find the answer. That answer will come when they start meditation, contemplate on those, and learn through the katha of Parvati’s life, reading good books, rather than focusing on mundane things or getting stuck in arguments that eventually cause loss of energy and affect their emotional health.

So, you were born on Amavasya New Moon. In that case, you have the energy of Parvati, but that Parvati is in the mood of questing for multiple things to attain the form of Mahakali, due to its close association with the Sun fire of Wisdom, the Shiva.

So, Tithi is just the Phase of mood you were born into and the Emotions of your Soul that will bring life changes as you learn and expect to come to Earth. This Journey from the Amavasya moon to become Kali and transform yourself to Parvati, the ultimate consciousness under the Divine guidance of Shiva, is not inauspicious; it’s the challenging task that you have been assigned, and you are capable and rewarded with the chance to learn directly through Shiva, the sun, because your Moon in your horoscope is in close association with the sun, so feel Blessed.

Remedial measures for Amavsya Born:

• In BPHS (Brihat Parashar Hora Shastra Vol 2), chapter 86, R. Santhanam, Remedial Measures for Birth on Amavasya suggests that the Sun and Moon idols should be worshipped in the South-West direction, where the energies of Rahu and Nirritti dwell, representing darkness. Deep diving into these two energies indicates a higher consciousness of Shiva and Parvati.
• Rishi always gives clues to help us find out, as they believe we know we are their good students and can confirm that with a depth of reading through our scriptures.
• So, be motivated if you were born on New Moon Amavasya and work on your learning, rather than wandering here and there.
• Practice self-reflection, manage your Six Ripu, and focus on improving yourself, especially if you are born on Aamvsya, the New Moon.
• Ask yourself and try to find the answer with extra effort because Shiva and Parvati’s energy is there with you in the form of the Sun and the Moon in close association.
• As per Vastu, try to keep the South-West Direction clear.

We should be aware of the fundamental principles of Vedic Jyotish, which provide guidance and insight to navigate our lives with clarity and confidence, rather than being entangled in ambiguity. Have the chance to learn from the many books provided in our culture.

Why Krishna Chose to Be the Eighth Child, Not First, Not Last

 In Sanatan Dharma, nothing happens without a reason. No avatar descends by chance, no moment is random, and no detail is without cosmic significance. Even the birth order of Shri Krishna, as the eighth child of Devaki, is not incidental. It is divine design, encoded with meaning that reveals layers of dharma, karma, and cosmic justice. But why the eighth? Why not be the first, and avoid the slaughter of six innocent children? Why not arrive as the last, after the terror of Kansa had passed? The answer is not emotional, it is dharmic.

The Eight: A Number That Holds the Universe

Eight symbolizes transition from material to spiritual liberation.

In Hindu cosmology, numbers carry vibrations. The number eight (Ashtam) is especially significant.

• Ashta Lakshmi: the eight forms of prosperity.
• Ashta Siddhis: the eight divine powers.
• Ashtanga Yoga: the eightfold path to liberation.
• Ashta Digpalas: the guardians of the eight directions.

In the Shastras, the number eight is seen as a threshold, a crossing over from the material (seven chakras) into the transcendental. The eighth is not of the world; it is the bridge to what lies beyond. Krishna, as the Purna Avatar, did not come to continue the world’s cycles, He came to reset them. Only the eighth could bear that weight.

Not First, Because Dharma Must Exhaust Itself

Divinity chose bondage to teach inner freedom.

Had Krishna come first, Kansa’s atrocities would not have been revealed. Evil must expose itself before it is destroyed. As per the Bhagavata Purana, the six elder siblings of Krishna, who were killed at birth, were not merely innocent babies. They were reincarnated sons of Kalanemi, cursed by the sage Hiranyakashipu to be born and killed by their father in a future life.

Their deaths were a release from past karma. Dharma never allows random suffering. Krishna, by choosing to come after them, allowed karma to resolve itself. His delay was compassion in disguise, giving space for past wrongs to dissolve before a new divine era began.

Not Last, Because Evil Doesn’t Get the Final Word

Krishna arrived before collapse, not after destruction.

Had Krishna been born last, it would have meant that Kansa ruled unopposed, till the very end. But Krishna arrived just before the turning point, not at the end, but at the brink of it. He came when faith was dying but not dead, when fear ruled but hadn't yet broken people entirely. He came in time, because that’s what Krishna represents.

In the Mahabharata, he says: “Sambhavami yuge yuge”, I manifest when dharma declines. Not after it is lost. Not before people feel the need for it. But at that fragile moment when the world is hanging by a thread and still worth saving.

Why Inside a Prison? Why Born to a Powerless Woman?

Devaki and Vasudev were not ordinary parents. They were chosen vessels. Born in chains, Krishna entered a world of fear, to teach us how to live freely even in bondage. He didn’t choose a palace. He chose a prison, because truth doesn’t need comfort to shine. Every moment of His arrival was symbolic:

The prison door opened not by force, but miraculously, showing that when the time of Dharma arrives, no wall can stand. The river Yamuna parted, like consciousness making way for divinity. Even Kansa, despite all his efforts, couldn’t alter a single moment of Krishna’s birth. When the Supreme Being enters the world, He doesn’t change the laws, He shows that He is beyond them, and still abides by them, to show us how to walk that same path with faith.

Final Thought

In the Vishnu Purana, it is said:

“Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati Bharata, abhyutthanam adharmasya tadatmanam srijamyaham.”Whenever Dharma is in decline, I manifest Myself. So remember, even in your personal life, when the first attempts fail and hope starts to die… don’t fear. The eighth is coming. Not when you expect it. But when it’s time. Because Krishna doesn’t arrive early. He arrives exactly when He’s needed most.

What's the most difficult movie scene a child actor has ever done?

 I am going to talk about an Indian film that is vastly underrated despite the presence of an actor who later became superstar and a narrative which was India's official entry to the Oscars.

The film is called Aakhiri Khat (The last letter) starting a debutante Rajesh Khanna, Indrani Mukherjee and a 15 month old child.

This 15 month old child was the centre of the narrative.

A young man meets a village girl, falls in love with her, and gets her impregnated. But he gets a scholarship as an artist and has to leave. The girl gives birth to the child and comes to city searching for her beloved but couldn't find him in his given address. She leaves her “last letter” on the door of the house and keeps waiting for him to come. Exasperated by hunger and thirst, she dies on the street leaving the child alone.

Now the rest of the film is about the toddler roaming on the streets while the man after receiving the letter, goes into the search of the child.

For giving a realistic touch to the film, the director Chetan Anand put the toddler on streets recording him with hand held camera. So a lot of things that the child does in the film are real shots (not all, there are rehearsed shots as well). The toddler was barely aware of what he was doing and it took a lot of efforts to edit out content relevant for the film. I don't know how ethical it is to place a child on street all by himself for a film (I hope there was some guidance).

Master Bunty has worked in more than 20 films in his career but nothing was as significant as his debut film. But that experience must have been a unforgettable if he remembers anything out of it..