Controversy's child Shweta Basu Prasad looks back on fun days as child artiste

Mumbai: Shweta Prasad, who once won the National award for best child artiste in ‘Makdee’, has grown into a world of controversies. In the news lately for the wrong reasons, she looks back with affection on her days as a child artiste.

 

“It was fun because unlike many child actors I didn’t do numerous films, dozens of serials and scores of ads. It was just ‘Makdee’ with Vishal Bhardwaj, then ‘Iqbal’ with Nagesh Kukunoor. Then I did an ad directed by Gulzar Saab. It was probably the last thing that Gulzar Saab directed. And the three days I spent shooting with him were like going to an acting school,” sighs Shweta.

 

She says she never missed out on a normal school life. “My parents were very clear on this issue. Unlike other child artistes my school life and play-time were not spent on sets. I did just a few films and then I quit completely concentrating on my studies before returning as an adult actor.”

 

Recalling the wonder of winning the National award at that young age Shweta chuckles, “I was 12. I didn’t even know what the National award was. I remember going to my school at Vidhya Bhawan and there they were blaring my name and the announcement about my National award from the speakers in every class.”

 

Shweta says she was too confused to be either flattered or embarrassed. “When I got the National award my home was flooded with cakes and gifts. But I knew I had achieved something big only when the President Abdul Kalaam Saab gave me the medal and the certificate. Those occupy a pride of place in my room.”

 

Shweta doesn’t feel it’s difficult for child artistes to make the transition into grownup acting. “Once you take a break between the child and the grownup phase there is no problem. I never felt the weight of the transition. I had a normal childhood, My parents made sure of that.”

 

Today when so much has happened in Shweta’s life she looks back on her days as a child artiste with much joy. “As a child I did just enough work to keep me happy. I found time to practice my classical music and also to play with friends and chill with family.”