13-year-old Hash Mayar who has wowed critics with his portrayal of the young, enterprising and ambitious kid, Chhotu in Bollywood debut director Nila Madhab Panda’s award-winning film I Am Kalam, likes to describe an amalgamation of emotions that he has undergone since winning the National Award, meeting former president APJ Abdul Kalam and Amitabh Bachchan – simply put as 'great fun'.
The boy, who grew up in one corner of a confined space in a row of shanties in South Delhi, today is confident that it is Bollywood that is his real calling. However, not for a moment does he forget what Kalam's golden words to him were – 'never give up your studies'.
He loves to watch films, he says, and that one day he will become a big Bollywood star. Harsh Mayar is still perhaps too young to decide which genre of cinema he would like to dabble in next, but he gleefully says, "All kinds of cinema interest me. I want to meet Salman Khan, Shah Rukh and Akshay Kumar. I want to do a film with Salman Bhai."
The spark of excitement and hope is clear in his eyes and the resolve to steer away from the drudgery that accompany a life in the slums leaps out of his words as he describes the kind of life he aspires to live. The tone of humility is unmistakable in his voice as he says, "I want to change and I want to bring about a change in others. I have learnt there is no alternative to hard work and I am willing to do so to become big in life."
It is also very interesting to know what Harsh did with the acting fee he received for I Am Kalam. One would imagine Harsh went shopping for toys and may have even bought bag loads of clothes. But when he reveals where the money actually went, you can't help but conclude that this fine, young lad has his family on top priority over everything else. He says, "I spent the money on my grandfather's 'tervee' (a religious ritual performed on the 13th day after a person's demise)." He shrugs his shoulders when we ask him why he did not want to spend the money on himself and instead points out, "My grandfather died a while ago. My father did not have the money to complete all the formalities after his death. This ritual was pending and the money was wisely spent."
While Harsh might want to act beside Salman Khan, he admits his true inspiration in Bollywood is none other than Amitabh Bachchan. "When I met him", he says, "I told him he is my God. He even got his photographs clicked with me!" He tells us he was simply awed by the veteran actor and has learnt important lessons from him. "Now when anyone wants to get my photograph clicked with them, I never say no. I need to think about everyone's needs." In Bollywood, where fantastic films for children come along after long intervals, this young star is definitely worth watching out for.
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