Harshaali wants to be a star like Sallu

She has audiences going gaga over her cherubic countenance and endearing performance in the recently-released Bajrangi Bhaijaan, and seven-year-old child actor Harshaali Malhotra now aims to be a big star like her co-actor, Salman Khan.

Harshaali played Munni, a mute girl from Pakistan, in the Kabir Khan-directed film. “I like acting and singing. I want to be a superstar like Salman uncle,” she says enthusiastically.

Her mother Kajal Malhotra had met casting director Mukesh Chabra in the past. One day, he called her saying that the child has bagged the role in the Salman Khanstarrer. “I wasn’t aware that Salman was part of the film. Initially, we couldn’t believe it. It was tough for us to accept it,” says Kajal.

The child actor said that Salman used to play doll games and table tennis with her on the film’s set. “I used to play games with Salman uncle on his cell phone. I used to sit on Kabir uncle’s lap and play Barbie games. Kareena (Kapoor Khan, actor) aunty was busy with shooting, so I did not get the time to play games with her,” she says.

The girl’s mother says that Harshaali’s future is in acting. “Right now, she is dedicated to acting. I keep introducing gaps in between. Sometime back she was unwell, so we put a halt... she is too young. After she goes to class five, we’ll take a break of six-seven years until she’s in class 12. If she wants to pursue acting, we will let her do it,” she says.

Apparently, Harshaali used to cry upon seeing Salman fighting or getting emotional in the film: “I used to cry when he (Salman) did action scenes. Even when Salman uncle shot emotional scenes, I used to feel bad. Even I cried when uncle cried.”

Kajal says that Harshaali initially felt shy talking to Salman. “She was shy at first. Then, they both were left alone for sometime and got along well. Salman loves her a lot. We are happy that she got this big opportunity of working with Salman.”

The child actor has earlier been seen on popular TV show Laut Aao Trisha, apart from appearing in various TV commercials.

I used to play games with Salman uncle on his phone. I like acting and singing, and want to be a superstar like him

Harshaali Malhotra, actor