Young minds and showbiz pressure
The showbiz isn’t an easy place to be. And with so many kids being part of daily soaps and reality TV shows, it’s crucial to ensure that they don’t get carried away with the limelight or lose heart when things go downhill, and maintain a healthy mind and spirit. PARENTS SPEAK
Dimpal Sharma, mother of Aakriti Sharma, 10, who played the lead in Kullfi Kumarr Bajewala, tells us, “I saw parents rebuking their kids, who failed to deliver well. This isn’t the right approach. Also, I made sure Aakriti is treated like any other kid, and not pampered much.”
Shivani Batabyal, mother of Rupsa Batabyal, 6, who won Super Dancer Chapter 3, last year, shares, “Whenever I feel Rupsa is taking things too seriously, I try and divert her attention.”
Mother of Jayas Kumar, 9, who won Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs (2017), Ruchi Kumar says maintaining a healthy environment at home is key. She adds, “The audience may treat him like a rockstar, we don’t. We give him books to read and don’t force him to do things he doesn’t enjoy.” SHOW MAKERS SHARE ONUS
A healthy environment on the sets is equally important. Producer Binaiferr Kohli, whose show Happu Ki Ultan Paltan features youngsters in the age group of 10 to 20 years, shares that the idea is to “let them enjoy the journey”. But what about the performance pressure? “That’s everywhere. I tell them to give their full effort, and that matters more than success or failure,” she says.
Producer JD Majethia of
Bhakharwadi, says, “More than the child, parents enjoy the limelight. That isn’t bad till they push their kids hard. Sometimes, the child sadly is the earning member and ends up making many sacrifices.” He adds that sometimes makers are also at fault, and says, “We can’t make them shoot for long hours. Some kids are difficult to manage but we have to keep our cool.” EXPERT OPINION
Dr Pulkit Sharma, clinical psychologist, says kids often forget what it feels like to be carefree. “In a performance based industry, expectations add a lot of weight on their mind and soul. Parents must make their child understand this is just a co-curricular activity, there’ll be more such opportunities in future, and not becoming successful today won’t change their lives,” he explains.