Cool pro at 12
KOMAL VIJAY SINGH
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Tanay Chheda, the pubescent Jamal of ‘Slumdog Millionaire,’ believes he was destined to essay the role.
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TALES IN HIS HEAD: Tanay wants to write scripts and direct movies, not just act.
He’s all of 12 years old and is already a pro at handling interviews. Call him up on his mom’s cellphone and the ‘Jai Ho’ anthem rings loud and clear. Nothing surprising in that considering he’s a part of the celebrated and globally feted cast of ‘Slumdog Millionaire.’ The street-smart pubescent Jamal who cheats tourists at Taj Mahal has been essayed by Mumbai schoolboy Tanay Chheda.When Tanay talks, you marvel at how he steers an even course, answering questions with élan.
Destined to play Jamal
“I was destined to be a part of ‘Slumdog Millionaire.’ First, I missed going for the auditions as I got just two hours notice for reaching the place. I just couldn’t make it. Then, after eight months, the casting crew came actor-hunting to my school. I wasn’t even supposed to be there that day. It was after school hours and the Dramatics Club practice was going on, I learnt the lines quickly and delivered the dialogues, completely forgetting about it afterwards. A few days later, I was amazed when I was okayed for the role and my measurements were being taken,” Tanay says.
But, it isn’t as if Tanay is a stranger to the filmdom. He’s Arjun Rampal’s son in ‘Don,’ the first movie that he acted in. ‘Taare Zameen Par’ really brought him in the limelight as the paraplegic Rajan Damodaran, the academically brilliant foil to Darsheel Safary’s Ishaan Awasthi.
Tanay’s latent talent was discovered when his mother enrolled him for a theatre workshop during the Diwali holidays when he was four. He also works for Gerson Da Cunha.
More bonding in theatre
Tanay clearly proclaims theatre as a bigger love than films.
“The bonding among co-actors while doing theatre is amazing. It’s like one big family. There’s more learning involved, too. I have a special memory about each play that I’ve done.” Tanay will soon be seen in Nikhil Panchammiya’s ‘Mastang Mama.’
Those who have seen rushes of the film are mighty impressed with the natural performance given by the young actor!
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