We don’t mean to make you feel old, but time really does fly! There are many celebs whose childhood versions we’ve seen on screen when we were probably too young to remember, but now that we look at them playing adult roles, we’re hit with a sense of familiarity! So, since it is the holiday season and there’s not much to do, we decided to spend time on the internet trying to research and read up about our favourite childhood actors who gave us really memorable characters. To know what some of our favourite bollywood child actors now are, read below!
Ali Haji

Remember the bright-smiled cutie in the 2007 Bollywood movie Ta Ra Rum Pum who played Rani Mukherjee and Saif Ali Khan’s son? The same one who was seen playing Lara Dutta’s son in Partner, and Kajol & Aamir Khan’s son in Fanaa! Well, he is now 21 – and the cuteness isn’t lost at all! Ali Haji is the proud owner of a theatre production house named Clean Slate Studio and has also written two plays. Back in the day, Ali bagged the Best Child Actor Award at the New York Film Festival and we’re not surprised at all. Looks like this one of the Bollywood child actors has a long way to go, and the road ahead seems pleasant for him!
Alia Bhatt

We now know her as one of the most gifted and highest-paid actresses in Bollywood, and her debut to have been the 2012 movie Student Of The Year. But did you know that she was actually a Bollywood child artist and made her debut in the movie Sangharsh at the extremely young age of 6? Guess someone stuck to their childhood dream, making all of us really really proud! Alia is no more the teen girl from SOTY, neither is she the one from Sangharsh. She is now critically acclaimed and has many accolades to her name. Also, she does a lot of intelligent storylines now and proves to her audience that there is much, much more behind that eclectic attitude and amazing style, which you can replicate by means of online shopping apps.
Shahid Kapoor

Does “I am a Complan boy” ring a bell? Well, we’re sure it does! Now, can you remember the child-duo that starred in all of our mums’ favorite television advertisements ever? It was none other than Shahid Kapoor and Ayesha Takia as Bollywood child actors! The same little boy has grown up to be a man with tons of Filmfare Awards and other prestigious awards to his name, along with a beautiful wife, two children and some of the best roles in the industry! Even the women are all gaga over him and count us on that list too. Boy, all that Complan sure did a number on him – and we’re not complaining!
Darsheel Safary

Launched by none other than the superstar Aamir Khan, the Taare Zameen Par protagonist Darsheel Safary’s character Ishaan Awasthi is etched in our memory even after years of the movie’s release. Now 22, Darsheel is still in touch with his former co-actor and mentor on almost all important matters of his life, mainly his acting career. Right now, he seems to be taking the time to figure out his way ahead instead of jumping at whatever script he gets. That, for us, seems like the making of a great artist! He has also been doing theatre, which just means he’s carefully and wisely laying the foundation for his career as an actor, but not among Bollywood child actors this time.
Sanjay Dutt

The one man who has a biopic to his name, Sanjay Dutt’s acting career and timeline has not just been limited to action-packed roles and comedy genres. Son of renowned actor and director Suni Dutt, Bollywood’s Sanju Baba made his debut NOT in 1981 film Rocky but in 1971 film Reshma Aur Shera which starred his father opposite Waheeda Rehman. He played a brief role of a qawali singer, and boy was he a sweetheart! Now, even though he is not exactly active, he has still made it to our child actors then and now Bollywood list. We bet you didn’t know that your favorite star was launched much before, did you?
Hrithik Roshan

Now that we’ve finally arrived at the Greek God of Bollywood and one of the sexiest men in the world, allow us to give you a little backstory on the pre-Kaho Na Pyar Hai period of Hrithik’s life. Just like Sanjay Dutt, many people don’t know that he starred in the 1980 film Aasha, courtesy of the push his grandfather gave him at the ripe and early age of 6. He then went on to play a large role in the 1986 film Bhagwan Dada, which had Rajnikanth and Sridevi in the lead roles. He played Rajnikanth’s adopted child in the movie and this might also be the first time when he displayed his stellar dance moves and skills! Once holding a place among Bollywood child actors, he now has no competition and we get weak in the knees yet brim with excitement every time he takes to the stage.
Aamir Khan

He is undoubtedly one of the leading Khans of Bollywood! No, he doesn’t even need an introduction or an award show to establish him as a gem of the industry; his work has been saying PLENTY! Aamir Khan is now actively involved in societal issues, responsible for creating and hosting the famous Sunday-TV talk show Satyamev Jayate on Star Plus. Apart from this, the scripts he takes up too talk about a lot of taboos in our society, reassuring us that our favorite stars care about matters beyond promotions and box office releases. Aamir made his acting debut in the 1973 film Yaadon Ki Baarat which was made by his uncle Nasir Hussain. His big break came later in 1988, with the film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak in which he was casted opposite Juhi Chawla. The duo shared amazing on-screen chemistry back in the day!
Ahsaas Channa

One of the most famous Bollywood child actors on the block, you might have never been able to guess that this ‘cute boy’ was actually a girl! How versatile, right? Also, kudos to the acting! Seen in hit movies like Vaastu Shastra, Phoonk, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, My Friend Ganesha and more; she was the talk of the town among children and adults both because of her adorable-ness. As a teen, Ahsaas Channa played pivotal roles in renowned TV serials like Devon Ke Dev Mahadev, Oye Jassi and Fanah. We’re gonna go and rewatch all of her movies for a dose of nostalgia and you should too, while also waiting to see her in the upcoming Bollywood movies!
Sana Saeed

Little Anjali, child actress Bollywood from the endlessly loved rom-com Kuch Kuch Hota Hai is all grown up now! Yes, she went from being super adorable to super diva-esque, all in the matter of a few years. Apart from KKHH, she has also played roles in movies like Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega & Badal. As a grown actor in the industry, Sana Saeed made her debut in Karan Johar’s Student Of The Year which was a box office success. She played a supporting role in the movie. Sana has also participated in hit reality shows like Jhalak Dikhla Jaa, Nach Baliye, Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi and more. We can’t wait to see her on the big screen again and replace her ‘little Anjali’ image with another one that isn’t on the Bollywood child actors list!
Siddharth Nigam

At just 20, Siddharth Nigam has managed to create a memorable name for himself in the industry. If you’ve seen Dhoom 3, you obviously haven’t forgotten the young boy Sahir/Samar. Siddharth first starred in a Bournvita advertisement after which he received a call from the casting team of Dhoom 3 for an audition. This was a breakthrough for the young star who later went on to take up lead roles in Indian television soaps. Siddharth Nigam is best known for his role as Aladdin, in the show Aladdin – Naam Toh Suna Hoga, which airs on Sab TV. Apart from this, Siddharth is also a gold medalist gymnast! Talk about wearing multiple hats.
Neil Nitin Mukesh

If you’re a Bollywood buff, you’re not unaware of this name. You might not have seen him in many movies at all, but his second movie New York is one that everyone knows and loves. The actor first appeared in the 1988 film Vijay but with Bollywood child actors, and then in the 1989 film Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharni, the role of which he recalls fondly till date. In 2007, after having finished his education in commerce, he appeared in the movie Johnny Gaddar. We’d like to state that he also won a Filmfare award for Best Debut Male for his role in this movie. He has also played parts in Golmaal Again, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo and Saaho among other Tamil movies here and there.
Malvika Raaj

“Ye kaun hai jisne Poo ko mud kar nahi dekha?” is one of the most famous Bollywood dialogues! There is not one of us who hasn’t seen Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (some of us more than we’d like to admit.) From memorising every scene to every dialogue, the movie has made a special spot for itself in our minds and hearts. So did Malvika Raaj, with her performance as the younger self of Kareena Kapoor i.e. Poo. Malvika went on to act in Telugu movies and still does at 30 years of age. By the way, she hasn’t aged a day and the same goes for other Bollywood child actors! In 2017, we saw her in the Emraan Hashmi starrer Captain Nawab and it’s safe to say that we fell in love all over again!
Huzaan Khodaiji

If there is one film we all remember and love to date, it has to be Mr. India! The Anil Kapoor and Sridevi starrer was a total blockbuster and so was its cast. From the villain to the kids and everyone in between, we’d be lying if we said that every character wasn’t iconic. But, how can we forget the cutest of all – Tina? Well, her real name is Hussan Khodaji and this one from the Mr. India child cast then and now is working in the marketing field and has no plans of returning to the screen, according to what reports suggest.
Urmila Matondkar

The woman who bags a spot among the most versatile actors of today made her Marathi debut with the 2013 film Ajoba. Urmila was really, really popular as a child artist! She was only 3 when she made her acting debut, and that is commendable in itself. Urmila’s role as Rinki in the film Masoon in the year 1983 is one of her most memorable performances from her child acting days. Urmila is no more associated with her being one of the Bollywood child actors in the past, and has some superhit movies up her belt and she is also a politician.
Jibraan Khan

Now, for our last name among child actors then and now, let’s circle back to K3G (re: Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham) and move the spotlight from Poo to her sister Kajol & SRK, AND to their son who sang Jana Gana Mana in front of the whole school to make his mum proud! You’re sure to remember Jibraan Khan who is now not a school-going boy – but a man we’re all drooling over! We could spend hours on his Instagram account, which is a visual treat by the way – and we don’t just mean because of his lean physique, messy hair and intense photoshoots.
We’ve come to the end of our trip down memory lane, and it looks like we have a dozen movies to watch already thanks to these Bollywood child actors. We hope you that you too, kept adding to your watchlist as you went on reading.