Comfortable before the camera
RANA SIDDIQUI
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Acts, studies and cooks, meet the wonder boy – Akshat Chopra.
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PHOTO: V. SUDERSHAN
Cool and confident: Akshat Chopra
In case you thought kids who work in films miss their studies and draw a blank when you ask them any intelligent question, it’s time to change your opinion. Akshat Chopra, who plays the oldest boy Vashisht in the group of four in the just released Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic, is an all-rounder.
No mugging
Akshat was chosen for the film from among 3000 aspirants after two auditions held in Delhi. He has already won the national award The Original Mind Award by Renuka Choudhary in the Performing Arts category. Naturally, he didn’t find it difficult to face the audition or work in the film. He relates, “I don’t have stage fright. I can dance and deliver dialogues without any fear. During the shooting also, I didn’t mug up my dialogues because I think it makes the performance artificial. I also did all my stunts on my own.” But he didn’t want to miss his studies. So, he took books along and studied during breaks and at night.
He never misses his two hours of play every day and takes equal interest in cooking. “I am sure I won’t starve if I live alone. I cook innovatively. I make pizza, burger, omelette and chappati,” he recounts.
Have you ever seen a child anchoring a fashion show? Akshat did it just recently. Besides the Reebok trade show and the Walt Disney Fashion show, he has anchored ABN-Amro and Gitanjali Jewellers fashion shows.
Akshat has worked in several ads with Rakeysh Mehra, Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukerji, Amisha Patel, Rishi Kapoor, Sachin Tendulkar, Brett Lee, Johny Lever, Virendra Sehwag to name a few. He also has to his credit movies such as One Night in Bhopal directed by Steve Condie for BBC London, and Journey to Hope for Gospel Mission which was aired on 38 channels.
Akshat has also done films like Hindi Mein Alankaar (Marigold Films) and Bharosa, Badte Kadam, Jivancharya Mein Sudhar Layein for Delhi Government with Johny Lever. But just recently he missed the chance to work with Amitabh Bachchan in a Hollywood film. “I gave five auditions and passed all of them. But the dates clashed with the Thoda Pyaar shooting,” he recalls.
You might expect him to put on airs. But that’s not so. Says Akshat who wants to become computer engineer and continue acting at the same time. “I never behave like a celebrity child, because this status is transient. I don’t lose my cool and don’t hurt anyone. So I have lots of friends. I don’t wear designer clothes or use gel in my hair. I put oil instead.”
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