Very often we have our films based on children with scripts revolving around childhood experiences. So, I was thrilled to have Darsheel Safary, Tanay Chheda and Azharuddin Mohammed as my contestants for one of the next episodes of 10 ka Dum. There was full on masti, laughter and dancing with three very special kids. They lit up the show with their inborn talent to entertain; they instinctively answered the questions; they sang, they danced with immense energy. While shooting with them, I realized that even though they had come from such different backgrounds; Darsheel from a well off, south Mumbai family and Azharuddin from a modest, simple family in the suburbs….But on 10 ka Dum their naturalness defied all differences of their status and backgrounds.

Talent is a great equalizer and it drops its seeds without any discrimination. As a matter of fact most great comic talent has emerged from rather poor families. From the all time great Charlie Chaplin, Johnny Walker, Mehmood Uncle, Johnny Lever to Rajpal Yadav.Fame and money has not destroyed Darsheel’s naturalness. Tanay, is sincere and hardworking and Azharuddin is ultra-confident. I was heartened by this. It is also a fact that most successful artists indeed retain their childlike innocence in all stages of life. Fame and wealth are difficult to handle at any age and greedy parents rob innocence to make a fast buck. This disturbs me a great deal. They tend to overburden the children and it’s like the fabled hen that laid golden eggs... I wish and pray sincerely that it does not happen to these three child prodigies. Most parents nurture the Mozart dream. My heart bleeds for children who have been forced to work in hotels and other places to earn the daily bread for their family.

Coming back to my champion guests for the episode, I am sure you all will really enjoy this episode with your families…with as much laughter in your homes as there was in the studios while shooting.

Now I observe that my nephews and nieces play with electronic toys and know a lot about computers and other gadgets. In our childhood, we played with traditional toys and most of our time was spent on playgrounds. Sohail’s son Nirvan and Arabaz’s son Arhaan and Alvira’s son Ayan play with gadgets like experts. Alvira’s daughter Alige is so confident that she almost matches grownups in number of things. The other day we were all chatting and having a great time. Nirvan and Ayan were taking photographs with their mobile phones. After an hour or so the kids edited the photos I such a way that it looked like a film! My father is rattled with these gadgets and he uses them only when his landline is not working. His grandchildren fix up his mobile, read messages for him.



Today kids are so techno savvy and have developed amazing skills. They have great exposure. They have travelled abroad. When I compare my childhood with theirs, I feel I was so simple and knew so little. When these kids grow up, the world will be a tougher and complicated place. All these skills they are developing in the childhood will be useful to them. I think machines and technology will dominate. Entertainment will be redefined.

If anyone asks me if I would be happy to be a child in today’s time, my answer would be NO. I am happy with my childhood and have no desire to use time machine either to go in future or to travel backwards. I like time at its normal speed.