The Mr India kids and where else you may have seen them

POST UPDATED WITH NEW INFORMATION

The timeless classic that Mr India (1987) ended up becoming wouldn’t be without its motely gang of boisterous kids and their never-ending antics. Arun bhaiyya’s ‘bachche tere bachche‘ could be entrusted with every task — whether bringing the house down or a tyrant’s evil empire.

While some of the child actors in this pack like Aftab Shivdasani, Ahmed Khan went on to have careers in showbiz as adults, not much is known about the others. What is interesting is that most of these child artists have appeared (often in brief roles) in a bunch of other films — some well-known and otherwise.

Let’s start with Kummi, the eldest of the lot.

The character is played by Baby Zeenat who had previously featured in Pukar (1983) and Ghar Ek Mandir (1984).

Interestingly, IMBD credits her as Venus Pujari for her roles in Ghar Ek Mandir, Mr India and Elaan-E-Jung (1989) — the cast’s credits are missing from the available prints of the first two films — while Elaan-E-Jung‘s end credits mentions Baby Zeenat as does every other film she has featured in between 1987-1990.

Whether the actress changed her name or went by an alternate name, there seems no information on the internet to ascertain this.

UPDATE: Turns out Zeenat is miscredited as Venus Pujari in the above-mentioned movies. Venus Pujari is, in fact, one of the boys who appeared in Mr India. More details about him at the end of the post.**

Of all her performances, I enjoy this hilariously bonkers back story in Shukriyaa (1989) the most.

Update: As @vip_nair pointed out on Twitter, it looks like a grown-up Baby Zeenat played the lead in Malayalam film Pappayude Swantham Appoos (1992). In the film, she is credited as Seena Dadi.

Next up is Jugal — Arun bhaiyya’s trusted ally and confidant — played by Master Sameer.

He was later seen in Taaqatwar (1989) and Parinda (1989) where he essayed the role of young Kishen (Jackie Shroff).

The much-adored Tina — Huzaan Khodaiji IRL — reunited with her Mr India co-star Aftab Shivdasani in Insaniyat (1994).

They played young Jaya Prada and Amitabh Bachchan in this box office dud.

Aftab, of course, went on to appear in hits like ChaalBaaz (1989) and Shahenshah (1988).

Although she didn’t have a significant part in Mr India, Hindi film fans would remember Baby Shabista / Baby Shabo from the famous Halwa Waala song in Dance Dance (1987).

She plays young Radha (Smita Patil), who must do her best to cheer up her starving kid brother, and in the process dispenses an epic life lesson: “Zindagi mein halwa khaana hai, toh dance karna padega.”

Ahmed Khan was later seen in Aaj Ke Angaarey (1988) — another project comprising a robust cast of child actors. Incidentally, Baby Zeenat was also among them.

The little girl who goes “Sorry didi ab hum nahin karenge shor” in the beloved parody song, appeared in a blink-and-you-miss flashback scene in Asli Naqli (1986).

*I have been trying to trace her name but no luck as yet. *

UPDATE: Her name is Baby Anjum. More about this discovery below. **

Similarly, I haven’t been able to identify the remaining two boys — the oldest ones in the group — nor have I spotted them any other films. The search for their identities shall continue. For the love of the invisibility gadget, please help.

** WHATTE WOW UPDATE: We have confirmation about the identities of both the boys. The one to the left (with the specs) is Tapan Shah and the one on the right is Venus Pujari.

<inner voice: Mogambo khush hua!>

Fans will remember Venus as Ronnie, the kid with a magnet around his neck with the help of which Arun bhaiyya & co escape from Mogambo’s dungeon.

It has been confirmed by Mr Shah himself who also shared some interesting bits about his co-stars.

Venus, Ahmed and he were the three kids who did the cool moves in the parody song. Ahmed Khan has spoken about Sridevi’s interest in learning these steps in one of his interviews.

Interestingly, a grown-up Venus features as one of the dancers alongside Shah Rukh Khan in the song Ruk Jaa O Dil Deewane in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. That’s Venus on the right in the picture below. Can totally see the resemblance.

Mr Shah didn’t appear any other film apart from Mr India. It seems actor Karan Nath who is also the part of the pack, too, didn’t appear in any other film as a kid.

All the kids in one frame:

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