Child actor Harshaali Malhotra, who plays a mute girl in Salman Khan’s Bajrangi Bhaijaan, has touched the hearts of viewers with her endearing performance. But she is extremely talkative in real life, says her mother.
“Harshaali never keeps quiet. During workshops, Mukesh [Chhabra, the casting director] used to tell me that he was worried how she could keep quiet,” Harshaali’s mother Kajal Malhotra said in an interaction with journalists.
“There is no difference in her as a person. The way she was earlier is exactly how she is now,” she said, emphasising how shooting schedules haven’t affected Harshaali.
Shooting with a child is not only difficult for the filmmakers but also for the child.
“Whenever there was action or any high-pitched sound, she would get scared. But Salman [Khan] and Kabir [Khan] would take special efforts to ensure that she interacts with other co-stars by playing, after which she became comfortable during the shoot,” Malhotra said.
Among the flood of compliments Harshaali has received, one which deserves mention was when Farah Khan termed her “the find of the century”.
However, her mother says they will try to ensure that she balances studies and acting seamlessly.
“Whatever we’ll decide for her career would obviously depend on the offers we receive, but we wouldn’t prefer television very much,” she said.
Harshaali has also acted in TV serials such as Qubool Hai and Laut Aao Trisha and advertisements.
