I want to be superstar like Salman Khan: Harshaali Malhotra

Having endeared audiences with her innocent performance as a mute child in the Eid hit Bajrangi Bhaijaan, seven-year-old actress Harshaali Malhotra now aims to be a big star like her co-star Salman Khan.

Harshaali played Munni, a young girl from Pakistan, in the Kabir Khan-directed blockbuster, with the likes of Farah Khan calling her “the find of the century”.

“I like acting and singing. I want to be a superstar like Salman uncle,” Harshaali said.

Her mother, Kajal Malhotra, had previously met casting director Mukesh Chabra and he called her up to say Harshaali had been chosen for the role in Khan’s film.

“I was not aware that Salman was part of this project. We couldn’t believe initially. It was tough for us to accept it,” she said.

Extremely talkative in real life, her mother says Chhabra used to tell her that he was worried how she could keep quiet.

“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.

The actress said Khan played Barbie games and table tennis with her on the film set.

“I used to play games with Salman uncle on cellphone. I used to sit on Kabir uncle’s lap and play Barbie games. Kareena auntie was busy with shoot so did not get time to play games with her,” she said.

“Salman uncle used to play table tennis with me in Karjat,” Harshaali said.

Her mother said Harshaali is now dedicated to acting. “I keep giving [her a] gap in between. Sometime back she was unwell, so we had stopped doing assignments. She is too small.

“By the time she is in class five, we will take a break of 6-7 years, until she is in class 12. If she wants to pursue acting then, we will let her do it.”

Harshaali said she would cry seeing Khan fighting or getting emotional in the film.

“I used to cry when he did action scenes. Even when Salman uncle shot emotional scenes, I used to feel bad. Even I cried when Salman uncle cried.” “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,” said Malhotra.

Malhotra said Harshaali took time to warm up to the superstar.

“She was initially shy. Then they both were left alone for sometime and they got along well. Salman loves her a lot. We are happy that she got this big opportunity of working with Salman.”

The child actor also got along well with Kabir Khan while shooting for the film.

“It was nice. He used to play with me. He never scolded me. He loved me. I called him after my trailer was out when I was seen in the promo,” she said.

“She had good tuning with Kabir. Whenever she did not understand anything in a scene she would directly ask Kabir about it. I never got into that,” Malhotra said.

Harshaali, who studies at Mumbai’s Seven Square Academy, “did not go to school for seven days or so”.

“We took permission from her principal, they told us not to take too many holidays,” her mother said.

The actress will opt for meaty roles in the future.

“Her role has to be good and the banner has to be big. We would not want her part to be too small. After doing a role like this, I don’t think we would like her to do a five to ten minute role… That is not feasible,” said Malhotra, who is also not keen on television shows for her daughter.

Harshali was earlier seen in the popular show Laut Aao Trisha. She has also appeared in various TV commercials.

“A big no to television shows. We will see what kind of reality shows come her way. It has to suit her,” Malhotra said.