Child actor Harsh Mayar skipped school for 22 days to shoot film that advocates child literacy

For someone who plays a protagonist in a film ruing child labour and advocating literacy, child actor Harsh Mayar, sure doesn't believe in practising what he preaches.

Mayar, who won the National award for Best Child Actor for his performance in I Am Kalam, skipped school for the 22 days of shooting.

Notes the 13-year-old Delhi boy, "I was away from my school for 22 days. But my principal and teachers happily let me go.

They were very proud that I was doing a film that gives such a good message to children.

Through my character, children and their parents all over the country were told how important it is for every child to be educated."

Harsh wants to host a grand screening of I Am Kalam for his favourite stars. "For me, cinema is like a dream. I come from a humble background.

My father has a small wedding-tents business in Delhi. We are a middleclass family. For my family to be acting in a movie is a big thing."

Different Stroke

Another child actor Partho (who impressed in Stanley Ka Dabba) did all his shooting on weekends and after-school