Vivek Chabukswar: The kid who won a National Award

As he free-wheels around the waiting lounge of a preview theatre where his film is about to screen, Vivek Chabukswar interacts with Anurag Kashyap and Sudhir Mishra with the same ease as he would with some family friends. The 11-year-old child actor stars in this week’s release Baboo Band Baajaa — a film about a young boy in rural Maharashtra — which has already bagged him a National Award. With an ease he settles into a couch to chat about his film with Blessy Chettiar and Shakti Salgaokar.
 
How did you start acting?
My first role, well you can’t call it a role, was when I was about nine months old. I played Alaka Kubal’s infant son. My dad was working on the production and they couldn’t find a boy, so that’s how my acting career started. Then later when I was in Std I, I did a few Marathi films like Swapna and Hunnar. They were all small roles, but then right before Baboo Band Baajaa, I acted in a short film. Sir (Director Rajesh Pinjani) selected me based on that film.
 
Tell us a bit about the short film and your role.
It was based on the environment. The father of Saybya — the character I play — is into chopping trees and while going to school, my character comes across a forest officer who has been bitten by a snake. My character takes care of him and in turn, the forest officer decides to teach me. He then discovers that it is my father who is cutting the trees. In that film, my character doesn’t have a mother. There was a shot where I had to say, ‘My mother is dead,’ and I just couldn’t say it. I kept crying. But finally my mother encouraged me to say it. And then Rajesh sir selected me to play Baabya.
 
How did your first meeting with Rajesh Pinjani go?
Sir was looking for a young boy, and someone told my dad about the role. So then dad showed the short film to him and then he (Pinjani) asked me to come and meet him in Pune for an audition. First, he sent dad out. Then, he asked me that if you were lost at a railways station and you couldn’t find your dad, what will you do. I said I’ll cry. He said, how will you cry. I couldn’t cry. But then he gave me the second lead, Chinya and the main lead Baabya’s dialogues and then after eight days I got the role.
 
What was your reaction when you found out you were playing Baabya?
I was super happy. It was a big film and a plum role. My dad was out and I was at home with Mom and my younger brother. It was super.
 
What did you think when you got the role?
I was too young to think. I was a little scared, but then as Sir gave me scenes I started realising how to do it. And Rajesh sir would show me how to do my scenes, he broke down scenes. It was very easy. I used to rehearse with Mom and Dad and Mitali ma’am (Jagtap). I had a lot of fun while shooting.
 
What else do you do for fun?
Cricket (grins).
 
When do you do your homework?
That I do on Sunday, sometimes (laughs)
 
What about all your awards?
I take every one of my awards to school. My friends don’t ask for treats, they give me treats. I will take them to watch Baboo Band Baajaa now that it is releasing. What they think of it doesn’t matter as long as I like it.
 
What movies do you like?
I love watching films more than watching cartoons. I love action films. I liked Don 2 and I love Hrithik Roshan in Dhoom 2. Batman is my favourite superhero because he looks nice and has a cool bat mobile. I want to do horror films since I enjoy adventure.
 
What do you want to do next?
I want to act but if I don’t end up becoming an actor, I will become a cameraman. I love clicking pictures of animals and all.
 
What do you want to tell other kids?
Please watch Baboo Band Baajaa, and please watch it in the theatres. And always know that our parents do a lot for us, and we should always respect and listen to our parents.
 
Favourite subject: Science
Hate: Geography. Hate drawing maps!
Sports: Cricket, Kabbadi and Badminton
School: DG Naik Vidyalaya, Badlapur