BINDAAS GIRL
Shriya Sharma, 9
Instant
recall: The girl in the Asian Paints ad who eggs her brother to paste
pictures of animals on the walls to make a zoo. "Bindaas kaat," she
says with authority. When the parents call up, pat comes the reply,
"Pata nahi Chintoo kuch cutting-shutting kar raha hai." This pert,
young imp is also the Whirlpool girl.
CV: Ads for Colgate,
Whirlpool, Clinic Plus, Nirma, Santoor soap, Asian Paints, Sunfeast
Pasta, HDFC, Punjab National Bank. Shriya has also acted in Hindi soaps
Kasauti Zindagi Kay, Jhoot Bole Kauwa Kaate and Telugu film Jai
Chiranjeeva.
Coming up: Yash Raj Films' Laaga Chunari Mein Daag.
Shriya's
story: She made her first appearance on television as a four-year-old
in a small segment in the Say Na Something to Anupam Uncle. The
response was tremendous. This prompted her father Vikas Sharma, an
engineer, to get her portfolio made. She was rejected in eight
auditions until she was signed to play the lead in the disputed TV show
Kanhaiya. Her role in Kasauti got her an Indian Telly Award for the
Best Child Artiste.
Favourite assignment: The Asian Paints ad. "Even I make drawings of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck and paste them on my cupboard."
When I grow up: "I haven't decided."
"Ajay uncle and Kajol aunty played lots of games with me during the Whirlpool ad."
What I want for my next birthday: "An ad with Amitabh Bachchan."
Parent trap: "When Shriya was younger, she used to cry if we didn't let her participate in a stage event," says Vikas.
Did you know: The Himachal Pradesh (her parents are from the state) government has given her the Pride of Himachal award.