Children’s Day: This day brings back special memories, says Deewaniyat actress Bhawana Aneja
From celebrations to personal triumphs, Children’s Day holds a lot of special memories for actress Bhawana Aneja. Bhawana, who is known for her roles in films like Kavan, Aarambam, web series Raisinghani vs. Raisinghani and TV shows such as Kumkum Bhagya, Dheere Dheere Se, Shrimad Ramayan, is currently seen in the show Deewaniyat on Star Plus.
“Children’s Day brings back a very special memory from my childhood that is close to my heart. I was in second grade when I received an award for singing. What made it even more memorable was that no one in my family knew I had participated in the competition. I was very young at the time, but I still remember the moment clearly. I came home holding a trophy, which was placed in a vegetable basket. My mom was so happy and proud when she saw it. That day, everyone in my family realized I had a passion for singing. Later on, I even completed my graduation in music. This memory will always stay with me as a moment of pride and joy,” she says.
She adds, “Growing up, I was a huge Bollywood fan. I used to watch every movie and loved copying all the dresses and styles. I was a big fan of Madhuri Dixit, and my favorite number to perform on stage was one of her songs. I used to dance to it and won so many awards for my performances. She was my inspiration, and that’s one of the reasons I’m in the entertainment industry today.”
Ask her how does she think her childhood shaped the person she is today, and she says, “My parents have given me very strong values, and they are the reason I am a grounded and kind-hearted person today. I admire beauty but never see anyone as my competition because I believe everyone has their own unique identity. My parents taught me to be confident, believe in myself, and always have faith in my prayers. These lessons have shaped who I am.”
She hopes that parents can strike a balance between letting a child decide her career path, and guiding him. “I believe it completely depends on the parents and how they want to shape their child’s future. As a hobby, children should definitely explore music, art, and learn about culture—it’s very important. However, pursuing these as a career at a very young age can sometimes affect their studies and overall development, which is why I think it needs to be balanced. That said, some children are very talented and passionate about becoming actors or musicians. They are bright and manage to start their journey while continuing their studies. Nowadays, kids are great at multitasking, so it really depends on the individual and their circumstances,” she says.
Talking about what she has learnt over the years, she says, “The most important lesson I learned as a child is that no one can love you more than your parents. Unfortunately, we often take our parents for granted, and I believe we should never do that. When someone loves you unconditionally, like your parents do, it’s easy to overlook their love and support. But I’ve realized how important it is to never take them for granted. We should love and appreciate our parents as much as they love us, because their love is truly unconditional.