This child was the hero of Irrfan Khan’s Cult film, won the National Award, now Auto is running
Irfan Khan and Shafiq.
Cinema is not just the name of the stories shown on the screen, but many times he also touches the real life of those working in these stories. Some films never fade, one such film is ‘Salaam Bombay’, which was released in 1988. Directed by Meera Nair, the film put the bitter truth of Mumbai’s roads in front of the world with an innocent eyes of a 12 -year -old child. The child’s name was Chapu and brought him alive on screen by Shafiq Syed, who won the hearts of people with his style.
Stars emerged among the stars
Although the film also featured talented actors like Irrfan Khan, Nana Patekar, Raghuveer Yadav, but the real soul was Chapu, a character that shook the audience. Shafiq also received the National Child Artist Award for this role. The President awarded him this award. It seemed that this child would now become a big actor and will fly in the film industry, but probably wrote something else on the pages of luck. In such a situation, Shafiq’s fate overturned and he was not only lost in the darkness of oblivion but he was forced to do which he did not even want.
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Cinema got fame, but not destination
Shafiq Syed, who grew up in the slums of Bengaluru, moved to Mumbai in a teenage state with his friends. The day spent the day on the sidewalk, spent nights on the platform. It was here that he met Meera Nair who cast her in ‘Salaam Bombay’. During the film, he used to get 20 rupees daily and Vada Pav Lunch, but after returning from this dream world, life again took him to the ground of reality. In 1994, he worked in another film ‘Kite’, but after that he almost disappeared from the film industry. Returning, only towards his real life, where there was neither camera, nor spotlight, just responsibilities and struggle.
Struggle continues even today
Today Shafiq Syed runs an auto rickshaw. He lives with his wife, mother, three sons and a daughter in a small town, about 30 km from Bengaluru. The expectations that were awakened in the film world have now become a matter of yesterday. Sometimes they do temporary work behind the camera for small projects in the Kannada TV industry, so that they can earn some money. In an old interview, he said, ‘There was no responsibility in the year 1987, but today I have a whole family on my shoulder. Now there is more need for bread, not films.
From ‘Chapu’ to ‘Slumdog’, Shafiq became a forgotten memory
When a film like ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ in 2008 gave fame to the story of Indian poverty and struggle internationally, many people remembered ‘Salam Bombay’ and the one who worked in it, but by then Shafiq had become an ordinary citizen, who only remains in his auto number plate, not in the film poster. The story of Shafiq Syed is not just a former child artist, but of the cinema system where the art is appreciated, but the artist is often left alone. This child, who has once become a pundu on the screen, is still looking for a better life.
