We often hear that child artistes fail after they grow up. However, here we are discussing a former child actor who was adored by both the film industry and the audience. He is arguably the most popular child artiste of his time, and even though he couldn’t succeed in becoming a lead actor, he went on to develop a career for himself by playing good supporting roles.
## Meet Master Raju
Born as Fahim Ajani, Master Raju hailed from Dongri, Mumbai. He started his film career at the tender age of five. In a career spanning five decades, Raju has done over 200 films and was among the most popular child artistes in the late 60s, 70s, and early 80s.
## The Naming of Fahim Ajani as Master Raju
Sanjeev Kumar, who was working with Fahim in his debut movie Gulzar’s Parichay, gave him the name Raju, a moniker that stuck with him throughout his life. In an interview, Raju confessed that “Master Raju” had become a bigger identity than his real self, and he only realized the worth of it much later. Master Raju even won the Best Child Actor National Award for his performance in Chitchor.
## Popular Work of Master Raju
Over the span of fifty years, Master Raju featured in more than 200 movies. As a child artiste, he had the opportunity to work with nearly every A-list Bollywood star, including Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Jeetendra, and Anil Kapoor. Some of the notable titles from his extensive filmography include Amar Prem, Daag-The Poem of Love, Deewaar, Inkaar, Khud-Daar, and Woh Saat Din.
## Master Raju with Gulzar
Speaking about his fame and earnings, Raju shared in a Rediff interview that by 1977, he was paid “more than Rs 1 lakh.” He stated, “In 1973, I was paid Rs 10,000 per film. By 1977, when my popularity peaked, I would get more than Rs 1 lakh.”
## Narrow Escapes from Fatal Injuries
Raju faced notable challenges and near-fatal incidents during his career. One such incident occurred while shooting for Deewangi with Shashi Kapoor, where his face and arms were burnt due to a miscordination in an action scene. Moreover, during the shooting of Mamta, he almost drowned because he didn’t know how to swim.
## Master Raju’s Transition as an Adult Actor
After Raju grew up, he aspired to play villain roles.
. However, he predominantly received offers to play positive supporting roles, such as the hero’s best friend.
## Master Raju’s Notable Works as an Adult
Raju did take on some notable roles as an adult. These included appearances in Baaghi, Anari, Balwaan, Saajan Chale Sasural, and Diljale. Despite these efforts, he struggled to achieve the same level of stardom as an adult actor.
## Transition to Television
When Master Raju’s film career didn’t bring him the success he hoped for, he pivoted to television. This move proved to be fruitful as he went on to immortalize the character of Narad in nearly 3,000 episodes across various mythological serials including Jai Hanuman, Navgrah Puran, Darshan Do Bhagwan, Jai Maa Durgaa, and Shani Mahima.
## Long-Standing Role as Narad
For a decade, Raju’s portrayal of Narad earned him significant recognition. Additionally, Raju made appearances in popular TV shows such as CID and Ssshhh… Koi Hai. More recently, he was seen in the TV series Ziddi Dil Maane Na and the OTT film Ardh.
Master Raju’s journey from a beloved child artiste to a seasoned TV actor exemplifies versatility and resilience. His ability to adapt to different roles and mediums has cemented his status as a notable figure in the Indian entertainment industry.
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