Master Raju: From Buying a Mumbai Home at 6 to a National Award at 10 – The Journey from ‘Nashedi’ to Narad

Master Raju, who began his career as a child actor in Bollywood, continues to be seen in supporting roles today. Once a household name, his childhood fame has now faded, but his journey remains fascinating.

Early Life and Breakthrough

Born Faheem Ajani in Mumbai’s Dongri area, Master Raju came from a family with no film connections. At age five, he auditioned for Gulzar’s film ‘Parichay’ and impressed the filmmakers, marking the start of his cinematic journey. On set, co-actors called him Master Raju, while others nicknamed him Laddu, but the former stuck and became his professional identity.

Working with Legends

Over the years, Master Raju shared screen space with some of Bollywood’s biggest stars, including Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Jeetendra, and Anil Kapoor. He also worked with iconic directors such as Shakti Samanta, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Basu Chatterjee, and Gulzar. His films like ‘Amar Prem’, ‘Daag – The Poem of Love’, ‘Deewaar’, ‘Inkaar’, ‘Khud-Daar’, and ‘Wo Saat Din’ were huge hits.

Despite the intense shooting schedules—often juggling three films simultaneously in different shifts—Raju never felt exploited, stating, “I never felt my work was a burden; I always enjoyed it.”

National Recognition and Early Success

Raju’s talent was recognized early. In 1976, he won the National Film Award for Best Child Artist for ‘Chitchor’. Initially, he was paid ₹10,000 per film, which rose to ₹1 lakh within four years as his popularity soared. At age six, he purchased a home in Bandra, Mumbai, a prime locality, thanks to wise guidance from his father. “That investment still benefits me today,” Raju said.

Life on Film Sets

Master Raju recalls that even Amitabh Bachchan would wait for him on set because he often had only three hours to complete his scenes. He even taught Hema Malini how to roll laddus during shoots and shared tiffins with Dharmendra.

Transition to Grey Characters

By 9th grade, Raju took a break from acting to focus on studies. Returning to films, he sought more complex, grey-shaded characters. Roles like the drug addict in Mahesh Bhatt’s ‘Saathi’ earned him the tag of ‘Nashedi’, marking a shift from his earlier “good boy” image.

Supporting Roles and Television Stardom

While he never secured lead roles as an adult, Raju carved a niche in supporting characters. He appeared in ‘Baagi’ (1990) as Salman Khan’s friend and later in films like ‘Anari’, ‘Balwaan’, ‘Sajan Chale Sasural’, and ‘Diljale’. On television, he became widely recognized for playing Narad in over 3,000 episodes, alongside various other roles in multiple shows.

Legacy

From a celebrated child actor with national recognition and a Mumbai home purchased at six, to a versatile performer in films and TV, Master Raju’s journey reflects both the glitter and the challenges of growing up in Bollywood.