Purav feted at film fests abroad

Mumbai, Oct 25 (IANS) Nine-year-old Purav Bhandare has suddenly become one of the most celebrated child actors after his role in Santosh Sivan's "Tahaan", travelling to film festivals in Amsterdam, Rome, the US and Berlin. The boy, who was recently offered a film by Walt Disney, is untouched by all the sudden adulation.

Purav played a pivotal part in Sivan's "Tahaan", which though it did not become a box office success, was well received.

The talented little actor headed with his family to Rome and Amsterdam for the film festivals there during his Diwali vacations. Later, along with his director Santosh Sivan, he heads for the Sundance and the Berlin film festivals, making him one of the youngest festival stars of the world.

Confirming these developments, Purav's father Rajiv Bhandare told IANS: "Actually the entire family is accompanying Purav to the Rome and Amsterdam festivals. He got airfare for himself and one guardian. But we decided to make it a family holiday because it's my younger son Arunav's birthday. We'll be travelling in Europe for a bit."

Unlike Darsheel Safary, who behaves like a superstar, Purav remains oblivious to the happenings around him.

Asked about his travel plans, Purav told IANS: "We're going to Rome and Amsterdam. We're also going to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower. I don't know what is happening in Rome and Amsterdam. Something to do with work, I think. I won't miss school because it's Diwali holidays."

Adds his dad: "Purav remains unaffected by all that has happened to him after 'Tahaan'."

The boy was recently offered a film by Walt Disney. "It was a children's film. But my wife and I decided he will do only one film, and that's the 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles', Steve Barron's next, which he'll shoot in Bangalore very shortly. Otherwise we don't want Purav's studies to be affected," his father said.

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