Malvika
Raj
caught
everyone's
attention
at
the
age
of
11
as
the
younger
version
of
Kareena
Kapoor
Khan's
character
Poo
in
Karan
Johar's
2001
family
drama
Kabhi
Khushi
Kabhie
Gham.
However
unlike
other
child
artistes,
Malvika
didn't
pursue
films
post
this
and
disappeared
from
showbiz.
Now,
the
youngster
is
all
geared
up
to
kickstart
her
second
innings
in
the
film
industry.
Recently
in
an
interaction
with
Hindustan
Times,
Malvika
opened
up
on
why
she
stayed
away
from
Bollywood
for
a
while.
Calling
herself
a
very
notorious
child,
the
actress
said
that
acting
would
have
distracted
her
as
she
was
still
in
school
and
she
didn't
want
to
be
one
of
those
school
dropout
child
actors.
Malvika
told
the
leading
daily,
"There
were
offers,
but
I
was
a
very
notorious
child.
My
family
really
wanted
me
to
concentrate
on
my
education
and
focus
on
that.
Acting
would
have
really
distracted
me
in
my
schooling
days.
I
didn't
want
to
be
one
of
those
child
actors
who
drops
out
of
school.
If
I
was
a
brilliant
student,
then
probably
my
parents
would
have
allowed
me
to
act."
Malvika
said
that
over
a
period
of
time,
she
has
realized
that
her
parents
had
taken
a
wise
decision
about
prioritising
her
education
rather
than
allowing
her
to
work
in
films.
"I'm
glad
they
didn't
let
me
do
more
films.
But
my
training
in
dance,
diction
and
everything
went
on
in
the
side,"
Raaj
was
quoted
as
saying
by
the
tabloid.
Further,
the
actress
revealed
that
she
remained
in
touch
with
director
Karan
Johar
even
during
her
hiatus
from
films
and
said,
"Every
time
we
meet
each
other,
it's
a
very
cute
and
sweet
emotion
we
share."
Malvika,
granddaughter
of
actor
Jagdish
Raj
and
niece
of
Anita
Raj,
said
that
despite
hailing
from
film
family,
she
has
never
used
her
connections
to
get
work.
"I
used
to
visit
my
dad's
film
set
when
I
was
a
kid.
So,
I
was
exposed
to
the
behind
the
scenes
culture
but
not
in
terms
of
getting
work.
I've
given
auditions
for
films,
and
ads.
I'm
here
on
my
own,
I'll
make
it
on
my
own," HT
quoted
Malvika
as
saying.
On
being
asked
if
having
a
film
background
helps,
the
actress
said,
"It
wasn't
easy
because
people
always
compare
me
to
that
character
(Pooja)
even
today.
That's
something
I've
to
deal
with.
The
good
part
is
that
you're
a
known
personality
and
wherever
you
go
people
recognise
you."
Malvika
Raaj
is
all
set
to
make
her
debut
as
a
leading
lady
in
Nilesh
Sahay's
upcoming
action
thriller
Squad.
The
film
marks
the
acting
debut
of
Danny
Denzongpa's
son
Rinzing.