Master Mayur

Popularly known for playing childhood parts of roles essayed by superstar Amitabh Bachchan onscreen, popular child actor Master Mayur is known for films such as Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), Laawaris (1981), and Sharaabi (1984). Known for the intensity with which he portrayed the angry young man in his childhood phase onscreen, he also became one of the highest-paid child artistes of the time. Later in his career, he featured in Saugandh (1991), Waqt Ka Badshah (1992), Raju Chacha (2000), and Yeh Raaste Hai Pyaar Ke (2001), among others, as well as horror films like Sau Saal Baad (1989), Amavas Ki Raat (1990), Mahakaal (1994). He also featured in TV serials such as Bahadur Shah Zafar (1986), Mahabharat (1988-1990), and The Zee Horror Show (1994). 

Born Mayur Raj Verma in 1964 in Bombay, his mother Snehlata Verma was a writer-director. She is said to have been the driving force behind his career as a child artiste, promoting him as an actor to filmmakers. A meeting with well-known producer-director Prakash Mehra resulted in the latter signing on young Mayur for Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, the crime drama starring Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna and Rakhee. The plot revolved around a homeless and orphaned young man, who finds work in the house of a wealthy man. When he falls in love with the daughter of that wealthy man, things start to change drastically. Launched as Master Mayur, he essayed the role of the young Sikandar, the character played by Bachchan. It went on to become the highest-grossing Hindi film of 1978, and the biggest Diwali blockbuster of all time. Besides being the third highest-grossing Indian film of the decade, it was also an overseas blockbuster in the Soviet Union. The film also made Master Mayur an overnight success in his very first appearance onscreen. 

The intensity and seriousness with which he portrayed the character’s childhood left audiences impressed. As a result, he became the go-to child artiste for roles that depicted Bachchan in a young avatar onscreen. The 1981 Prakash Mehra directorial Laawaris saw Mayur essay the young Heera, who grows up to be Bachchan in the action drama about a man, abandoned as a baby and forced to live as an orphan, who is unknowingly employed by his biological father.

The 1982 Hrishikesh Mukherjee directorial Bemisal was evidently his last film as a child artiste. Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Raakhee and Vinod Mehra, Bemisal told the story of noble orphan Sudhir, who sacrifices everything he has, from the love of his life to his profession and reputation, to save his foster family. Master Mayur played the young Sudhir, who is later essayed by Bachchan.

Thereafter dropping the ‘Master’ from his name, Mayur would feature in a leading role in Love In Goa (1983) – a teenage love story of a Catholic girl from Goa and a Hindu boy. He played Raja/ Raju and starred opposite Anuradha Patel who played Marina D’Souza in this Harsh Kohli directorial that also featured Ashok Kumar and Om Prakash. 

In the 1983 drama film Tum Laut Aao, he played a character named Rakesh in the film whose story revolved around a man obsessed with settling overseas to alleviate his middle-class existence. Opinions change when his rich brother who had settled in America long back, comes visiting, having lost all his values and decency.

He would also feature in Prakash Mehra’s Sharaabi (1984), starring Bachchan in a plot depicting a workaholic businessman who neglects his only son after his wife's death, resulting in the son growing up to be a rebellious alcoholic.

Featuring in several horror genre films, he acted in supporting roles in the Mohan Bhakri-directed films Sau Saal Baad (1989), and Khooni Murdaa (1989), as well as Amavas Ki Raat (1990) and the Ramsay brothers’ Mahakaal (1994). 

However, these were not of great consequence, and it was with his role of Abhimanyu in the long-running successful TV series Mahabharat by B R Chopra and Ravi Chopra, that he came back into the limelight, winning appreciation for his performance.

Some of his later works include Waqt Ka Badshah (1992), Jhumka (1995), Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge (2000), Raju Chacha (2000) Ansh: The Deadly Part (2002), and the short film Dream Girl (2008).

Bidding goodbye to the film industry, since 2007 he has reportedly been living in Wales. A businessman, he runs Indiana restaurant along with his wife, chef Noori. The couple has two children - Aazaan Verma, and Suhaana Verma. He also introduces the people of Wales to the world of Hindi films, conducting workshops and acting classes.