Hopeville Primary pupil shines on the big screen in ‘Greytown Girl’
SHIVAM Singh, a Grade 7 pupil at Hopeville Primary, is making waves on the big screen.
The 12-year-old features in the movie Greytown Girl as the sibling to the lead actress Meena who is played by Sanam Sitaram.
“I had no intention of acting until one of my mums' friends, Musa Hlatshwayo, who is a casting agent and creative director of Mhanyise Productions, contacted her about me possibly featuring in the film. I was eventually selected," said Shivam of Phoenix.
He said other than attending some drama training when he was five, he had no formal acting experience.
“It wasn't difficult to practice or learn my lines for the movie. We went over it on set and it was simple. It was amazing and fun working with the cast members. The highlight was meeting actor Jack Devnarain."
Most of his teachers and the acting principal have watched the movie which has also made him famous at school.
Shivam, whose favourite actor is Bollywood's Tiger Shroff, said he hoped to one day become a professional soccer player.
"I love soccer more than anything. I currently play as a left wing or midfielder for the eThekwini League under-15 division. While I like scoring goals, as a midfielder I can also create opportunities for the front players to score."
His favourite player is Christiano Ronaldo and he supports Manchester United.
"If I don't go into soccer, I would like to go into business and do some acting if I get another opportunity."
His mum, Shiksha Singh, 45, the deputy principal of Glenhaven Secondary School in Verulam, said acting and dancing built character and confidence.
She runs the Kumari Shiksha’s Dance Institute.
"I am proud of Shivam and glad that he did not shy away from acting."
Singh said her older son, Yaashay, 17, a matric pupil at Palmview Secondary, was also an actor.
“He featured in The Kings of Mulberry Street. He played a dancer in the first movie and the lead actor's friend in the sequel."
She said Yaashay would travel to India next year to explore dance.
Singh said she and her husband, Raveen Singh, an auditor, also had stints as actors in stage productions.