Over the years, television has only grown to be a better version of itself. And seeing the amazing content the tube has to offer today, really amazes me. Having said that, TV actors have also been witnessing a different kind of stardom at present, however, back in the day things were very different. And through this time what remained constant is the love from the fans, one actor who has received it in abundance has been Sharad Malhotra. Surprisingly, acting was never the plan for him, he aspired to be a cricketer, but the universe thought otherwise.
I remember watching his debut show Banoo Mein Teri Dulhan where he played a mentally challenged character that not just left me, but many others very impressed with this new boy on the block playing a part so challenging. In very little time Sharad became the heartthrob on the small screen and since then there was no looking back, be it Maharana Pratap, Naagin 5, Kasam Tere Pyaar Ki, or his latest Vidrohi, Sharad has only been ruling hearts.
Recently, when I spoke to him there were some interesting aspects of his journey the actor had to share, read them here…
On his journey to acting…
I have always been very passionate about whatever I have done. It was not intentional that I wanted to become an actor. Before participating in Zee Cinestar Ki Khoj, I had never done acting, in fact, I was very serious about cricket. Just taking part in that show, changed my life. After that show, I realized that I could look at acting somewhere down the line.
On Banoo Mein Teri Dulhan and the frenzy around it…
Before I bagged my first show, I had faced 75-80 rejections. When I got my first show, somewhere my parents’ perception of me changed, when I got my first award my mom was in tears. She thought a guy like me who has never been so passionate about the craft, suddenly ends up getting the best actor award. Things just fell into place, I took the risk. It was a very challenging show, but Partho Mitra helped me in getting my foundation right. 6 months after I got into my character Sagar Pratap Singh, I could feel the frenzy.
What was the turning point in his career…
My first look test was in Balaji Telefilms, I was very kicked about it. They had given me just one line, and I took 25 takes for it. So they told me to go back from wherever I have come from. That look test changed my life. Those 25 takes made me realize that being an actor is not easy. At that moment I felt I was a star and that’s when ground reality hit me and I started working on myself.
On the stardom that came with Maharana Pratap…
Maharana Pratap also helped me mature as an actor, the historical genre is a very different style of acting. Post the show, I went to Rajasthan, and as soon as I got out of the airport, people wanted to touch me. Every person there was in awe of the character I played. The locals were just holding my hand, touching my feet, that’s when I realized this is not a profession, you play with people’s emotions. That took my sincerity to another level.
On the status of TV today…
I still feel we need content-driven shows, I want to see people perform on television. I really like when someone puts his heart or soul into a character.
Watch the entire interview here…
On the work front, Sharad has been looking at some interesting projects in the webspace and he is also shooting for a festival film based on Kashmiri Pandits. He was also recently felicitated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his latest show Vidrohi And while he has come a long way in this industry, getting to know his journey left me quite inspired.