'Bollywood' Still an elusive dream!

Indian Television stars enjoy their own yardstick of adulation and popularity. They entertain us for five days in a week and in those episodes they display the range of emotions that even Hollywood actors would be proud of. However, the transition for our Television stars from TV Industry to Bollywood is not smooth!

All stars in television industry harbor the dream of making it to the Bollywood – the ultimate challenge! However, very few actors have been able to make their mark in the Indian Film Industry. Vidya Balan , who was part of Balaji Telefilms hit show ' Hum Paanch' on Zee TV, is one of those very few TV actors who have proved their mettle. Indian Television actors have paved their way into the advertising world, but Bollywood is still an elusive dream.

So, what holds these television actors from pursuing their Bollywood dreams?

Our Television actors are complete packages – If we might take the liberty to call them so! They are good looking with honed acting prowess and already a dedicated base of fans. They already enjoy an emotional connect with the audience and the chords are strong. So, would fans like to watch their favorite television star playing a main lead in Bollywood? We spoke to one dedicated fan, Niyati and she replied –"I see my favorite stars five times a week. Like Suraj in 'Diya aur Baati Hum', I cannot see him playing a suave businessman. It gets more or less etched in our brains and the roles they play become finality for them and for the viewers.  Watching them every day for more than a year, we just tag them as the character they play.'

Television stars do essay roles in Bollywood but those are not in com-mensuration with their larger than life image on TV shows. Their roles are limited to essaying side kick characters. Actors like Hiten Tejwani have played the role of actor's best friend in Balaji production film. Karan Kundra of 'Kitni Mohabbat Hai' fame has made his mark in the Punjabi film industry and has a couple films lined up for release. We got in touch with him to take his views – "It is just how one looks at things. Opportunities are there. Look at Shah Rukh Khan – He started with Fauji and now Vidya Balan ! I find the question quite baseless"

Bollywood these days is any newbie actor's dream opportunity as a lot of directors and producers are ready to endorse experimental cinema. Bollywood is no longer Khan Kingdom and many smaller actors have made their mark. We hope that it would not be long before we can our favorite TV stars gracing Bollywood!

Question for all the readers – Who do you think from the current TV stars has the potential to emulate SRK and in what role? Let your opinions flow!

Reporter and Author : Medha Parashar