2008 Actor: Article

Kavita Kaushik

As far as our judges are concerned, Kavita Kaushik is the next big thing among actresses on TV. As far as Kavita is concerned however, the fact that she's an actress at all is still a surprise, never mind that our judges believe she's the best.

"Acting happened by sheer accident," says Kavita. "I was on my way to sit for an MBA entrance exam when I saw an ad placed by Balaji Telefilms, calling for auditions. I don't know what struck me - I just decided to walk in for that audition." A fortnight later, Kavita received a call from the production house confirming her for a role in Kkutumb. And that was how she started.

Unlike most Balaji loyalists, Kavita also works with other production houses.
"I can never stick to one kind of role or one character for too long," she explains. "I feel as though I'm stagnating. Even as a child, I kept changing my mind about what to do when I grew up. So for my own creative satisfaction, I need to do different roles." Born and brought up in Delhi, Kavita moved to Mumbai five years ago. Though she started her career with run-of-the-mill roles, she seems to have interpreted the characters she played in her own way, and so was noticed.

"I am not a method actor. I don't believe that a vamp has to dress garishly with big bindis, lots of eye makeup and a thousand and one facial expressions. In fact, I feel that bitchy people in real life tend to be those who are exceptionally sweet to look at and talk to," says Kavita. "Given a chance, I'd play a vamp who is so much the girl next door that no one would ever know what she's really like." If that happens, it will happen later. Right now, Kavita is being praised for her role in the serial FIR. It's a role she's proud of. "FIR is a comedy in which I play a cop," says Kavita. "The makers had initially decided that the cop would be a Maharashtrian, but I suggested that a Jat cop might work out better. They agreed and thankfully, the idea worked."

Does she do a lot of homework to play the Jat cop? "Not really. Except for the Jat factor, I have based my character on my dad who is a cop in real life. In the serial everything I do is inspired by him - my walk, talk, attitude, everything," she laughs. Does she hanker for the big screen? "I would love to do films. But not two-bit roles. I need good scripts and good characters to keep me going."

Sharad Malhotra

He was set to contest for the Ranji Trophy with his Kolkata team when the Face of the Year contest came up and a friend suggested that Sharad try his luck.
"Modelling was the last thing I had ever imagined myself doing," says Sharad. "My friend thought I could pass off as good looking, so I took the chance and, to my surprise, I won."

Now, Sharad is surprised again. His first acting role on TV has brought him rave reviews, not only from the audience, but also from our judges. "It's a big thing to be accepted and appreciated by your industry and I feel motivated to do better and better," says Sharad. Sharad had always shown signs of success. Having won the Face of the Year contest, he modelled for brands like Allen Solly and PC Chandra. Then he took another chance. He auditioned for Zee Cinestars Ki Khoj and won. So the Kolkata boy made his big decision. He left his hometown and moved to Mumbai.

"It was a big risk. I was giving up virtually everything I had - my sports, academics, family business, everything. But I took a chance," he says.Once again, the gamble has paid off. Sharad was offered a role in Dulhan Banoo Main Teri. It was a far from conventional role, but having played on his luck so often before and succeeded, Sharad took yet another risk. "When I was told that I was to play a 25-year-old man with an eight-year-old's brain, I freaked. People told me this was a make or break role, with standards already set by people like Rani Mukerjee, Anil Kapoor, Varun Badola and others. Thankfully, I was able to do justice to it."

How did he prepare for the role? "I watched movies like Black, Eeshwar and reruns of Koshish - Ek Aasha," says Sharad. "I read books on the subject, hung out at a children's park to observe children of that age... everything." Finally, was he ever nervous that, like most actors in TV serials, he'd end up playing only wimps? "I am sure that I will not end up as a wimp," says Sharad. "I know it's too early to say that, but I am choosy about my roles and I believe in quality."