The headline says – Everyone's favourite TV star Sharad Malhotra
From housewives to young girls…he is known to all. Once somebody told him that "you don't know how to act"… Now the situation is different and his stars are shining too.
Interview by Vipul Shah
Sharad Malhotra, Sagar Pratap Singh of Banoo Main Teri Dulhann came to Mumbai from Kolkata and gained popularity in a very short time. Especially for women, he is their favourite actor and for young girls he is the Hot Chocolate Boy! This year, he has bagged 3 awards. Recently, in a coffee shop, we had a nice chat together. Here's all that I came to know about Sharad through it.
Sharad –
I was born and brought up in Kolkata. I belong to a Punjabi family. My grandfather had come from Peshawar and settled here. My dad is an architect and mom is a housewife. My sister is a well known designer of Kolkata. I have a huge family and lots of cousins. Wherever we go, we go together and enjoy lots. I am a mumma's boy. I love her the most. I'm very possessive about her. I have always been very excited about my birthday and even now I am so. Everyone loves you on that day, lots of phone calls keep coming in and yes we get gifts too.
My childhood was full of fun. I was always very interested in sports. And thus, I was an average student in studies. I was very much interested in cricket. In school and college, I played for Pepsi Tournament and represented Cricket Association of Bengal. I also won Inter-Club Snooker Championship. I also did swimming and went for trekking and camping. I also loved traveling. I participated in dramas in school. Once, I played the role of a Kashmiri girl in one drama.
I have often been beaten by teachers in school. I always sat on the last bench and often bunked my classes. I'd go out to have some food and then come back to the class. I'm a big food lover. When I was in the 6th or 7th standard, I was so fat that my waist line was 36 inches. My Geography teacher, Mrs. Anita Dev and my 3rd standard teacher, Mrs. Petre were my favourite teachers. I have also been beaten up by my Prefect B. Sentosa. But, as I was good in sports, I was the favourite of my teachers. Recently on a visit to Kolkata, I met my teachers. On seeing me, there eyes were filled with tears of happiness. They were happy to see that their student is now a well known actor.
Basically I'm a moody and introvert person. My other bad habit is of being late. My college timings were 6 to 10. I always reached there late. Even now I often come late to sets. I don't do it on purpose but I don't know how I always end up being late.
It is hard to imagine how those days of St. Xavier's school and college passed by so happily. Now, hear about the beginning of my career.
In 2001, I won the title, "Face of the Year" in Kolkata. Modeling offers started coming in. I did some ads like, Exide Battery, Standard Chartered Bank, ICICI. I did maximum advertisements for P.C. Chandra, the biggest jewelers of Kolkata. At that time, around 85 hoardings of mine were set up around the city.
I worked in a Bengali telefilm, 'Shodh'. I got its 11 page script, the night before the shoot, yet, I did that role nicely. I also did a documentary film on Blood Cancer. To play the character, I had to reduce a lot of weight. Then I did an acting workshop in Kala Manthan Academy, under Samrat Mukherjee and Nishi Arora. My first experience on stage was of Devdas. I played the lead character in the drama. After the show got over, all the artistes went on stage to bow down. As I bent down, my dhoti opened up from behind. Instantly, I ran away from the stage. I will always remember that embarrassing moment. In 2004, I became the Zonal winner of Zee Cinestars Ki Khoj. With that, began my journey of coming to Mumbai. After coming to Mumbai, I joined the acting classes of Kishor Namit Kapoor. I also did a workshop of Jaydev Hattangdi. Another important reason for coming to Mumbai was Shahrukh Khan. I'm his fan. I wanted to meet him personally. This desire pushed me to come to Mumbai. I haven't met him till now. Last year, when he had come as the Chief Guest in Zee Li'l Champs, I stood staring him. My eyes were filled with tears of happiness. Whoever comes from Kolkata to meet me, I definitely take them to see Shahrukh Khan's bunglow, Mannat.
In Mumbai, I gave my first audition for Balaji Telefilms. They needed new artistes for Kyunki Saas… I was given a half page script. I forgot my lines at the moment my turn came. Second time, I forgot the second and on third chance I forgot the whole script. I was in sweat. I couldn't understand why this was happening. I got rejected. Later I did some random roles. I did a cameo in Sony's Kabhi Toh Nazar Milaao. I also did Sagar Art's Hello Dollie and Zee's Rooh.
Another auditioning experience that I'd like to share was for a show at Optimistic. Along with me, there were actors like Shama Sikand, Amit Jain, etc. After trying four times, I could not say my dialogues properly. I cried a lot. A person present there, taunted me that I can never become an actor. But due to my good luck and hard work I got to play the lead character in Banoo Main Teri Dulhann. Interestingly I met the same person on the sets of Dulhann after two years. She was shocked seeing me in the role of Sagar. After finishing the shot, she apologized to me.
This serial has given me lots of appreciation from the public. Initially I was not so keen to play Sagar's character. But, one of my friends convinced me that it was a different and challenging role, thus I should accept it. To prepare for the character of Sagar, I went to Surat and Ahmedabad. I went to the school of mentally challenged kids. Seeing their condition, I felt that they have no idea about what is going on in the world outside. Yet they happily stayed in their own world and spread so much love around. After that I went to a school in Lucknow. Road side children are given education in that school. I had a great time with them. We sang songs and danced together. Meeting them surely helped me a lot to develop Sagar's character.
Now, let me share some on set and shooting experiences of Dulhann. My director, Ismail Umar Khan wanted a different hairstyle for me. Somehow I couldn't understand it, so at the end he had to get the hairstyle done on himself to explain it to me. And then I got it. After that, all the people on set used to joke that Dulhann would be the only serial in which the actor and the director both share the same hairstyles. Let me share another interesting incident of the serial. My very first shot was to jump in the holy waters of Ganga in Benares. The production house had already enquired if I knew swimming, which I did. I jumped in but don't know why, I couldn't swim. I raised my hands and asked for help from the crew members standing on the side but they thought that I was giving the shot. At last, someone realized that I was actually drowning and thus they got me out.
Another interesting thing about the serial is that the number of accidents that I've been through on the sets of Dulhann, no other actor would have possibly been through so many while shooting. While shooting I broke many glasses, as per the requirement of the character. I got many injuries and shed blood too. For one shot I was supposed to walk on a railing on the third floor. I got scared after reaching mid way. The director encouraged me saying that only I could do that shot. At last the scene somehow got over. There was also a scene where firecrackers were tied on my back and I had to run around. Once for a scene I had to sit in a burning car. I also did a rock climbing scene. At that time too I was injured badly. I do all my stunt scenes by myself.
In Singapore I realized the amount of appreciation that I had got by playing the role of Sagar. There was a show in Cine Expo Hall. Besides some tv stars, Zayed Khan and Priyanka Chopra were also there with me in the show. Various performances of film and tv stars were being stage one after the other. Whenever we were on stage, the hall was filled up fully. After finishing the show when we went down the stage to shake hands with public, I met an old lady of around 80-85 years, sitting in a wheel chair, who held my hand fondly. Her relative told me that she had especially come to see me from Malaysia. She kissed my forehead and gave me her blessings. I will never forget that moment.
In some time Valentine's Day will be coming. Though I feel why should love be celebrated only on a particular day? Everyday should be Valentine's Day. For all the people you love, mom-dad, brother-sister, friends…love them all and celebrate. Let me inform you about one thing here. A new channel NDTV Imagine is being launched this January and I'm going to perform on a Valentine's Day special episode of its show, Nach Le with Saroj Khan.
In the past two years, Mumbai has taught me a lot and given me a lot too. Now I wish to do something for Mumbai, especially for kids and lonely old people. I generally visit the Siddhivinayak Temple every Tuesday. The year 2006 was really good for me. This year I got the Best Debut Actor in Gold Awards, the Favourite Pati – Patni award in Zee Rishton Ka Utsav, along with Divyanka and the Best Actor (Critics) in Indian Television Awards. My dream is to win the National and Oscar Award in future. Wish you all a Happy New Year and also Happy Valentine's Day, in advance.
Hope you guys enjoyed it😃
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