Faces of 2005

They aren't necessarily strikingly handsome or instantly appealing. But these are the faces that endeared themselves to worth couch potato worth his salt, in the year gone by. Theirs are the visages that come to mind, if one tries a quick mental recap of 2005.

Rex D'souza turned out to be the dark horse in Fame Gurukul. In the beginning, he was touted as someone who was just a good human being but soon he was the most popular contestant in the Gurukul and improved his performance manifold. From the faculty members to the fellow contestants, all wanted him as part of the Fame Jodi.

So popular is he that till date a Fame Gurukul get together is incomplete without this sweet, down to earth guy. Rex could not make it to the Fame Jodi but that has not dampened his spirits and he is raring to go with the two year contract with Sony. For now the stage shows are keeping him busy.

Pawan Shankar the face of the show (Siddhanth) got a role to die for in and as Siddhanth. As the reserved and dignified lawyer, he got critical acclaim for his performance in the show. Pawan, originally from Allahabad, reportedly refused Sujal's role in Kahiin To Hoga, a decision that in the end turned out to be a wise one. Pawan carried the show single handedly on his shoulders. Good acting coupled with a spontaneous personality ensures that Pawan has a long way to go in tellydom.

Gurpreet Singh

The suave and good looking actor who stepped into Rajeev Khandelwal's shoes in Kahiin To Hoga is being liked by one and all and has fit into the character smoothly if a little belatedly. The actor who wanted to become a pilot and became an actor by default is enjoying his current status and even got a nose job done so that he could look like the perfect Sujal (Rajeev Khandelwal). Needless to say Gurpreet is enjoying all the adulation that comes with playing Sujal. It must have taken a lot of thinking to cast Gurpreet as Sujal because Rajeev had become a heartthrob of millions of viewers as the original Sujal.

Iqbal Khan
The latest teen sensation had started his career as a model and got into some forgettable films before he got himself the coveted role of Angad in Kaisa Ye Pyar Hai. The Balaji show got high ratings and Iqbal's voice matches his character in the show perfectly. The power house performer plays an arrogant singer and plays the role of a lover boy perfectly to the T. We are sure rival production houses are eyeing the Balaji discovery with envy.

Priya Wal
She has nothing much to recommend her, if the Balaji babes are considered the standard in Indian classical beauty. But Priya, discovered by Rose Audio Visuals for Star One's Remix, and cast into the mould of Anvesha, the streaked hair brat in Maurya High, turned into a youth icon, that most of India's urban teens could identify with. She may find it a trifle difficult to get out of the mould though, but then, that's another story.