Hardluck in films? Try the small screen

Hardluck in films? Try the small screen

Television surely makes unlucky film actors winners in the fame-game

The regular route to stardom begins with a few modelling assignments, moving onto a role on TV eventually to be noticed by a filmmaker and finally making it big in Bollywood. That's somewhat the route taken by Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta. But all do not get lucky. There are many that take this very route and end up in the opposite direction.

TV is filled with actors who have gone unnoticed in the film industry. These actors have found their admirers among the Indian housewives who daily watch family-drama soaps. The lead role in a daily soap is a smarter option than playing one of the characters in a multi-starrer film. For them, it's instant fame and the audience can't forget them because they pop up on TV every weeknight! Jassi's beau- Apoorva Agnihotri, who had once shared the same frame with SRK in Subhash Ghai's 'Pardes', is one of the most loved men on the small screen. The actor wasn't seen much after Pardes. TV sure turned out to be a smarter option for him.

Similarly, real-life brothers - Ronit and Rohit Roy were both unsuccessful when it came to films but they are well-known stars on TV. Ronit Roy especially, has found his calling with television acting. His serials- Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahi Thi and Kasauti Zindagi Ki are both doing extremely well.

Amar Upadhyay, the former Mihir on Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, left the serial to pursue films. The entire country mourned when Mihir exited from the serial. No other TV actor had so much impact on his audience. He left nonetheless. After a few invisible releases, he returned to the small screen to claim his lost fame.

His colleague Aman Verma also has quite a few admirers on TV. In films, his roles are limited to the supporting cast, in films like Sangharsh and Baghban.

Vivek Mushran though appreciated for his lover-boy role in Saudagar couldn't make it to stardom in Bollywood. However, found himself some audience on television.

Another movie-wonder, Iqbal 'Funtoosh' Khan soon realised there is more meat on the small screen.

Handsome and talented Parmeet Sethi taking cue from his wife Archana balances TV and films well. Though the couple didn't make it big in movies, they manage their share of limelight in Bollywood.

Many stars do that - shuffling between Bollywood and Indian television - Mandira Bedi, Renuka Shahane, Chunky Pandey, Saajid Khan... And then there are those who had their share of films who slow it down with television - like Sudha Chandran, Pallavi Joshi, Amrita Singh and Sridevi. The small screen surely makes them winners in the fame-game.