Sushant Singh Rajput paved the way for TV actors in Bollywood, says Gurmeet Choudhary
"Sushant Singh Rajput changed Bollywood’s approach to TV stars. After Sushant broke that wall, I was able to make a Bollywood debut with the Bhatt camp film, Khamoshiyaan," says Gurmeet Choudhary.

Actor Gurmeet Choudhary opened up on Sushant Singh Rajput recently and said it was the late actor who inspired him to make a transition from television to films.“Sushant has paved the way for us in Bollywood. If he would not have been successful there, perhaps the filmmakers would have rejected me too, stating why would they pay to watch me in theatres since they have already seen me a lot on TV. Sushant changed Bollywood’s approach to TV stars. After Sushant broke that wall, I was able to make a Bollywood debut with the Bhatt camp film, Khamoshiyaan," Gurmeet Choudhary was quoted as saying to Navbharat Times.
My dream was to be on the 70mm screen. But after sincerely doing TV for years, there came a point when I felt that I should try films because I wanted to take on a new challenge in life. I had achieved a lot on TV and I wanted to do a film. And during that time I was told many that ‘you are a TV star, when people can watch you for free on TV who will buy a ticket to watch you on screen? I faced it a lot,” shares the actor, who made his big screen debut with 2015 film, Khamoshiyan.
Choudhary admits that people were always willing to meet him to discuss prospects of films but he adds “they didn’t want to take the risk with a TV actor”.
However, he says things changed drastically after the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput successfully transitioned from TV to films. He proved that even TV stars have audiences in theatres. If you give us a break then we will also get audience. He opened doors for me in films. Before that I was struggling to get films and people were not taking me seriously. But after Sushant proved himself and I was also given a grand launch. That prejudice ended then. I keep getting films and people started taking me seriously,” the 36-year-old shares.

Gurmeet Choudhary also weighed in on the insecurity felt by the family members and loved ones of actors in current times. “My family and friends call me up and ask me not to take the wrong step and assure me that they will watch my films, come what may. This is a very competitive industry and everyone is scared that their career might finish if they deliver a flop film,” he told the Hindi daily.
0