Small screen’s most wanted

Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon,Colors

EKTA Kapoor’s protege,Vivian D’Sena was introduced on the small screen as Vicky Walia in Kasamh Se. His height and light eyes made him stand out in the crowd of aspiring TV actors and helped him bag the role of Robert Pattinson’s Indian counterpart,Abhay Raichand,in theHindi TV remake of the Twilight series,Pyaar Kii Yeh Ek Kahaani on Star One. But according to television writer Gautam Hegde,it is D’Sena’s Mills & Boon hero-like air that made him the perfect Rishabh Kundra aka superstar RK for the story of love and hatred,Madhubala.

“Vivian’s sharp features give the character an edge. His no-nonsense look goes well with RK’s personality,” adds Hegde,Madhubala’s writer.

Kushal Tandon as Virat Singh Vadhera

Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai,Star Plus

HE hails from a political family,but Kushal Tandon always dreamt of a career in the entertainment industry. A common face in advertisements,he followed up the stint with an acting course at New York Film Academy. After returning to India,he was spotted by Cinevistaas’ Siddharth Malhotra,who offered him a role in Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai. “We wrote the character Virat to go with his personality,” Malhotra says. In the show,he plays the role of a rebel with a heart of gold and strong morals. He falls in love with a cancer patient,Maanvi,a factor that tugs at the audience’s heartstrings. Tandon’s youthful looks and mischievous smile add to his popularity. Malhotra adds,“He is also a very real character and his banter with Maanvi has a youth appeal.”

Siddharth Shukla as Shivraj Shekhar

Balika Vadhu,Colors

AFTER an almost unnoticed-film debut,Siddharth Shukla started grabbing eyeballs on Indian television with the 2008 soap Babul Ka Aangann Chootey Na,and later in Jaane Pehchaane Se Yeh Ajnabbi. But it was his role as Shiv,aka Shivraj Shekhar,in Balika Vadhu that triggered his popularity,especially among the female audience. With conventional good looks,great physique,charming on-screen personality and the occasional floppy hair,Shukla’s entry as a positive character seems to have helped. “He balances everything very well. He is good looking and has a great physique. He also makes sure that he comes across as the character,” says Pradeep Yadav,director,Balika Vadhu.

Raqesh Vashisth as Rohan

Honge Judaa Naa Hum,Sony

HE has been around for over a decade,but Raqesh Vashisth is getting noticed only now. A discovery of director Anubhav Sinha,most will remember him as Rakesh Bapat,the shy Amar in the 2001film Tum Bin. However,the actor’s film career never quite took off and at some point he changed his name. He has since been seen in Maryada: Lekin Kab Tak? on Star Plus and Saat Phere on Zee,among other shows. His recent assignment,Honge Judaa Naa Hum,however,has brought him to the fore with the promising character of Rohan who is both sweet and short-tempered. “Vashisth’s cute,boy-next-door image,aided by the dimpled smile,has won him a strong female audience base. It helps that at 34,he doesn’t look his age,” points out his colleague,Aamna Sharif. The actor is married to his co-star from Maryada,Riddhi Dogra.

Samir Kochhar as Rajat Kapur

Bade Achhe Lagte Hain,Sony

ANOTHER Bollywood castaway,Samir Kochhar became popular on television as the anchor of Extraaa Innings T20 on SET Max,a show that revolves around the Indian Premier League matches. The brawny actor,with his dusky complexion,also made for the perfect host of the high-intensity Survivor India,a reality television game show,which was shot at a remote island in Philippines. But it is the actor’s fiction debut with Bade Achhe Lagte Hain that has made him a household name. As the parallel lead in the show,Rajat Kapur,he is pitted against Ram Kapoor for Sakshi Tanwar’s attention. “It is his restrained,mature act that has endeared him to the audience,” says the show’s director Sangeeta Rao.