Every year is about the people (and things) that make it fabulous. And so, in our year-end issue, we always look forward to who’s going to make it big next year. We ask a jury of experts in our favourite fields – films, music, sports, technology – to suggest names of people and products that will hit the jackpot.
Some of the names we have recommended in the past – MS Dhoni, Sneha Khanwalkar, Amit Trivedi, Deepika Padukone – did very well for themselves, as predicted.
With the last issue of 2013, we bring you a list of people – newer names who, our jury says (and we agree), are going to stand out in 2014.
We wish them all the luck, and we wish you, our readers, a very happy New Year! Take our advice and party hard – the rest will follow!
Vivian Dsena is an intense and strong person"
Superstar RK (played by Vivian Dsena) was delighted to hear that he had been chosen as the TV actor to look out for in 2014.
Thanking everyone who put their faith in him, he says, "After my first show on TV, where I hardly knew the nuances of acting, I got comments like ‘ab acting ka tag lag gaya hai to acting bhi kar lo.’ It feels great to get complimented for my acting skills now."
Dsena comes from a family of engineers and doctors. He shocked his mother by deciding to become a model. He started his television career with the show Kasamh Se, but it was his role of a vampire in the serial Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani that made Dsena a household name. Unfortunately, the popularity of the show on Star One was not reflected in the TRPs, but he had a huge fan following. Dsena bagged the role of the arrogant superstar RK in Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon, currently showing on Colors.
"RK is a superstar who is supposed to be idolised by everyone and he always gets what he wants," says Dsena with a smile as he describes the character that shot him to fame. "He is an intense, calculating and composed star who cares little for emotion and can be ruthless in getting his work done. He’s a larger-than-life character."
Is there any particular character Dsena wants to portray? "Not really. I prefer to go with the flow and see where destiny takes me. But I have been lucky to have had the chance of playing a variety of roles," he adds.
Sriti Jha is naturally gifted
Sriti Jha, who played Ganga in Balika Vadhu till recently, displays dual emotions of excitement and joy when told that she’s been nominated the TV actress to look out for in 2014. "It is a huge honour," she says.
Born in Begusarai, Bihar, 27-year-old Jha grew up in Kolkata and Kathmandu before moving to Delhi where she studied English Literature at Sri Venkateshwara College. In her final year, Jha was actively involved in theatre. So when Disney held auditions for the musical comedy-drama Dhoom Machaao Dhoom, Jha tried her luck and got through. However, doing the serial meant she had to move to Mumbai.
"RK is a superstar who is supposed to be idolised by everyone and he always gets what he wants," says Dsena with a smile as he describes the character that shot him to fame. "He is an intense, calculating and composed star who cares little for emotion and can be ruthless in getting his work done. He’s a larger-than-life character."
Is there any particular character Dsena wants to portray? "Not really. I prefer to go with the flow and see where destiny takes me. But I have been lucky to have had the chance of playing a variety of roles," he adds.
Sriti Jha is naturally gifted
Sriti Jha, who played Ganga in Balika Vadhu till recently, displays dual emotions of excitement and joy when told that she’s been nominated the TV actress to look out for in 2014. "It is a huge honour," she says.
Born in Begusarai, Bihar, 27-year-old Jha grew up in Kolkata and Kathmandu before moving to Delhi where she studied English Literature at Sri Venkateshwara College. In her final year, Jha was actively involved in theatre. So when Disney held auditions for the musical comedy-drama Dhoom Machaao Dhoom, Jha tried her luck and got through. However, doing the serial meant she had to move to Mumbai.
It turned out to be a decision that would change her life.
Soon, Jha got an opportunity to play the lead in the romantic drama Jiya Jale on 9X channel. In Jyoti, her next show on Imagine TV, she won acclaim for playing a character with multiple personality disorder. Jha’s next big soap was Life OK’s Dil Se Di Dua... Saubhagyavati Bhava? where she played a woman with an abusive husband. Then came Balika Vadhu, where she brought the rustic, illiterate Ganga to life on screen. "In both serials, I played a victim of domestic violence," says Jha. "But Ganga is no ordinary village girl. She doesn’t take her husband’s abuse meekly."
Will Jha’s passion for acting eventually push her towards the silver screen? "I really don’t think so. My first line of interest is TV. Even youngsters are watching mythologicals, which is a great thing," says Jha, with a smile.
From HT Brunch, December 31
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