‘I had to be patient for my big break’

Newcomer Himanshoo Malhotra, discovered at a talent hunt show six years ago, reveals his story.

Newcomer Himanshoo Malhotra is the third reality show contestant this year from one of Zee TV’s own shows to make it as the lead in a daily show on the channel. He was one of the three finalists of

HT Image

India’s Best Cinestar Ki Khoj

in 2004. Malhotra will be seen as the male lead Guddu Shukla in

Bhaagonwali

.

Sukesh Motwani, head of programming for fiction content, says that the channel believes in promoting “in-house” talent. “When we discover actors on any of our reality shows, we ensure that we give them some platform to showcase their talent.” Earlier this year, Binny Sharma and Vandana Joshi, spotted on Zee TV’s

Dance India Dance

, debuted as actors in

Sanjog Se Bani Sangini

and

Dil Se Diya Vachan

respectively.

A year ago, Ankita Lokhande, another discovery from Cinestars.. debuted as Archana in

Pavitra Rishta

. Malhotra, who plays a buoyant, street-smart boy from Uttar Pradesh, admits he’s had to wait really long for a big break. “The character is the kind you’d find anywhere in UP. I was skeptical about it but I met a lot of people like the character I’m playing. I also attended a workshop to get into Guddu’s skin,” he asserts. Earlier Himmanshoo played Sameer in

Aap Ki Antra

but quit it pretty fast. “The channel noticed me in that show and offered me this one,” says Malhotra. “I didn’t stay on that show for too long but probably my performance stayed in their memory.”