Why Bollywood Actors Love to Star on the Small Screen

Bollywood stars today are no longer happy to just stay on the big screen. Many have also tried their luck on the small screen with great success. Besides acting in TV series and judging shows, they have also tried their hand at hosting shows. Their onscreen popularity translates into instant buzz and business.

It has become a recent trend in Bollywood for many A-list actors to appear on the small screen. These stars are being seen more on reality and performance shows than on TV serials. Their visibility on these shows enhances profits and viewership for channels and the stars in turn reach out to a bigger audience.

Salman Khan who has hosted quite a few editions of Bigg Boss hosted the seventh edition of Bigg Boss too. It became a major hit in India and raked up many controversies that made headlines.

To Salman, a TV show gives a chance for the audience to see the actors in a completely different light, a far cry from their characters in Bollywood movies. “For any actor, the real heroes are his fans. So, by doing a TV show, my audiences get to see the real Salman. Isn’t this (TV) a better reward for me?” he said. Sana Khan, one of the contestants in Bigg Boss 6, bagged a major role in Salman’s upcoming movie Jai Ho. Her spat with a rival contestant won Salman’s heart. When Salman was looking for an innocent yet aggressive character in Jai Ho he felt that Sana would fit the bill.

Amitabh Bachchan hosted the mega game show Kaun Banega Crorepati which went on to create history on the small screen. There were impulsive reactions to the show and it grabbed even more eyeballs when for the first time a female was handed the crorepati title.

Television has become so big that Bollywood’s superstar Shah Rukh Khan admits that an actor’s success today is not measured merely by box office profits, but his association with a TV show. “Today stardom is not about awards and box office numbers, but about who has a bigger TV show. So I am trying to do something. I have told Punit and the Zee family to look out for something for me,” the actor said.

Shah Rukh started his career on the small screen with the show Fauji followed by Circus in 1989. “The TV audience is very big and I also started with TV and I respect the medium a lot. Television is a great platform for every actor and actress. I would love to participate in it whenever given a chance,” he added.

Ajit Thakur, business head, Sony Entertainment Television says: “Shows like KBC and Bigg Boss are as big as films. The reach TV gives today is far wider than the film release on a weekend. And the remuneration is also high. All these factors make stars host TV shows.”

Upcoming Bollywood Actors

The Hindi film industry is seeing a rising number of promising actors. Many upcoming Bollywood movies feature young talent over established actors since their films often do well at the box office. Also, movies with youthful themes require youthful actors. There is now a breed of ‘gen next’ actors who have made the cut in mainstream Hindi cinema.

Bollywood’s much loved chocolate boy, Shahid Kapoor initially looked like a one hit wonder with Ishq Vishk Pyaar Vyaar in 2003. There followed a string of flops until he struck gold with Jab We Met, in which he starred along side Kareena Kapoor. The promising young actor showed he could hold his own in the critically acclaimed hit Kaminey. He is starring in lead roles in upcoming Hindi movies Milenge Milenge (with Kareena Kapoor)and in his father’s directorial debut Mausam (with Sonam Kapoor).

Debonair and charismatic, Ranbir Kapoor, the son of veteran actor Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh scored zero with his first outing Saawariya in 2007. However, he did manage to pick up the Filmfare Best Male Debut Award for his role in the movie. His next offering Bachna Ae Haseeno did fairly well at the box office and found favor among film critics. Wake Up Sid and Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani were commercially successful although both films met with mixed responses. His 2010 projects include the recently released Rajneeti and Anjaana Anjaani with Priyanka Chopra.

Although he is mostly in the news for his unusual pick of films, Abhay Deol is certainly a promising Bollywood actor. Not quite the typical Bollywood hero, his chosen debut vehicle was Socha Na Tha in 2005. The film did not garner much enthusiasm with the public. The 2008 film Oye Lucky Lucky Oye was a smash hit and fetched rave reviews for his offbeat performance. Anurag Kashyap’s Dev D further established that Abhay Deol was an upcoming Bollywood actor to look out for. He will be seen in upcoming Bollywood movies Rajshri Ojha’s Aisha and Zoya Akhtar’s Running with the Bulls.