Television actors make it BIG
Last updated on: June 6, 2012 19:49 IST
Television actors are now successfully reaching out for the silver screen. With 'new wave' films becoming the norm, they have a better chance of making that big leap.
Let's have a look at the actors who have made this switch!
Gurdeep Kohli
She is best known for her shows like Sanjivani, Kasamh Se and Sindoor Tere Naam Ka.
After a gap she returned to the small screen last year with Disney Channel's Best of Luck Nikki.
Recently, she made her Bollywood debut with Akshay Kumar starrer Rowdy Rathore, where she played a cop. She has performed some stunts in the film as well.
Like many of her contemporaries, though, she did not get much screen time.
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Ayushman Khurana
Last updated on: June 6, 2012 19:49 IST
Chandigarh-bred Ayushman Khurana's brush with fame happened when he won the MTV Roadies title in 2004.
He became a radio jockey in 2007. He went on to host a number of shows for MTV.
He also anchored shows across other channels like India's Got Talent, Music Ka Maha Muqqabla and Just Dance.
Khurana was brilliant in his big screen debut, Vicky Donor, as a believable and appealing young man who sells his sperm for cash.
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Pulkit Samrat
Last updated on: June 6, 2012 19:49 IST
Delhi lad Pulkit Samrat became an overnight star in 2006, when he played the role of Lakshya Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.
A couple of years later, he quit the show and filed a case against its producer Ekta Kapoor, asking her to free him from the contract and pay his pending dues.
Last month Samrat made his big screen debut with Bittoo Boss, in which he was quite impressive. The film didn't do well but it may bring him many good offers.
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Prachi Desai
Last updated on: June 6, 2012 19:49 IST
Prachi is the only actress who has successfully managed the switch from television to films.
She started her career with the popular television serial Kasamh Se, won a dance reality show Jhalak Dikhla Jaa and then graduated to the big screen with the movie Rock On!!
Desai is going from strength to strength. Viewers who were hooked on to her as Bani of Kasamh Se got to see her in different roles in Rock On!!, Life Partner and Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai where she was quite impressive.
She then shared screen space with Salman Khan and Farah Akhtar in a television commercial.
Prachi will now be seen in Bol Bachchan starring Ajay Devgn and Abhishek Bachchan and I, Me Aur Main that has John Abraham in the lead. Both films will release in July.
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Rajeev Khandelwal
Last updated on: June 6, 2012 19:49 IST
Once the Shah Rukh Khan of the small screen, documentary filmmaker-turned-actor Rajeev attained popularity after he appeared on the hit TV show Kahiin To Hoga.
He made his feature film debut in Aamir, which was praised and critically acclaimed.
He returned to television where his popularity soared with the reality show Sach Ka Saamna.
Later, he went on to portray some serious roles in the films Shaitan and Soundtrack.
Of all the television actors to bridge the great divide, Rajeev has been the most successful.
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Aamna Shariff
Last updated on: June 6, 2012 19:49 IST
Aamna became a household name after playing the lovable Kashish in the serial Kahiin To Hoga.
Her first film, Aloo Chat with Aftab Shivdasaini in 2009, bombed at the box office. A second one, also with Shivdasani, the same year, didn't fare any better.
There are reports that she is making a comeback on television.
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Ronit Roy
Last updated on: June 6, 2012 19:49 IST
Ronit Roy is best known as Mihir of the iconic show Kyun Ki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.
He is currently playing the role of advocate K D Pathak in Adaalat.
Roy is inching towards making his presence felt on the big screen as well. His performance in Udaan was appreciated. He played a small but significant role in That Girl in Yellow Boots.
Currently, he is working in two commercial films and Deepa Mehta's Midnight's Children. Rediff Rating: 
Sulagana Panigrahi
Last updated on: June 6, 2012 19:49 IST
Sulagna Panigrahi has done shows like Amber Dhara, Do Saheliyaan and Bidaai.
She got her first Bollywood break in Mahesh Bhatt's banner film Murder 2.
In the movie, she plays the role of a poor college student in need of money to help her family survive. She chooses to become a part-time prostitute who falls victim to a psychopathic serial killer.
According to some critics, Panigrahi is first-rate in the movie and is a talent to watch out for.
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Nausheen Ali Sardar
Last updated on: June 6, 2012 19:49 IST
Nausheen, who gained success as Kkusum, quit television for films.
She made her film debut with Vikram Bhatt's production Three-Love, Lies and Betrayal. Though she acted well, the film bombed at the box office.
Her career didn't really take off in Bollywood so Nausheen returned to television with the show Beend Banoonga Ghodi Chadhunga.
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Roshini Chopra
Last updated on: June 6, 2012 19:49 IST
Roshni Chopra is best remembered for her negative character Pia in Ekta Kapoor's Kasamh Se.
She is still doing well on television, hosting many reality shows.
The actress made her film debut in Mahesh Bhatt's thriller Phhir. Her role was appreciated by the audiences but the film didn't do well. Rediff Rating:
Eijaz Khan
Last updated on: June 6, 2012 19:49 IST
Eijaz Khan, known for his roles in Kavyanjali, Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka and Bhaskar Bharti, made it onto the big screen with a disastrous film like Meerabai not out.
In Tanu Weds Manu, his role of Sardar was noticed and appreciated.
Now he is back on television with Shubh Vivaah. He will be seen in another film, Zilla Gaziabad. Rediff Rating:
Ram Kapoor
Last updated on: June 6, 2012 19:49 IST
Ram Kapoor's recent commercial films were Karthik Calling Karthik and Udaan, but you may have also spotted him in Monsoon Wedding and Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi.
He played small yet significant roles in Ekk Main Ekk Tu, and Agent Vinod.
He has also hosted the television reality show Rahul Dulhaniya Lejayega, but first became popular with telly-viewing audiences as businessman Jai Walia in the serial Kasamh Se.
Currently he is playing the male lead, Ram Kapoor, in the popular daily soap Bade Achhe Lagte Hain.
He will also be seen in Karan Johar's Student Of The Year.
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Tia Bajpai
Last updated on: June 6, 2012 19:49 IST
Twinkle is also called Tia Bajpai. She was a finalist in the Zee TV singing talent show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. She has acted in the TV serials Ghar Ki Laksmi Betiyann and Kyunki Sas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.
She debuted with Vikram Bhatt's Haunted, which was a hit. Her second release, Lanka, was a disaster.
This year she will be seen in Vikram Bhatt's sequel, 1920-Evil Returns. Rediff Rating:
Shabbir Ahluwalia
Last updated on: June 6, 2012 19:49 IST
Shabbir Ahluwalia, best known for his roles in Kahin Toh Hoga and Kayamat, made his debut in Bollywood with Shootout at Lokhandwala, which did average business at the box office.
His second film, Mission Istanbul, was a flop. Rediff Rating:
Rohit Roy
Last updated on: June 6, 2012 19:49 IST
Rohit Roy did television and films at the same time. He was popular in serials like Swabhimaan and Des Main Nikla Hoga Chand and hosted a few reality shows.
He has done quite a few movies like Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena, Rice Plate and Mittal V/s Mittal. Though the movies were not considered hot property at the box office, his acting skills were appreciated. Rediff Rating:
Yami Gautam
Last updated on: June 6, 2012 19:49 IST
Chandigarh girl Yami has worked in television serials Chand Ke Paar Chalo, Raajkumar Aaryyan and Yeh Pyar Na Hoga Kam.
She left television and made a name in regional films. She also did a few commercials.
Recently she made her Hindi film debut in Vicky Donor. The film and her performance have been much appreciated by critics and audiences alike. Rediff Rating: 
