It's a unanimously accepted fact that the TV industry is booming by leaps and bounds. Aspiring actors now not only aim for Bollywood but also for Tellywood - which makes them a household name.

But struggle is inevitable! If you have no blood relations, no godfather, no 'contacts', penetrating in this industry becomes thorny.

So how did these TV stars get their big break? Was it easy or rocky? Did their struggle phase last long? Did a portfolio help? Prashant Golecha discovers the realities by confronting some telly celebs. Read on…

Mazher Syedd

I had to struggle a lot. Actor Amit Verma (of Kittu Sab Janti Hain fame) helped me and put me on to Jeetu Savlani (a photographer). I wasn't even aware what portfolio meant, but later understood that it's a passport to get into the acting business. Seeing it one is called for auditions and I got my first break through the same. Also you need to find out the right co-ordinators and if that doesn't work go to the production houses personally and drop the pictures and find out where the casting is being finalized. But one should be brave enough to take the initiative. There is nothing wrong in asking for work. Luck is very necessary. And what matters a lot is how you present yourself when you go to a production house.

Sujata K

I had done at least 25 commercials so may be being a known face made things easier. It was at the age of 44 that I gave TV acting a shot. Initially it was through my coordinators that I was offered episodic roles and then by word of mouth I started getting full fledged roles. It's is generally by mouth publicity that you are called for auditions and look tests and finally if you fit the bill, you are on.

Nausheen Alii Sardar

When I was in college, my uncle, Naza Hussain (who was a child artist in films) suggested my name for a Close up commercial, which I did with Suchitra Krishnamoorthi. And more and more ads started pouring in, like Nima Rose and Godrej. I have also done a music video for Altaf Raja. People who noticed me approached me for TV roles and I went for auditions. When I took up Kkusm, I didn't consider TV that big a medium. I have also done a main lead in a show titled Dulhan on SAB TV and Shohrat on DD1. Even today I don't mind giving an audition. TV has become so big that now people from different cities come to Mumbai to become TV actors.

Joy Sen Gupta

It isn't that easy to get into the TV industry these days. The reason being - the supply is more than the demand. If you go outside the Balaji and UTV offices, you will find aspiring actors queuing for an entry. If you go to coffee shops, say in Lokhandwala (suburban Mumbai), you will find many people who desire to be an actor or a model. Years back talent was the top most priority but today one just needs to look glossy to enter into our industry. Look tests are conducted even before and audition! In 1995 there were a few channels like Zee, DD and Sony was making an entry. But today the tube is flooded with many channels leading to fast growth of opportunities. I started my career by doing theatre, which got me telefilms and later I went on to anchor a show for Siddarth Basu, Super Quiz. Things started rolling gradually.

Rucha Gujrati


Getting work on TV is difficult. Competition is too high. Every week we see new faces on the small screen. Previously people used to think twice before taking up TV work but not anymore. Its' enormity can be equalled with celluloid. My first audition was for the role of Kali in Kkusum and I was lucky to bag it. I was a known face in ad circles so it was easy in my case. A portfolio is a must. This career has given me name, fame and money. What else can I ask for?