Shahid Kapoor’s ‘Ishq Vishk’ co-star left Bollywood at peak, sold toilet paper and went on to script his own comeback story

‘Ishq Vishk’ gave Bollywood three fresh faces who quickly won over the audience. But behind the bright lights, one of its actors was heading towards an unexpected journey. While Shahid Kapoor and Amrita Rao rose quickly, their co-star Vishal Malhotra found himself caught between industry limits, bold choices and surprising turns that no one could have predicted. What followed was a story of risk, reinvention and a comeback shaped in a way few Bollywood careers ever are.

Vishal Malhotra’s career began with ‘Ishq Vishk’

Vishal Malhotra, who made his Bollywood debut with Ken Ghosh’s 2003 hit Ishq Vishk, says the film became a turning point — but it also boxed him into a stereotype. After the movie’s success, he was repeatedly offered the hero’s friend roles, and when he asked for more substantial characters, filmmakers bluntly told him “no.”




Speaking at a TEDx talk, Malhotra looked back on how he first entered the entertainment world. As quoted by The Indian Express, he said, “Around 30 years ago, I was bunking a class when a very beautiful girl started walking towards me. She came right up to me and said, ‘We are looking for the face of our channel; would you be interested?’ I didn’t even know what auditions were, and I just showed up the next day, gave the audition and became the face of Disney in India for the next 10 years.” That chance meeting shaped the first decade of his career and later led him to films like ‘Jannat’ and ‘Kismat Konnection.’

A clash with a powerful producer left him with no work for 2 years

As he tried to grow beyond side roles, Malhotra faced a major setback. In a past interview with Hindi Rush, he had shared how one powerful producer reacted when he asked for a different role. He said, “When I asked for a different role, that big producer took it on his ego. Its side effects were dangerous. I was not prepared for its impact. When a powerful person like that dismisses your capability, you are finished. I had no work for two years. I was very scared after that.”

Vishal Malhotra’s smart investments support difficult phase

Even during this challenging period, Malhotra did not fall apart. He credited his parents for guiding him early in life. He further shared, “My parents made me start investing money from the time my career started. After I got my first cheque, I went to my mom and she asked me to invest in shares and I will be very happy. She said whatever you are giving me today, you will be able to buy a house in five years with this money. They guided me well.” This financial discipline became his safety net when the film offers stopped.

Vishal Malhotra stepped into business

After years of acting and working as a TV anchor, Malhotra finally decided to create his own path. He stepped into business and took charge of his career. He explained, “I opened my own ad agency and made a lot of ad films. Went into business with the biggest retailers in India. I used to sell them all kinds of paper products, from tissue papers to toilet rolls.”

While building his business, Malhotra discovered NFTs and found himself fascinated by the idea. He said, “Later I discovered NFTs (Non Fungible Tokens). It excited me that NFTs gave the rights back to the creator. I never owned any right to the films I was in, it didn’t belong to me. That is why I delved into NFTs, and I became the first Indian actor to create and sell an NFT.”

When rumours spread that cryptocurrency might be banned, Malhotra followed advice to sell his NFTs. He said, “As Covid ended, many people suggested I sell my NFTs, as there were rumours going around that the Indian government was going to ban cryptocurrency. I listened to their advice and cashed in. What I got back was a good amount of pocket change, and that amount was perfect for a film that I had written. So then I wrote, produced and directed my first feature film, ‘Ilm’, which became the world’s first film completely funded by an NFT.”

He now runs an active YouTube channel where he hosts podcasts featuring guests from Bollywood, business, politics, and more.

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