Reality television become launchpad for young Lucknowites

Reality television has proved to be the launchpad for many young Lucknowites looking for a big break
HOW BIG AFTER BIGG BOSS?
Whether Kushal Tandon’s controversial stint on Bigg Boss Saath 7 will be a deal-maker or breaker for him, remains to be seen. Kushal began his career as a model, and then starred in Ek Hazaaroan Mein Meri Behna Hai on TV. Before BB, he had done dance reality show Nach Baliye.The actor, who was in Lucknow to celebrate Diwali after he was evicted from the show, says life has changed after Bigg Boss. “I don’t know about Lucknow since I did not go out much this time, but in Mumbai it was like I had won some election! Jahan jaata hoon, log poonchtein hai, ‘Aur Kushal bhai, kaisey ho?’ So it is really nice, a humbling experience I would say. People knew me as Virat earlier (his character in the serial), now they know me – Kushal Tandon,” he says. The actor hints at some B’wood offers too having come his way.
JAI HO!
Santosh Shukla’s role in Chandrakanta on TV didn't get him half as much fame as his stint on Bigg Boss Season 6. So much so that the actor from Lucknow managed to bag a role in Salman Khan-starrer Jai Ho! after the show. While the film is under production, he is busy attending various events in Lucknow – from judging local talent hunts to making an appearance as a celebrity guest at gyms and social events.
ON A SONG
Twinkle, now Tia Bajpai, is another name from Lucknow who made it big through a talent hunt show on TV. At 17, Twinkle impressed the judges with her singing skills in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. She was one of the finalists on the show and went on to win more singing reality shows on Indian television. But her big break came as an actress, with TV show Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyann. Tia then participated in another talent hunt show Kaun Jeetega Bollywood Ka Ticket, won it, and went on toact in another TV show, Kyunki... Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Tia graduated to films in 2011, debuting in Vikram Bhatt’s horror film Haunted, followed by a role in 1920: Evil Returns. Tia has two more films in the offing. Will she make it big?
DERR AAYE...
Lucknow girl Aditi Sharma was the winner of talent hunt show called India’s Best Cinestars Ki Khoj in 2004. Aditi acted in offbeat Hindi films like Khanna And Iyyer and Black And White. But good Bollywood offers didn’t come to Aditi that easily. She bided her time doing commercials and after a long struggle in Bollywood, Lucknow girl Aditi Sharma finally bagged a Yash Raj film Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl. “I had to wait long to reach here. There was a time when I would just sleep and watch TV at home in Mumbai with my mom, there was nothing else for me to do. I would feel depressed at times, but my mom became my real strength,” she said in an interview to TOI.
MAKING THE RIGHT NOISES
Lucknow lad Harshit Saxena made his first appearance on national TV in the show Amul Star Voice of India in the year 2007 and was the runner-up on the show. Since then Harshit hasn’t looked back, singing in many reality shows before graduating to films. He first sang for Vikram Bhatt’s Hate Story followed by Stand By, Tees Maar Khan, Men Will Be Men and Murder 2, for which he also composed a song – Haal-e-Dil. The song went on to become a hit.
VINIT KA SUROOR
Singer Vinit Singh from Lucknow shot to fame with singing reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge in 2005. He went on to become Himesh Reshammiya’s protege and represented his Rock Gharana on the show. Though Vinit didn’t win the show, he did gain a lot out of this stint. Apart from mentoring him, Reshammiya helped him to secure his place as a Bollywood playback singer. His debut song in Bollywood was Dil Rang Le, a duet with Sunidhi Chauhan for the film Rocky. Vinit also performed with Reshammiya in his international concert series ‘Aap Kaa Surroor’ in 2006. Vinit has done number of films with Reshammiya.