Earlier, this year there had been reports that before Shahid Kapoor was roped in, casting for Deepika Padukone’s husband in Padmavati was headache for the makers. From the rumours surrounding the casting development, it was heard that the director Sanjay Leela Bhansali had originally cast an unnamed TV actor for the role. However it was said that Deepika Padukone didn’t want any TV actor to play her husband and put her foot down on this. So to accommodate her request, the makers had to axe the poor guy and brought in Shahid Kapoor, while also increasing his role, which reportedly gave insecurities to the movie’s other main lead, Ranveer Singh.

We don’t know how much of this is true as it is all speculations, but if there is fire in this smoke, then Deepika Padukone seem to have forgotten her root. No, I didn’t mean to say she was a TV star before, but she was launched into this industry by an actor, who had made the most successful transition from television to Bollywood – Shah Rukh Khan.

Okay, that has happened years ago, and perhaps today’s television actors might not be as good as King Khan. If you share the same thought like Deepika, then you are wrong again. I watched Dangal recently and was bowled over by the Performance of Sakshi Tanwar. Despite not having much screentime compared to Aamir Khan and the girls who play her daughters, she was very effective in the scenes where she used her eyes to express her emotions. She is known for her television work, and with Dangal she proved she is a a great character artiste. And not just Sakshi, there are other recent television actors too who have given some stupendous performances in Bollywood. Here are seven of them…

Sushant Singh Rajput

It’s now strange to call Sushant Singh Rajput as a former TV actor, as the man has now firmly rooted himself in Bollywood, giving fantastic performances in each of his release, the best being playing Dhoni in MS Dhoni: The Untold Story. Before he made his debut in Kai Po Che, he was quite popular playing the lead in TV show Pavitra Rishta.

Sakshi Tanwar

Sakshi Tanwar never had gone for a big role in Bollywood, before Dangal, and perhaps she never needed to. She was very popular in the small screen, especially in shows like Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki and Bade Achche Lagte Hai. But Dangal showed us that Bollywood needs actresses like her, who can hold off against perfectionist actors like Aamir Khan and not get overshadowed.

Ronit Roy

Ronit Roy had a poor Bollywood career going on acting in movies like Jaan Tere Naam and Army, before he became quite popular on small screen playing Mihir Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Bollywood beckoned him again when he had to play the protagonist’s psychotic father in acclaimed Udaan. Ronit’s brilliant performance didn’t go unnoticed, and he began to get more offers. unfortunately, Bollywood began to play its typecast card, as it offered him more or less negative roles only, except for a stray Student of the Year.

Ram Kapoor

Like Ronit Roy, even Ram Kapoor had a weak initial innings in Bollywood despite his appearances in acclaimed movies like Monsoon Wedding and Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi. But he made a big break through his part in the Ekta Kapoor serial, Kasamh Se… and later in Bade Achche Lagte Hai. Again like Ronit Roy, he was offered a comeback to Bollywood with Udaan, in which he was subtle but effective. Later on, he gave terrific performances in Agent Vinod, Student of the Year and Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu.

Rajeev Khandelwal

Though his Bollywood career is now in stealth mode, Rajeev Khandelwal gave one of the best performances for a debutant in the minimalist thriller Aamir, while also being brilliant in Shaitaan as well. Before that, he was known for his television work in Kahiin To Hoga and Left Right Left.

Vikrant Massey

Vikrant Massey was well noticed for his supporting turns in soaps like Balika Vadhu and Baba Aiso Varr Dhoondo. This later lead him to his first Bollywood movie, Lootera, where he played Ranveer Singh’s best friend. He was appreciated for his performance, and he also managed to shine in Zoya Akhtar’s Dil Dhadakne Do, despite the presence of starry names like Anil Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Priyanka Chopra, Farhan Akhtar and Anushka Sharma. He will be seen in Konkona Sen Sharma’s directorial debut, A Death In The Gunj, which is said to be his best work ever.

Yami Gautam

Yami Gautam is now playing Hrithik Roshan’s blind lover/wife in the upcoming Kaabil. Even before that, she was noted for her performances in movies like Vicky Donor and Badlapur, especially in the former where she played an anguished wife of a sperm donor. However, she had begun her journey in telly land in shows like Chand Ke Paar Chalo, Raajkumar Aaryyan and Yeh Pyar Na Hoga Kam.