Prime time’s new screen scorchers

With TV producers willing to experiment with new faces in order to dab on freshness in their shows, a lot of fresh faces are ruling prime time now. Buzzing new on small screen are: Rajbir Singh in 'Hatim', Pooja Sharma as Draupadi in 'Mahabharat', Harshita Gaur and Param Singh as Sanyukta and Randheer in 'Sadda Haq', Harshad Arora and Preetika Rao as ever fighting couple Zain and Alia in 'Beintehaa', Mishkat Verma and Kaanchi Singh as cute love birds Raj and Avni in 'Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya', Rafi Malik as Rajveer in 'Desh Ki Beti...Nandini', Mayank Kalra as Rocky in 'It’s Complicated - Relationship Ka Naya Status' and Sheetal Singh as Roshni in 'Paanch - 5 Wrongs Make A Right'.
New faces come with lot of plus points. Rajan Shahi says, “New actors can create their own equation with the character they essay. The plus point with new faces is that you can put them into a new skin and the audience can relate. I have always believed in bringing new faces in most of my shows. It gives me satisfaction to turn the newbies into stars.”
The other benefit for makers is the fact that debutantes don’t have the burden of a screen image. Producer Sudhir Sharma shares, “Movies sell on the basis of stars whereas soaps sell on the strength of characters. So, new faces are relatively acceptable as compared to veteran TV stars. A popular face does not always become a convincing fit as a character in a show as it comes with a starry baggage. Many think it is a financial gain for producers by launching new faces. But on the other hand, it is actually tough on production cost as rehearsals, shoots are delayed to get the best out of these newbies.”
Given the number of actors who are debuting on the small screen, TV viewers have a lot of new faces to watch out for. For some of the debutantes, it just happened. As Pooja Sharma shares, “I never planned anything but I was always interested in doing theatre and performing arts. After that I gradually moved to television. I’d say I had a smooth transition from Delhi to Mumbai. Everything just happened pretty smoothly.”
Mishkat Verma “always wanted to become an actor.” He says, “I was obsessed with movies and couldn’t concentrate on studies. I studied for 10 hours but, most of the time I was lost in thoughts of becoming an actor. I did a bit of modelling for print ads then did some TVCs.” Even Mayank Kalra shares, “I have have done more than 50 TVCs and print ads. I always wanted to do a youth oriented show and my current show appealed to me.”
With many newcomers hogging the time band, it appears to be the season of newcomers on TV.
Mishkat Verma and Kaanchi Singh as cute love birds Raj and Avni in Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya are much talked about thanks to their charming chemistry
Harshita Gaur and Param Singh as Sanyukta and Randheer in Sadda Haq — My Life My Choice are grabbing eyeballs due to their onscreen fights
As Hatim, newbie Rajbir Singh is a headturner with his droolworthy looks and a great physique in this costume drama
Rafi Malik got into the skin of his character with an effortless ease as Rajveer in Desh Ki Beti... Nandini and is grabbing eyeballs for his glam appeal
Pooja Sharma as Draupadi in Mahabharat started off her career with anchoring and has now attracted much attention thanks to the show
Debutant Mayank Kalra as Rocky in It’s Complicated is much talked about thanks to his comic timings and the Jat dialect
Harshad Arora and Preetika Rao as the ever fighting couple Zain and Alia in Beintehaa are much glamourous debutantes to watch out for