Ssharad Malhotraa, Apurva Agnihotri make soapy comebacks

Hectic schedules that include shooting round the clock for days on end, tend to give withdrawl symptoms to telly hotties, making them take sabbaticals from their soapy stints and opt for a break.
Sometimes these ‘breaks’ are intentional (to chase greener pastures like a career in films), sometimes forced (lack of good scripts, boredom with the storyline, lack of growth as an actor, monetary issues).Some of these TV stars have recently made a comeback to daily soaps, in strong authorbacked roles...
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HARSHAD CHOPRA
Last sighting: January 2012
Harshad Chopra, who’d earned a strong fanbase with Left Right Left, Kis Des Mein Hai Mera Dil, Tere Liye and Dharmapatni took a long sabbatical post and Dil Se Di Dua... Saubhagyavati Bhav? much to the ennui of his loyal audience. Now he’s back as an acerbic tycoon in Humsafars. He says, for an actor, “playing different characters is a challenge that I look forward. I can’t repeat myself and get typecast.”

RAVI DUBEY
Last sighting: September 2012
Small screen heartthrob, Ravi Dubey took a break from daily soaps after Saas Bina Sasural and got busy with reality shows before finally making a comeback in Jamai Raja. He shares, “The concept of this show is interesting. While I was busy with reality shows, nothing interesting came my way. I’m happy that I’m getting to play a character which is so different.”

Starry comebacks on small screen
ADITYA REDIJ
Last sighting: Sep 2013
Best remembered for his role in Naa Aana Iss Des Laado, followed by Junoon — Aisi Nafrat Toh Kaisa Ishq — Aditya went missing from daily soaps a year and half ago. Although he was seen in an episodic, the actor says he was waiting for something interesting . This telly hottie is currently doing Bandhan where he plays an upright forest ranger. Says Aditya,“I have always ensured that I’ve had some time off after wrapping up a project. It is essential as I want to the audience to accept me in a brand new avatar.”


Last sighting: March 2013
Post Balika Vadhu, this petite Bong beauty went on to participate in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 5 and Bigg Boss 5, followed by certain episodic appearances too. But, now she’s back on a daily soap where she plays a modern young woman who falls for a small town boy. On her comeback to soaps, says Pratyusha is an “amazing feeling. I’d say feels like home-coming as I am back doing what I was comfortable with — daily soaps. The busy schedule is totally fun.” She also feels happy about playing a ‘modern girl’ on the show.

SSHARAD MALHOTRAA
Last sighting: May 2009
As Sagar in Banoo Main Teri...Dulhan, he became a star on small screen, a household name. And then Ssharad Malhotraa moved to Bollywood in 2012 with From Sydney With Love. A kaput career in films later, television’s former blue-eyed boy has made a ‘royal’ comeback as the grown up Maharana Pratap in the show Bharat Ka Veer Putra — Maharana Pratap. And this comeback is interesting one as Sharad was on a “rigorous training” to get in to the skin of the character.

Last sighting: Aug 2013
This yummy mummy and powerhouse of talent took a break from daily soaps post Parvarrish — Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi and was seen essaying an important role in Ram-Leela, besides doing stints in regional cinema. Now this pretty actress is back in Tum Saath Ho Jab Apne where she plays the role of a widowed homemaker who can fight the world to make her daughter’s dream, come true. Taking up challenging roles seems to be the mantra for Barkha at the moment.

APURVA AGNIHOTRI
Last sighting: Jul 2012
This Subhash Ghai discovery reigned hearts as Armaan in Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi followed by stints on several daily soaps including Kajjal. Although his last full-fledged role was as Dev in Aasmaan Se Aagey in July 2012, didn’t strike a chord with the audiences Apurva’s done his share of episodics and cameos in fiction shows. He’s now back in Ekta Kapoor’s new soap offering, Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh, as the misanthropic coffee tycoon Vikram in Ajeeb Daastan Hai Yeh opposite Sonali Bendre.

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