It's true that women play pivotal roles when it comes to small screen soaps, and even grab a significant portion of screen space/time, but there are some male actors who look like a million bucks and play strong and silent characters, making many nubile hearts go a flutter and how! Some of these new age TV characters are styled in the same mould as Mills & Boon heroes, seldom have catchy dialogues and let their expressions do the talking! Here's a quick lowdown on telly's brooding heartthrobs who believe in the adage 'silence is golden', and still manage to carve a place for themselves in prime time TV, garnering eyeballs for their shows and themselves (not necessarily in that order).

Karan Singh Grover
Role Play: Asad Khan in Qubool Hai
From the loveable dil ka doctor in Dill Mill Gayye to the sarcastic, male chauvinist Asad Ahmed Khan in Qubool Hai ' Karan Singh Grover's playing the role of Asad who's burdened with responsibilities and a troubled childhood and past, and is an embittered soul who doesn't believe in love. If you get a feeling of deja vu when you see the same smirk and unsmiling visage on a male lead, then check old Youtube videos of shows with similar protagonists for reference!

Barun Sobti
Role Play: Arnav Singh Raizada in Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon?
The handsome biz tycoon, Arnav Singh Raizada in Iss Pyaas Ko Kya Naam Doon? who swung into action by stepping off a helicopter, wore designer togs, was essentially mean and rude to the leading lady is of course the national sweetheart. Barun made the character a cult and crafted his own destiny as the superstar of small screen. Small wonder then the show shut shop when he quit it!

Anas Rashid
Role Play: Sooraj Rathi in Diya Aur Baati Hum
Anas' character Sooraj Rathi in Diya Aur Baati Hum, is one of the most underrated characters for an actor to play, especially for someone who started off his TV career in a superhero costume caper. As the supportive husband and dutiful son, Sooraj quietly stands by his wife and offers her the strength that she needs to live her dreams. A sober wardrobe, subtle role play and no fancy one-liners, and yet Sooraj aka Anas is officially the nation's favourite beta!

Shaleen Malhotra
Role Play: Arjun Rawte in Har Yug Mein Aayega Ek Arjun
Reality show star Shaleen Malhotra underwent a rigorous fitness training session to step into the role of Arjun Rawte, the unsmiling supercop who lives and breathes work. It's of course a given that the cop will have to be the strong and silent sort who brooks no nonsense and is dedicated to hunting down the guilty, making no compromises at all. While Shaleen's managed to pull off the complicated role with effortless ease, talks of introducing a new romantic lead, might just convert the tough guy overnight!

Hiten Tejwani
Role Play: Manav Deshmukh in Pavitra Rishta
Replacing Sushant Singh Rajput as Manav in Pavitra Rishta was very tough, given his immense popularity, but Hiten Tejwani managed to redefine the role and made it noteworthy by underplaying the character. Thanks to a time leap, the character has now emerged as quiet, matured and a strong supportive husband/dad connecting to a huge chunk of the audience.

Sameer Soni
Role Play: Kunal Chopra in Parichay Nayee Zindagi Kay Sapno Ka
Sameer Soni's character Kunal on Parichay - Nayee Zindagi Kay Sapno Ka, is one that you have seen before, but not as the main lead. As the alcoholic lawyer betrayed in love, and a failure in his professional life, Sameer has given Kunal an interesting twist. Luckily for him, the lack of dialogues and subtle play of emotions has helped make his character appear credible enough.

Gurmeet Choudhary
Role Play: Yash Scindia in Punar Vivaah
Gurmeet essays a character haunted by the memories of his past in Punar Vivaah (any resemblance to his former screen role is purely coincidental of course). As Yash Scindia, Gurmeet is the typical 'strong' (physically as well, thanks to his fab abs which he keeps showing off from time to time) and silent man who prefers to remain quiet (even going to the extent of having monologues) and lets other characters take centrestage. He's changing from an essentially dark and grey character to a more positive one, but there are some interesting shades to him that could be explored at a later stage.

Sharad Kelkar
Role Play: Dr Ashutosh Mathur in Kuch Toh Log Kahenge
Playing the cool, composed and reserved doctor in Kuch Toh Log Kahenge with hardly any dialogues to mouth in Kuch Toh Log Kahenge, Sharad Kelkar, who's an extrovert in real life found it tough to make the role convincing. Carrying on the legacy of his predecessor Mohnish Behl wasn't easy either, but finally the audience is accepting him if the slightly improved TRPs are any indication.

Compiled by Ano Patel