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TV ka SRK kaun?

Chaya Unnikrishnan

TV stars dream of making it as big as the actors who are currently ruling Bollywood. The chhota screen stars can only envy their big screen counterparts in terms of the fees they get, the adulation from the audiences and the numbers they register at the box-office (unless they move to Hollywood). Although some of the male actors on television are very popular, when it comes to understanding who is the Aamir Khan of TV, or Akshay Kumar of the idiot box, most people draw a blank. Who is no 1, 2, 3? Who are the top 10? Difficult to answer... So we decided to make it simple. Here we take a look at small-screen heroes who can be the perfect counterparts to the filmi superstars...

Shah Rukh Khan 
Ram Kapoor
Physically, there's nothing remotely common between the two superstars. While Shah Rukh Khan is extremely conscious about his fitness, Ram Kapoor has given himself a wide berth, literally and figuratively. And yet, he is TV's most loved romantic hero spanning generations. Whether it was the squeaky clean loverboy of Ghar Ek Mandir, the intense brooding lover of Kasam Se or the earnest suitor in Bade Acche Laggte Hain, Ram has been revisiting the romantic avatar with regularity and successfully. And, like SRK who has created chemistry with almost every heroine he has paired with, Ram too has sizzled with his co-stars. Not only that, like King Khan, Ram too has been a big hit as a host. From Rakhi Ka Swayamvar to Welcome Baazi Mehmaan Nawaazi Ki, Ram has hosted a variety of shows and won viewers with his ready wit and charm.

Ram Kapoor says, "It's probably the biggest compliment I have got so far. Shah Rukh is a big star, the ambassador of the industry. I never take my career too seriously. It's a blessing that I am doing well and that is something to be cherished. I hate thinking of myself as a star because then you stop growing."

Ranbir Kapoor Vivian Dsena 
Good looking with a great screen presence and charisma, Vivian Dsena has to be the Ranbir Kapoor of the small screen. The Kapoor lad did not become a star overnight and neither has Vivian. After a few outings in serials like Kasam Se, Vivian got noticed with his vampire act in Pyaar Ki Yeh Ek Kahaani. This serial based on the Twilight series got Vivian a lot of female fans. RK too has a huge female fan follwing. While Vivian's marriage to Vahbbiz Dorabjee has not made him less desireable to the ladies, the same applies to RK and Katrina. Vivian is currently riding the popularity wave (like RK post Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani) in Madhubala making a great pair with Dhrashti Dhami. The duo have some intense scenes and their crackling chemistry all but sets the screen on fire, much like Ranbir and Deepika Padukone. It's just the beginning, and Vivian is surely a lambi race ka ghoda! 

Vivian says, "I take it as a compliment. I like Ranbir's films. He is passionate about his work and it reflects in his performance. I also believe in working hard and in giving my best to my role."

Aamir Khan Ronit Roy
If Aamir Khan is said to have the Midas touch when it comes to choosing his films, Ronit Roy has one with his TV shows. If Aamir has no qualms about experimenting with his looks for his characters, neither has Ronit. From playing a grey-haired, suave, stylish businessman and father to three children in his debut Kasauti Zindagi Kay to sporting a moustached look in Bandini, Ronit has experimented with his characters and look in every serial. While most of his contemporaries shied away from hosting a cookery show, he hosted Kitchen Champions and set the ball rolling for others. Now, though the actor is busy with films, he is still ruling the small-screen with his outing as the peculiar but witty lawyer KD Pathak in Adalat. And yes, like Aamir, Ronit is known to be a perfectionist.

Ronit says, "Considering the fact that I have been with Aamir Khan in 2000 (as his bodyguard), I can only be very proud. He is my guide and teacher and I think somewhere the way I choose my roles is influenced by him. After all, what you learn remains in your subconscious. And yes, I am all for experimentation."

Hrithik Roshan Mohit Raina
Straight nose, a chiselled jawline, six-pack abs ' in short the perfect physique. He has a huge fan following that ranges from seven-year-old girls to 85-year-old grandparents who are happy just to catch a glimpse of him! Which actor comes to your mind? Hrithik Roshan? Mohit Raina aka Mahadev? Both wouldn't be wrong. If Mohit is playing Shiva in Devon Ke Dev Mahadev, Hrithik is said to be playing the Godly role in the film adaptation of Amish Tripathi's Immortals of Meluha. Like Hrithik, Mohit is also a good dancer trained in jive and hip-hop. For his role, he also learnt Kathak. Mohit is so popular that he recently even played a double role in the serial that got huge ratings. Hrithik, on the other hand, had played a double role right in his debut film Kaho Na Pyaar Hai and became an overnight sensation. Need we say more? 

Producer Nikhil Sinha says, "Mohit Raina is a dedicated and hard working actor. He's got into at least 70 get-ups by now and he has lot of patience. As a person he is still very rooted despite the success and huge fan following..."

Salman Khan - Karan Singh Grover
Smooth-talker, charmer, brat ' these are just a few adjectives preceding the Television hottie Karan Singh Grover. Add to it, his blow hot, blow cold relationship with the media and the mega muscles and Karan becomes the ideal candidate to be the Salman Khan of the small-screen. Karan is a self-confessed die-hard fan of Salman. Taking inspiration from his idol, Karan is heavily into body building and loves to flaunt it whenever he gets an opportunity. He's had a successful career and for the longest time was remembered for his outing as the fun-loving Dr Armaan Malik in Dill Mill Gaye. He is currently riding the wave of popularity as the anguished lover Asad in Qubool Hai.
Producer Gul Khan says, "Karan is a thorough gentleman, very sensitive and understanding. I think he has been misunderstood by the media. An extremely cooperative actor, he is a joy to work with. Apart from his penchant for body building I will have to think about similarities in Karan and Salman."

Akshay Kumar ' Siddharth Shukla
His personality, height and sporty demenour remind you of Akshay Kumar. What's more he's also a fitness freak just like the Khiladi. Siddharth Shukla aka Shiv of Balika Vadhu is the TV heartthrob thanks to his charming smile and twinkling eyes, something that he shares with Akshay. However, Siddharth hasn't exactly had a great beginning. He did two serials before Balika Vadhu catapulted him to fame. And now with his rocking dance performances in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, the actor is proving he has a Bollywood hero hidden in him!
Siddharth says, "I always liked the Khiladi star. The fact that Akshay followed martial arts made him macho. The best thing about the star is he's got a phenomenal comic timing. I also try and do martial arts but I am more into working out and weight training. Like Akshay I also try and rise early every day."

Ajay Devgn ' Anas Rashid
One look at Anas Rashid who is playing Sooraj in Diya Aur Baati Hum and you know he is the Ajay Devgn of TV. Intense and brooding. there's something in his eyes that rivets you. Sincere, earnest and passionate, they convey a lot with a look, just like Ajay's. Devgn is known to be a prankster on the sets. Anas' colleagues have the same thing to say about him. Like his big screen counterpart, he also plays pranks on his unsuspecting co-stars. Anas' Sooraj loves his wife Deepika so much that though he is illiterate he does all he can to fulfil his wife's dream of becoming an IAS officer. Reminds you of Ajay's selfless character in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, right?
Anas says, "While complimenting me for my role, many people compare me to Ajay. Even I loved his character, which is similar to mine. Initially, you underestimate the character but later he walks away with all the sympathy and empathy."