Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 13, 2016)
Twelve years after the curtains came down on the hit TV show, Shaka Laka Boom Boom, its protagonist, Sanju, played by a then 12-year-old Kinshuk Vaidya, is making a comeback to "the only career he knows". Kinshuk, whose Sanju owned a magical pencil that would bring everything it drew to life in the Vijay Krishna Acharya-directed show, recalls how being a child actor gave him the opportunity to work with stalwarts like BR Chopra and Ravi Chopra and also act alongside Ajay Devgn, Kajol and Rishi Kapoor in the 2000-drama, Raju Chacha. "The best thing about being a child actor was the exposure I got, something even people struggling in the industry for 30 years don't get. I was sure even back then that I wanted to become an actor. I had lots of offers for more roles back then, but I was entering the 10th grade and chose to complete my education," he recalls.
Cut to 2016 and the 25-year-old comes armed with a degree in advertising and a Kavita Barjatya project aka Rajshri production in his kitty. "But I am not playing Prem, I am Aryan," he quips. Kinshuk had auditioned with Kavita Barjatya in February and received a call later, saying she would like to re-launch him with a modern-day love story unfolding in a family drama on television. An enthused Kinshuk green-lit the project titled Ek Rishta Saajhedari Ka, which will also feature Miss Shimla 2013, Shivya Pathania and air in July.
Kinshuk points out that he is no longer the chubby kid from a decade ago and is gearing up for films too. "I keep hearing 'Oh you're that boy', 'My God, you've grown from cute to sexy.' I've been sweating it out for long and fitness has become an important part of my life. I hope to balance my film and TV career simultaneously," he asserts.