Eijaz Khan, Jennifer Winget, Barun Sobti: TV celebs who tried their luck in Bollywood but failed miserably

For all who have a passion for acting, Bollywood is their dream. No matter how big and popular you are on the small-screen, it is tough to make it big in movies! Here are a few TV celebs including Amar Upadhyay, Jennifer Winget, Rajeev Khandelwal, who left a successful TV career to try their luck in Bollywood but failed.

Eijaz Khan

Eijaz Khan appeared in music videos like 'Leena O Leena', 'Kuch To Kaho', 'Nachche Sari Raat' to name a few and even went on to do many commercials. Ekta Kapoor launched him and he was once her blue-eyed boy. Eijaz was seen in hit shows like Kkusum, Kahiin To Hoga, Kasamh Se and Kkavyanjali. It was Kkavyanjali that made him everyone's darling but soon he left TV for the Big Bollywood dream. He was seen playing a small role in Thakshak and followed it up with films like Maine Dil Tujhko Diya, Zameen, Just Married, Kuch Na Kaho and Zilla Ghaziabad. But they did nothing for his career. His film Lucky Kabootar was stuck for the longest time. But Eijaz has not been very lucky with films and his last two TV shows failed to garner good TRP. Eijaz is now back on TV with 'Yeh Moh Moh Ke Dhaagey', which is doing fairly well.

Jennifer Winget

She is one of the prettiest and glamorous actresses of the small screen. The actress, who began her career on TV as a child artist, went on to work in hit shows like
Saraswati Chandra, Shaka Laka Boom Boom, Kasautii Zindagi Kay, Dekh Bhai Dekh and many more. She also left her successful TV for filmi career and was seen opposite Kunal Kohli in ' Phir Se...' in 2015. Though she has acted in many movies but none could match the fame she got via small screen. She is now seen as an obsessive lover in Beyhadh.

Amar Upadhyay

Amar Upadhyay has been one of the biggest names on television, courtesy soap queen Ekta Kapoor, who gave him a big break with the show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Amar played the role of Mihir Virani and his character went on to become iconic, making him a household name. He catapulted to success almost overnight. Mihir had earlier done shows like Sapna Babul Ka...Bidaai, Viraasat, but it was Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi that brought him the fame. Mihir even went on to win major awards for his performance in the serial including Best Television Personality and Best Actor (Popular). He later quit the show and Ronit Roy took his place. Mihir then tried his hands at films and made his Bollywood debut with Dhund: The Fog and it flopped at the box office. Amar had earlier appeared in the film Censor directed and produced by Dev Anand, but played a very small role. Then he went on to do more films like Jodi Kya Banayi Wah Wah Ramji, 13B, Dahshat, Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge! and Lodi Road. But these films did nothing for his career. Amar Upadhyay is one of the most successful TV actors who failed in Bollywood.

Rajeev Khandelwal

Rajeev started his career as a model and was seen in the telefilm Kya Hadsaa Kya Haqeeqat. Rajeev became a household name with the super success of his show 'Kahiin To Hoga'. His role of Sujal was loved by all. He had a successful start in the world of television with shows like C.I.D. and Left Right Left. Rajeev's good looks and acting ability ensured that he became a hit with viewers and the actor soon tried his hands in Bollywood. He made his film debut with the critically acclaimed film Aamir. Rajeev was highly appreciated for his performance and was soon seen in Shaitan, again a critically acclaimed film. But with movies like Soundtrack , Will You Marry Me? and Table No.21, Rajeev's career failed to take off. Rajeev then made a comeback on the small screen as a TV reporter in the show 'Reporters.'

Aamna Sharif

Aamna began her career with modelling and also appeared in music videos. She debuted on TV with Ekta Kapoor's Kahiin To Hoga opposite Rajeev Khandelwal, and the show was an instant hit. She made her Bollywood debut with Aloo Chaat opposite Aftab Shivdasani. The film opened to mixed reviews and Aamna then went on to star in Aao Wish Karein opposite Aftab again. But these films did nothing to establish a stronghold for her in Bollywood. In an interview with The Times of India, Aamna had said, "I have no regrets about films I did. Experience teaches you a lot. I selected a few wrong projects but will be more careful from now on. It wasn't easy to shift from TV to films." Aamna then made a comeback to television after a hiatus with the show Honge Judaa Na Hum. But due to low TRPs, the show was taken off air. She played a small role in the Sidharth Malhotra, Riteish Deshmukh and Shraddha Kapoor starrer Ek Villain. She is currently enjoying motherhood and plans to make a comeback soon.

Anita Hassanandani

Anita Hassanandani had a successful career in television with hit shows like Kabhii Sautan Kabhii Sahelii, Kavyanjali and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Anita also played the role of Draupadi in Ekta Kapoor's Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki. Then Ekta also gave her a break in Bollywood with the 2003 thriller Kucch To Hai that also starred Tusshar Kapoor, Esha Deol, Natassha, Yash Tonk, Rishi Kapoor, Jeetendra and Moonmoon Sen. The film bombed at the box office. Anita was then seen in films like Yeh Dil, Koi Aap Sa, Just Married and had a small role in Ragini MMS 2. Anita's Bollywood career failed to take off as expected in spite of having the support of Ekta Kapoor. She's currently back to television with the show Yeh Hai Mohabbatein where she plays a negative character.

Apurva Agnihotri

TV has proved to be a safe option for those who couldn't make it in Bollywood and one amongst them is Apurva Agnihotri. Apurva made his debut with a promising role in the Shah Rukh Khan starrer Pardes. However after trying his luck in Bollywood for a few more years, Apurva decided to move to TV when his Bollywood career failed to take off. The actor was an instant hit on TV with shows like Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin, Biddai, Radha Ki Betiyaan Kuch Kar Dikhayengi. He was again seen in 'Ajeeb Dastan Hai Ye' opposite Sonali Bendre.

Ayub Khan

Despite being from a film family, Ayub Khan, nephew of yesteryear superstar Dilip Kumar, could not make it big in Bollywood. The actor did films like Salaami, Salma Pe Dil Aagaya but failed to win viewers hearts as a Bollywood actor. Ayub is more popular and a familiar face on TV.

Gurmeet Choudhary

Gurmeet rose to fame by playing the role of Lord Rama in 'Ramayana'. He was then seen in many reality shows like 'Pati, Patni Aur Woh', 'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa' and 'Nach Baliye'. Gurmeet was loved by many for his role of a strict boss in Geet Hui Sabse Parayi and people fell in love with his onscreen character Maan Singh Khurana. But Gurmeet also left the small screen to fullfill his Bollywood dreams and made his debut in 2005 with 'Koi Aap Sa' which couldn't do well. He was then seen in a few more movies like 'Khamoshiyaan' and recent release 'Laali Ki Shaadi Mein Laaddoo Deewana' and yes, these movies couldn't fair well in the theatres. But the actor is quite positive and he says "It is difficult (to achieve success in Bollywood) but it is not impossible to make a foothold in the film industry. It is difficult to get the kind of work you want to do. It is difficult to reach this far specially when you are not from a film family. But I have come a long way from being no one to doing television shows to films." Well, we think Gurmeet should concentrate back on TV.

Jay Bhanushali

One of the most popular TV actor Jay Bhanushali, became a household name after playing the role of Neev in 'Kayamath' on Star Plus. He is a known host and often seen on TV. Jay made his Bollywood debut with 'Platform No. 6' but his recent release 'Hate Story 2' was the most talked about and it did fair well at the box office. Hate Story was followed by 'Ek Paheli Leela' with Sunny Leone but it turned out to be a box office disaster. Jay was last seen in 'Khatron Ke Khiladi' season 7, we hope to see him soon on TV.

Barun Sobti

Barun rose to fame with 'Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon' opposite Sanaya Irani and became a household name. He also did shows like 'Dill Mill Gaye', 'Baat Hamari Pakki Hai' and more. Barun then took a break from small-screen and debuted in 'Mai Aur Mr. Right' which unfortunately turned out to be a big flop. Barun is back with a web-series now.

Rannvijay Singha

He became the first ever 'Roadie' and there was no looking back for Rannvijay. A popular face of small-screen, Rannvijay continued to be with 'Roadies' for the longest time. He then made his Bollywood debut with the film Toss: A Flip of Destiny which failed miserably. He also did a few other movies like 'London Dreams', 'Action Replayy', 'Mod', none of them worked well though. Rannvijay is again back with 'Roadies Rising' as one of the mentors.