I grew up in Delhi, Kolkata gave me a career and Mumbai made my dream a reality : Nishant Malkani

Miley Jab Hum Tum is one of the most popular youth serials on Indian television today. Understandably, the characters of the show are also equally popular. However, no one has won the hearts of viewers in such a short span of time like Nishant Malkani. The actor who plays Adhiraj has sniffed success in less than four months. Malkani spoke to TellyChakkar at length on his background, foray into acting and future plans. Tell us something about your background. I am originally from Delhi and got into the glamour world by sheer chance. After my graduation I went to Kolkata to study hotel management, but moved into modelling instead! A chance meeting with a model coordinator led me to get my portfolio done free of cost! I signed a two-year contract with a modeling agency and in no time, I started getting offers for ramp walks, commercials and print ads. I was even offered the lead role in a Bengali film. I could not take that up because I didn’t want it to affect my studies. Talking about studies, is it true you are an IIM-C alumnus? Yes, I completed my post graduation – an executive programme in insurance and management – from IIM. To be very frank, I was never good in my studies till I reached Class XII and came in touch with my favourite teacher in Lakshman Public School. She is like my mother and I called her ‘Ma’. She transformed me completely during my plus two and I scored 90 per cent and above in all subjects. Later,I joined Shahid Bhagat Singh College to complete my graduation in Economics. After that I went to Kolkata to study hotel management. Instead, I did a course in IIM and changed my career completely. I love Kolkata for that. How did you get a role in Miley Jab Hum Tum? Last September, I was walking the ramp for Kolkata-based designer Debaroon Mukherjee and got a call from my agency. They told me that Endemol was looking for a newcomer for Miley Jab Hum Tum and I had been shortlisted and had to go to Mumbai for an audition. After the audition, I was on my way back to Kolkata when I got a call informing me I had been selected! That is how television started for me. It has been just four months since you started acting. How has the journey been so far? The whole gang of Miley Jab Hum Tum is young. We all are great pals and there is no sense of competition amongst us. Since it is a college-centric show, the lighter moments of life are reflected in reel and real life. Though I am a late entrant, it took me little time to mix with the others. I am particularly close to Abhishek Sharma and Anupriya Kapoor. You have lived in three out of the four metros in India. Which do you like the most? It is very difficult to answer this because I have spent different phases of my life in each city. Delhi saw me grow up, while Kolkata gave me a career. And finally, Mumbai made my dream a reality! Though I have been in Mumbai for more than four months, I have hardly been able to see any tourist spots because of my erratic schedule. Hopefully in the next few weeks, I will be able to visit some of them.