Actor ko actor ki tarah dekhna chahiye: Vishal

Vishal Jethwa agrees with Rupali Ganguly’s remark 

Shefali Fernandes

Actor Vishal Jethwa, known for his performances in Mardaani 2 and Homebound, has successfully transitioned from television to acclaimed roles in Hindi cinema. Recently, the actor shared his thoughts on fellow television actress Rupali Ganguly’s comments about how TV actors were once looked down upon, while today, the same artistes are being applauded for their work on television.

Vishal on TV actors being categorised

Reacting to Rupali’s remarks, in an exclusive conversation with The Free Press Journal at FICCI FRAMES 2026, Vishal agreed that actors are often categorised based on the platform they have worked on. He said, “Logon ka ek point of view hota hai ki, ‘Achha, TV actor hai, TV se hai.’ Toh woh mujhe thoda khatakta hai. Maine dekha hai ki kaafi log films mein kaam karte hain, aur unhe aisa lagta hai, ‘Achha, yeh TV actor hai,’ aur woh unhe categorise karte hain.”

‘Ek actor ko equal opportunity milni chahiye’

He added, “Mujhe aisa lagta hai ki actor ko actor ki tarah dekhna chahiye, aur kisi tarah ki category nahi deni chahiye, ki yeh TV actor hai, theatre actor hai, sirf ads karta hai ya sirf modelling karta hai, aur usse zyada kaam nahi karta. I think, woh ek change mujhe chahiye ki har ek actor ko equal opportunity milni chahiye, phir chahe woh kisi bhi platform par ya kisi bhi position par kaam kar raha ho.”

Vishal, who will next be seen alongside Saiyaara star Aneet Padda in Shakti Shalini, has reacted to reports surrounding the film’s release date. The horror-comedy is currently slated to hit theatres on December 24, 2026, which would see it clash with Shah Rukh Khan’s much-awaited King. Amid reports of a potential box-office clash, there has been speculation that the makers of Shakti Shalini are considering postponing the film to 2027 to avoid a direct face-off with King.

Reacting to the ongoing buzz, Vishal said, “Maine bhi sune hain rumours.” The actor, however, neither confirmed nor denied the reports and laughed off the speculation. With no official announcement from the makers so far, Shakti Shalini continues to be scheduled for a theatrical release on Dec 24, 2026.