Nikitin Dheer confesses he “did not get a single offer” for 11 months after Chennai Express 11 : Bollywood News

Actor Nikitin Dheer is currently captivating audiences as Ravan in the television show Shrimad Ramayan. However, the actor has a career peppered with notable roles, from Jodhaa Akbar to Rohit Shetty's blockbuster Chennai Express. While the latter film catapulted him to overnight recognition, Dheer's journey since then hasn't been without its hurdles. In a recent interview with The Times of India, Dheer recalled how Chennai Express made him feel like he had "arrived." However, despite the film's success, he faced a dry spell of over 11 months without work.

Nikitin Dheer confesses he “did not get a single offer” for 11 months after Chennai Express

Dheer recalled, “I had thought Chennai Express would be a movie that would change my life. While shooting for the film we had great vibes, we knew the film is going to do well. As actors you mostly get the feeling about your project. I was very sure and when the film opened it got one of the biggest openings of Shah Rukh Khan’s son and Deepika Padukone’s career and sidelined a lot of other films.”

He continued, “Overnight people started recognising me and I felt Chalo finally after so many years of hard work, now I’ve arrived. But you won’t believe for over a year, 11 months post release of Chennai Express, I had no work. I kept waiting and I did not get any offers at all. I did not get a single offer at that point of time. I thought I would get at least from the South if not from the Hindi film industry but there was no work.”

The actor further revealed the reasons cited for his lack of opportunities, citing his physical attributes: "too tall," "too fair," and even being told to "look less intimidating." Dheer's experience sheds light on the ongoing struggle against typecasting and body-shaming in the Indian film industry.

Determined to break free from the Thangaballi image, Dheer opted for reality shows like Khatron Ke Khiladi. This strategic move helped audiences see him beyond the one-dimensional villain, paving the way for diverse roles.

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