Sharad Malhotra has always loved playing lead roles; he will soon be sharing the story of ACP Vikrant Singh.

News Topical, Digital Desk : Instead of conforming to a set pattern, actor Sharad Malhotra is one of those artists who prefers to follow his own instincts. He hasn't fit into any mold in television, nor will he be when working on digital platforms.

Why do you always choose lead roles?

Sharad will be seen in the upcoming web series ACP Vikrant on Balaji Telefilms' OTT platform, Cutting. Playing a lead role has always been important to him, which is why, from TV to web series, he's consistently played lead roles. Sharad says that playing a lead role pushes him to work harder. He left home and came to Mumbai 20-22 years ago to do just that. Had he sat there, worried about how he would manage, he wouldn't have moved forward.

Sharad further said that you have to take responsibility for the lead role. I've played lead roles since the beginning. Unless I take that responsibility, I don't feel that energy. The good thing about this show was that the content was good and the director was excellent, so everything fell into place.

Many actors have left TV and distanced themselves from it forever. Could Sharad do the same?

To this, he says, "I've always said that television is my first love, my first beloved. But I believe in content. If it's fun to do, I'll do it. When I heard the story of ACP Vikrant, it was a layered role. He's a police officer, but he has a backstory. He's been off duty for two years, then he's called in to solve a case."

In this, I play a father to a daughter. I hadn't played a father in the last 20 years. I have the ability to do all this, but no director had ever touched this aspect before.

So do you feel bad that the industry always wants to fit the artist into a niche?

Sharad further adds, "The mold is his own, they may try to fit him, but I do what I want, I'm a free-spirited person. There have been many instances where I've taken on roles that others have rejected, saying they wouldn't suit them. People have loved them. Even the role of ACP Vikrant wasn't written for me. I saw an opportunity in it."

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