Sparsh Shrivastava’s Journey From A Reality Show to the Big Screen

Sparsh Shrivastava shares his raw journey from reality TV to redefining acting on the big screen.

Sparsh Shrivastava speaks about his move to Mumbai and his journey from a really show to the big screen. 

(Photo Courtesy: The Quint)

The Quint's podcast series, Tell Me All with Swati Chopra, brings you stories that are raw, personal, and honest.

In this episode, we shine the spotlight on Sparsh Shrivastava  — an actor whose journey began on a dance reality show at the age of 11, and has since taken him from television sets to the big screen.

You’ve seen him as the sharp and street-smart Sunny in Jamtara: Sabka Number Ayega, and more recently, as the gentle, soft-spoken Deepak in Laapataa Ladies. But in this candid conversation, Sparsh opens up about his early days in Mumbai — winning Chak Dhoom Dhoom, moving to Mumbai with just Rs 90,000 at the age of 19, and what he did when he was left with only Rs 3,000.

The reality show winner also talks about how his role in Balika Vadhu shaped him as an actor, why acting was never part of the original plan, the debate between star power and talent, and much more.

The actor, who made his way to Mumbai from Agra with Rs 90,000 at the age of 19, recalls his early days in the city - filled with uncertainty, hustle, and determination. He remembers his father being unsure about the decision, but he made the move anyway.

The actor remembers being scared when he ran out of money, “when I shifted to Mumbai, I remember there was a time when I had only Rs 3,000 left. I had to pay rent, but I had no money to do so.”

That was the day I cried in front of a small temple in my house in Mumbai. I couldn’t cry out loud because there were four other people living with me.

Sparsh Shrivastava, Actor

The Balika Vadhu actor also shared that acting was never a dream - it was something he grew to love only after the success of Jamtara: Sabka Number Ayega.

Sparsh who never formally trained as an actor, recalls how Sunny's character from the show affected him, "most actors get lost in their characters and forget who they are and that happened to me."

Sunny’s untrustworthy nature stayed with me, and it impacted how I interacted with people. That’s when I decided I had to draw a line — I couldn’t let myself get that immersed in a character again.

Sparsh Shrivastava, Actor

This experience made him reconsider method acting, and in Jamtara: Sabka Number Ayega Season 2 he changed his approach, "I distanced myself from the character — but that made it a little more difficult to portray him,” he said.

The Laapataa Ladies actor also weighed in on the industry's evolving equation with stardom, "the audience now wants an actor more than just a star — a good story over just big names. That’s why the industry is changing. We’re seeing both big and independent filmmakers cast new faces who fit the character.”

A big part of the industry that used to prioritise star power got a reality check after big films started getting shelved.

Sparsh Shrivastava, Actor

To hear the Duphiaya actor's untold story watch the video for more.