He has the right looks. And the right intentions. Whether he has the all important right talent to make it big in Bollywood, is something we will have wait and watch out for. But, if Shah Rukh Khan and E Niwas are to be trusted, this young lad is all set to become the next big phenomenon in Bollywood.

Nikhil Dwivedi— being touted as the new star in the making— is all set to make his debut in E Niwas’s next film.

How does it feel to get a break in such a big production? “It’s not exactly a SRK production. His company is the line producer for this production.” A line production house is expected to arrange for all logistics and crew and is a common concept in the West.

“E Niwas is the producer and director who is also directing the film”, says Nikhil. He seems to have a resemblance with a number of Bollywood heroes. “That’s a common phenomenon in the industry. When Salman Khan did Maine Pyar Kiya, people started comparing him with Sanjay Dutt. Similarly, when Shah Rukh started working, people started comparing him with Dilip Kumar! But I hope to build my own identity soon,” says the dashing hero.
So how did he get this offer? “I met E Niwas in a party and after a brief chit chat he offered me a seven-minute role in one of his films,” remembers Nikhil. To E Niwas’ surprise, the young wannabe star declined his offer. “I told him I want a lead role,” says Nikhil. The gamble worked when E Niwas came back to him after ten months with the lead role in My Name is Antony Gonsalves.

How similar is the role to him in real life? “If you really think of it, it’s similar to anybody and everybody. Some of us achieve some part of it. But the pursuit of dreams never ends. If we achieve something in our life, we just don’t stop and say that’s it. We have another dream to pursue. That’s how life moves on,” says Nikhil.

At the young age of 23, Nikhil has won a National Award. For a person who wanted to start off his career in the corporate world, how did this happen? “I was all set to complete my academics and go for a regular job. I did my MBA and specialised in Finance and Marketing management. Coming from a middle class family, films were never an option,” explains Nikhil. “My parents were very strict, and they would have never encouraged with my film career since they believed in education and living an honest life after that. It was purely by accident that I stumbled upon a director who gave me a break!”

Nikhil, apparently, always wanted to do something big in showbiz. “My family was not aware when I attended the audition for this role and they came to know only after I started shooting for this film,” says Nikhil with a mischievous smile. “Now they are happy for me and praying!”  

Why does he think people will like My Name...? He promptly responds, “I think director E Niwas is very good at narrating a story. He is very good at involving the audience in the film. That is one of the primary reasons of people wanting to watch E Niwas films. Plus national award-winning actors like Mithun Chakraborty, Pawan Malhotra, Anupam Kher and Lillette Dubey are involved in the movie. To get a chance to work in this project is a big achievement for me.”

How does the storyline go? “The film is about a young boy who has many dreams and wants to make them true.

He is an ordinary and honest man. But due to certain circumstances in his life, people around him want to stop him from doing so. The story is about how he overcomes them,” says Nikhil. How did it feel working with Amrita Rao? A smiling Nikhil responds, “She is a wonderful co-star. Though five years senior to me, she always made me feel comfortable.

A very helpful and sincere person, I really hope she proves lucky for me too.” Nikhil feels, he is not a methodical actor. “I am a spontaneous actor. A good script helps me when it comes to acting.” How different is showbiz from the corporate industry? Is he feeling a wee bit uneasy? “It is different. That way, any industry is different from the other. At the risk of sounding cliched, I must tell you that I don’t consider myself as a stranger in this industry. I have always dreamt about this world of glamour.”

Nikhil is now gearing up for his second film — Arjun — remake of the Sunny Deol starrer.