TV actors finally crossover into Bollywood

There was a time TV actors found it hard to establish a foothold among the stars of Bollywood, but the tide has turned and the likes of Prachi Desai and Sushant Singh Rajput have blazed a trail in filmdom.

Here's looking at actors who have lately made the crossover without tripping over their ambitions.

Sushant Singh Rajput: He was a household name on television with his lover boy's act in in "Pavitra Rishta", in which he formed a long-term rishta, pavitra one hopes, with his co-star Ankita Lokhande. Sushant got a dream break on the large-screen in Abhishek Kapoor's "Kai Po Che!".

He has a strong follow-up with Yash Raj Film's "Shuddh Desi Romance", being directed by Maneesh Sharma. But he must guard against excessive hype and publicity.

Vidya Balan: So far the only television female actor to crossover into celluloid superstardom, Vidya started her career as the mousy sibling in Asok Saraf and Priya Tendulkar's wacked-out family on "Hum Paanch".

She makes the right bold career choices.

Ayushmann Khurrana: Television anchor Ayushmann made a brilliant crossover from home medium to cinema with "Vicky Donor". He has a Yash Raj Film and Aditya Chopra is raving about him. But his second film "Nautanki Saala" was a bit of a bummer and apparently he has acquired the reputation of being too big for his boots.

Prachi Desai: From being Balaji Telefilms' blue-eyed babe, Prachi made it to the big screen with "Rock On" and "Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai".

She has been in a number of successful films since her debut and is known to be professional and dependable but has too sober an image. More the-girl-next-door than the babe on the beach. In fact, all television actresses come with a conservative image to cinema, which they find hard to break.

Rhehaan Khan: A.K.A. Gaurav Chanana. Shot to fame as Dr Mihir Mishra in the medical soap "Sanjeevani". Took a long break, made a few errors of judgement regarding his film career and returned on the big screen with renewed confidence as Preity Zinta's 'other' in "Ishkq In Paris".

Though the film tanked, Preity has super confidence in Rhehaan. She has offered him another production.

His earlier films "Woh Tera Naam Ttha" and "Kajrare" were disasters and so is "Ishkq In Paris".

Pulkit Samrat: Shot to fame as Lakshya Virani in the long-running soap 'Kyunki...Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi".

He is backed by the biggest Bollywood names from Farhan Akhtar to Salman Khan, but he made a disastrous movie debut in "Bittoo Boss". Pulkit gets a new lease of screen life in "Fukrey".