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What Shenaz and Malaika have in common
Like modelling, veejaying is turning out to be another stepping stone to the movies.
It's just a matter of time, really for these hip and happening 20-somethings to progress to films. Take Shenaz Treasurywala, for example.
The popular host of MTV's Most Wanted and travel writer did a course at New York's Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute before landing a role in Ishq Vishq, a love triangle co-starring Shahid Kapoor and Amrita Rao.
She bites the acting bullet again in her latest movie Radio, opposite Himesh Reshammiya, releasing this Friday.
Like Shenaz, there have been other veejays, who have been bitten by the acting bug. We take a look at a few.
Sophie Choudry
This gold medalist from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art was studying politics at the Sciences Po, a political institute in Paris when she became a VJ for Zee UK.
Her flair of languages -- she can speak English, Hindi, Urdu, French and Italian -- and the fact that she is a trained dancer in bharat natyam, kathak and salsa and singer gave her an edge over the others.
After her all girl band Sansara disbanded, Sophie went solo and moved to Mumbai to become a VJ for MTV India. Her advice on the popular show MTV Loveline was lapped up by fans, who also loved her music albums Babylove and Ek Pardesi Mera Dil Legaya.
Very soon the arc lights beckoned which resulted in films like Pyaar Ke Side Effects, Kidnap, Aa Dekhen Zara, Daddy Cool and a guest appearance Chintu-ji.
So what can we expect from Sophie? Well, she hasn't given up on music and is working on her new album. And yes, more films are happening.
Nauheed Cyrusi
This 20-something veejay initially wanted to become an air hostess before fear of flying grounded her dreams.
Showbiz, however, was just around the corner. After a brief stint in modelling, music videos and veejaying for MTV, Nauheed made her film debut in Padam Kumar's Supari, starring Uday Chopra and Rahul Dev.
Even though the film flopped, Nauheed got another chance at Bollywood when director Vikram Bhatt chose her for Inteha, opposite Ashmit Patel.
Other films followed like choreographer-turned-director Ahmed Khan's Lakeer, starring Sunny Deol, John Abraham, Sunil Shetty and Sohail Khan; Manish Jha's Anwar starring Manisha Koirala and Siddharth Koirala; Life Mein Kabhie Kabhiee, starring Aftab Shivdasani and Dino Morea; and this year's Kisaan, which starring Jackie Shroff, Sohail Khan, Arbaaz Khan and Diya Mirza and Main Aurr Mrs Khanna.
Besides Hindi films, Nauheed has also dabbled in a Telugu movie called Sakhiya.
Shruti Seth
Before landing the role of Fatty in Fanaa, Shruti was a veejay for Channel [V].
Shruti has also starred in films like Ta Ra Rum Pum and Jhoom Barabar Jhoom and television serials like Kyon Hota Hai Pyaar, Des Mein Nikla Hoga Chand and Shararat.
Malaika Arora Khan
Okay, she's not exactly an actress. More like an item girl, in fact.
Anyway, Malaika was one of the veejays for MTV when they first set up shop in India. Very soon she got herself a fan following after anchoring shows like Love Line and Style Check.
Modelling followed and she excelled in that as well, which led to many advertisements and item numbers like Chaiyya Chaiyya in Dil Se, Maahi Ve in Kaante and Kaal Dhamaal in Kaal.