Shahid Kapoor’s debut, Ishq Vishk, one of the biggest hits of 2003, made all the film’s characters a household name. Vishal Malhotra’s best-friend-of-the-hero character, Mambo, became his entire identity in Bollywood. Starring alongside Shahid Kapoor and Amrita Rao, Malhotra was soon to leave the spotlight after a dispute with the producer. Berated in the fraternity for two years, Vishal Malhotra did not hesitate to bow out.
However, in a recent interview with Hindi Rush, Malhotra recalled his 30-year career in the film industry. He still does not have a car to his name, but only the popular toilet brand, Harpic, associated with his name. Noting his decision not to purchase a car yet as a wise financial choice, the brand endorsements have given him most of his economic security.
‘I had no work for two years. I was very scared’
After his fallout with the popular producer, Malhotra recalled that he had “no work for two years,” and was “very scared.” While this setback did not become an obstacle to financial freedom, Malhotra soon realised to create a different path for himself.
He started his own business and protected his finances, noted the Vicky Vetaal actor. Today, he may only be known for his characters on screen, and not his real name, but he became an unforgettable part of Harpic’s ad campaign.
‘People get lost in glamour’
However, it was not all smooth sailing. People around him were concerned about how his image may be affected after his association with Harpic, a toilet brand, he noted. “However, the biggest reason I took up the ad is because until Harpic, people recognised me as Mambo, Vetaal, and John, but after Harpic, they recognised me as Vishal,” he said.
Malhotra claimed that Harpic paid him a lot of money, “So much that I bought a nice house in a location like Bandra,” he exclaimed. Elaborating on why he hadn’t purchased a car yet, he said, “You should buy a luxury car only when you have ten times its actual price saved in the bank. Otherwise, it makes no sense.”
He emphasised financial security and having a backup for every artist. “People get lost in glamour,” he remarks, pointing out the burdens of paying EMIs for an average breadwinner.