by Shaheen Raaj

Nimai Bali, the veteran small screen actor, a man of a very humble, down to earth & pleasing persona has already scored one and a half century of his romance with the small screen (Read serials). In fact he is popularly known as not only the Big B of the small screen arena but also considered as the Blue Eyed Boy of all the Satellite Channels put together namely Star Plus, Zee Tv, Sony Tv, Colors et al. In fact since the last one and a half decade not a single day has elapsed when he has not donned the grease paint or faced the arc lights so what if it was only for the small screen and not the big screen. Besides Nimai Bali is also vary of boasting about his relational lineage. The departed actor Sunil Dutt happens to be his uncle, Sanjay Dutt his immediate cousin and last but not the least the ‘Hum Aapke Hain Kaun?’ fame actress Sahila Chadha happens to be his better half who has also given him a lovely and a most precious gift of Princess, his one & only daughter.

How about revealing some nuggets of your small screen endeavor to start off with?

To be very frank i was supposed to get a dream launch on the celluloid silver screen with a dream role in a dream film named ‘Messiah’ to be made by my uncle, the Late Sunil Dutt. But unfortunately this remained a distant dream for reasons best known to God – The Almighty.

And then?

And then fortunately for me began my small screen journey which is still going strong and uninterrupted since the last one and a half decade. In fact not a single day has elapsed when I have not donned the grease paint or faced the arc lights. So what if it was only for the small screen and not the celluloid silver screen.

Now how about elaborating on your small screen achievements in a nutshell?

Well! I had began my career on the small screen by playing the role of Surya in the famous TV series ‘Chandrakanta’. And then I went on to play a detective in the TV series ‘CID: Special Bureau’ & also ‘CID’. And then came the phase of me getting involved in mytho series. In fact I became well-known for portraying Pawan Dev (God of the Winds) & Monkey Emperor Bali in the 1997-2000 television serial ‘Jai Hanuman’, directed by Sanjay Khan.

Not only these I also played Duryodhana in Sanjay Khan’s miniseries ‘Maha Kavya Mahabharat’ in 2001. Besides these I have also acted in varied other mytho serials like ‘Om Namah Shivay’, ‘Jai Jai Bajrang Bali’ et al. And then began the phase of social serials like ‘Bhabhi’, ‘Kumkum’, ‘Doli Sajaa Ke Rakhna’, ‘Amber Dhara’, ‘Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki’, ‘Yug’, ‘Bani…….Ishq Da Kalma’ et al. The list is endless.

Are you content with your small screen journey so far?

Of course, you bet I am contented. I think I would be lying through my teeth if I said no. Tell me which other small screen actor has had such a long, chequered & illustrious career on the small screen. In fact I am popularly known as the Big B of the small screen arena, the Blue Eyed Boy of all the Satellite Channels put together namely Star Plus, Zee TV, Sony TV, Colors et al.

Any regrets?

Having lost out earlier on the Colors Channel’s ‘Balika Vadhu’ because I had got the offer when the Colors Channel was still in its infancy and I was then vary of working in new & unknown channels. But I have rectified my mistake by welcoming offers from one & all with open arms. In fact my currently ongoing serial is Colors Channel’s ‘Balika Vadhu’.

So when are you going to start your affair with the big screen?

I had ventured out earlier on big screen with ‘Refugee’ & ‘Dil Ka Doctor’. But I think I will be lucky with my hat trick outing in ‘Rahasya’. You see after romancing with the small screen (150 Serials Not Out) I have just started my affair with the big screen with ‘Rahasya’ as a freaky Maharashtrian cop. And believe me I am just loving it. It was recently released and my role in it was highly appreciated and even considered as award worthy by critics & fans alike.”