18 August,2026 04:05 PM IST | Mumbai | Shruti Sampat
Shaleen Malhotra (Picture via Instagram)
Shaleen Malhotra is once again stepping into the shoes of an Army officer with a power-packed cameo in Gashmeer Mahajani and Erica Fernandes-starrer 108 Base Hospital-Uri. Known for his popular role as Karan Shergill in Ziddi Dil Maane Na, the actor says returning to a military character feels less like repetition and more like a compliment.
Speaking exclusively to mid-day, Malhotra said, "You always used to wonder as to what different can you bring to the table? What is so different about it? I think now it's more of a compliment for me that when I close my eyes, and if I think of anyone else doing a character like that, is it anyone else? No. So I think I made my mark pretty well in that context."
However, the actor believes that while certain qualities remain common to Army characters, every role can still have its own identity. "Apart from that, I think an Army officer is built on certain characteristics, which will always be the same no matter wherever you go. It's discipline, it's honesty, it's patriotism, it's sacrifice, sacrificial in nature, it's always putting the country first," he said.
According to Malhotra, the differences lie in the character's background, responsibilities, posting, regiment and expertise. "What different you bring to the table is the character, how different is the character's introduction in the show, how different is the character in terms of what his posting is, what his regiment is, what his expertise is," he explained.
Comparing Tegvir with his Ziddi Dil Maane Na character, Karan Shergill, Malhotra said, "Ziddi, I was a trainer. So there's a different responsibility on his shoulders as a character is different. It comes from a sense of guilt that he couldn't save his brother."
In 108 Base Hospital-Uri, however, Tegvir has a different personality and background. "He has a different way of dealing with things. He has a little more relaxed persona. But he's still one of those guys who are the most trained in the Indian Army," the actor said.
Describing the character further, Malhotra added, "Everyone knows that there's only one man who can do this job, and that's him." He also highlighted another departure from his earlier military roles. "This character is more out there, more spoken, more verbose. He has, he knows how to express himself," he said.
While keeping further details under wraps, Malhotra stressed that Tegvir has his own identity. "He's very different from Karan Shergill. He's Tegvir. And he has his own charm. He has his own qualities," he said. However, one quality remains constant. "At the end of the day, the quality of an Army man is always going to be the country first," Malhotra concluded.
