When I first came to Mumbai and got into Bollywood, I was very sure I wanted to focus on only that, otherwise people think you are doing too many things," says actor Prashantt Guptha, "but then I realised I can't wait for people to give me roles. I had to do all that I could, and show my multiple talents, and that way, more avenues would open up." Guptha has aced that formula. He has been around for a decade now, and only got his big break as a villian in the 2007 Prateik Babbar-starrer Isaaq. After that, he has acted in significant roles in movies like Neerja, the National award-winning Irada, and Identity Card.

The Rajasthani son of jeweller parents, Guptha was born and brought up in New York. The theatre student though always had Bollywood dreams and headed to Mumbai when he was 25 years old. Two years ago though, Guptha made a conscious decision not to only concentrate on acting, but also nurture other talents, for instance singing and poetry. Today, he is getting ready to release his second song on his YouTube channel, a cover of the Kishore Kumar hit Ruk Jaana Nahin for the legend's birthday on August 4.