From first paycheck invested in Reliance Industries shares to toilet cleaner ads. How Shahid Kapoor co-star bought a Mumbai house

For Vishal Malhotra, the 2003 film Ishq Vishk was the turning point in his life, which also introduced Shahid Kapoor and Amrita Rao to Bollywood. While Shahid went on to become a leading star, Vishal found himself repeatedly cast in similar roles, often as the hero’s close friend. He became popularly known as “Mambo,” a character that stuck with him for years. Recently, the actor opened up about his first film, how he bought a house in Mumbai and lost work due to ego issues.

Vishal on Harpic advertisement and investing money early on

Frustrated with being typecast, Vishal decided to ask for different kinds of roles. However, this decision did not sit well with a powerful producer, who reportedly took it personally. As a result, Vishal lost some of the projects and faced a dry spell in his career, not getting any work for nearly two years. He described this experience as a harsh lesson, realising how difficult the industry can be when someone influential decides to block your path.



He rethink his career and finances and decided to treat acting more as a passion rather than his sole source of income. Then, he started exploring other ways to secure his future. One of his boldest moves was endorsing Harpic, a toilet cleaning brand, despite initial hesitation about how it might affect his image. He said the main reason for accepting the Harpic ad was to be recognised by his real name, not just by the characters he played. Remember the iconic one liner from the ad?

He told Hindi Rush, "Today Shah Rukh Khan is its brand ambassador.” According to Vishal, Harpic paid him a lot of money and with that he "bought a nice house in a location like Bandra.”

Interestingly, despite his long career, Vishal does not own a car. He prefers using Uber or his electric bicycle for commuting, believing that buying an expensive car doesn’t make sense unless you have substantial savings to support it. He explained that paying hefty monthly installments on luxury cars can be a financial burden and that it’s smarter to invest that money wisely instead.

Vishal also credits his parents for teaching him the value of financial planning early on. During the interview, he revealed, "I started investing money very early in my life. Thanks to my father for that. Like any typical Hindi film, I too went to my mom with my first ever pay cheque when she asked me to invest in Reliance Industries shares for Rs 715 and I will be very happy."

About Vishal's work front

Beyond acting, Vishal has made a name for himself in television with shows, including Disney Hour, Hip Hip Hurray, and Vicky and Vetaal. He later ventured into production, launching his own company and producing ILM, the world’s first NFT-funded film, which received praise from both audiences and critics.

Apart from his professional work, Vishal is a fitness enthusiast and runs a popular YouTube channel where he shares his thoughts on movies, astrology, finance, and politics. He also has a podcast called The Vishal Hour.