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Himanshu Malhotra recalls watching Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani’s love story unfold on Shershaah sets: ‘We could sense it blooming’

In an exclusive interview with SCREEN, actor Himanshu Malhotra spoke about the romance that blossomed between Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani on the sets of Shershaah.

Himanshu Malhotra on Sidharth Malhotra Kiara Advani love story during Shershaah

Himanshu Malhotra recalls witnessing Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani's love story during the shoot of Shershaah.

TV actor Himanshu Malhotra has appeared in several popular films, including Shershaah starring Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani. In the film, he portrayed Major Rajiv Kapoor. In a recent conversation with SCREEN, Himanshu reflected on his experience working on Shershaah, recalling how they were filming in Kashmir when Article 370 was imposed, and witnessing the early sparks of romance between Sidharth and Kiara on set.

Sharing how he bagged the role in Shershaash, Himanshu said, “I had auditioned for a film for Kunal Kohli, but that didn’t happen, and I got slightly disappointed. Then I gave a test for a film, but I didn’t know it was for Shershaah. In the audition script, it was just written Captain Vikram, not even Batra was mentioned. I was in a different zone. Three months later, I got a call informing me that I was selected for a film called Shershaah by Dharma Productions, which was based on the 1999 Kargil War. I was playing Major Rajiv Kapoor in the film.”

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He even recalled how it was working with Sidharth Malhotra. “Working with Sidharth was very nice. He was very warm and cordial. We were in Kargil. I shot there for 20 days, and he was there for 30-32 days. Along with us, there was Nikitin Dheer, Shiv Pandit, we had all become like a unit. We used to jam in our free time because at that time, Article 370 was imposed in Kashmir. We were stuck in Kargil, and when the shoot used to get cancelled, we used to have music sessions from morning till night, and Sidharth was a part of that.”

Talking about seeing love blossom between Sidharth and Kiara during the film’s shoot, Himanshu said, “We didn’t know much about their love story, but we could sense it blooming. I think it was Palanpur where we saw both of them together. That’s where the funeral sequence was shot. That was the only time we saw Kiara, because after that we moved to Kargil. I think they must have just started then. We met them, took pictures, and all of us sat together. I think the spark must just have started over there, probably where they shot the Chandigarh part. It must have escalated there.”

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Himanshu Malhotra also recalled shooting in Kashmir back then and said, “Shooting was difficult then. It was a tense moment, but it was the only time we could shoot. That time, even the makers didn’t know that something like this was going to happen. Fortunately, the defence ministry, Dharma, and everyone else took care of us. We were surrounded by Army officers. We had some wonderful interactions with them. We were in a cocoon and were not supposed to move out too much, so we were either in our hotel or on location, but we were safe and being taken care of very well.”

Up next, Himanshu will be seen playing an antagonist along with Vivek Oberoi in Kesari Veer. The film is slated to release on May 31. He also has Rana Naidu Season 2 in the pipeline.

Nawaz Javed Kochra

Nawaz Javed Kochra is a seasoned entertainment journalist at The Indian Express Online, bringing nearly a decade of expertise to the forefront of cultural reporting. With a focus on the television and Over-The-Top (OTT) landscapes, he has established himself as a prominent voice in the industry, known for his high-profile celebrity interviews and insightful coverage of the Indian entertainment sector. Experience & Career Nawaz holds a Master of Arts in Communication and Journalism from Mumbai University, providing him with a rigorous academic and ethical foundation. In his 11-year career, he has navigated through several of India's leading media houses, building a portfolio that spans digital, print, and broadcast media: The Indian Express: Currently leads coverage of TV and OTT content, producing both written analysis and popular video interview segments. Former Roles: He began his career at the iconic Stardust Magazine and later held key positions at Zoom TV, Zee Multimedia, MissMalini, Bollywood Bubble, and Raindrop Media. Expertise & Focus Areas Nawaz’s beat is characterized by a blend of exclusive access and trend analysis. His core areas of expertise include: Reality Television: Specialized coverage of major franchises like Bigg Boss, providing behind-the-scenes insights and winner profiles. OTT Ecosystem: Tracking the shift from traditional cable to digital streaming platforms, with a focus on web series and digital premieres. Celebrity Profiles & Interviews: Nawaz is celebrated for his ability to foster candid conversations with industry stalwarts, from music composers like Amaal Mallik to other TV legends. Investigative Entertainment News: Reporting on sensitive industry developments, including legal disputes and personal stories of resilience within the acting community. Authoritativeness & Trust With a reputation built on years of networking and credible reporting, Nawaz Kochra is a "known face" in the Mumbai media circuit. His work at The Indian Express adheres to the publication's "Journalism of Courage" standard, ensuring that even entertainment reporting is approached with accuracy, sensitivity, and transparency. His educational background and extensive tenure across diverse media platforms provide him with the authoritative perspective required to analyze the rapid evolution of Indian show business. ... Read More

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