Rare photos of OTT stars before they became household names
Before they became OTT sensations, Jitendra Kumar, Mithila Palkar, Sumeet Vyas, Shriya Pilgaonkar and Amol Parashar had remarkably different lives. Take a look at their rare throwback photos and inspiring journeys to fame.
Today, they dominate our watchlists and social media feeds, but long before the fame, fan edits and blockbuster web series, these actors were navigating college life, corporate jobs and endless auditions. From IIT graduates who traded stable careers for the spotlight to theatre actors who spent years chasing their big break, their journeys to OTT stardom are anything but ordinary.
As these rare throwback photos show, every star has a beginning. Here's a look at what some of India's most popular OTT faces were doing before they became household names.
Amol Parashar
Not many people walk away from a promising corporate career, but Amol Parashar did exactly that. The IIT Delhi graduate left behind a secure professional future to pursue acting in Mumbai—a decision that came with plenty of uncertainty.
His gamble paid off when he appeared as the effortlessly cool Chitvan Sharma in TVF's Tripling. The character became an instant fan favourite, turning Amol into one of the internet's most loved actors and proving that sometimes the biggest risks bring the biggest rewards.
Mithila Palkar
Mithila Palkar's rise to fame began with a cup, a song and a viral moment. Her rendition of the popular Cup Song took the internet by storm in 2016, instantly introducing her to millions of viewers.
That online popularity opened the door to a string of digital projects before she landed the role of Kavya Kulkarni in Little Things. The show's relatable take on modern relationships made it a fan favourite and helped establish Mithila as one of the defining faces of India's OTT boom.
Sumeet Vyas
Before OTT platforms transformed Indian entertainment, Sumeet Vyas was quietly putting in the hard yards on Mumbai's theatre circuit. Years of stage performances sharpened his craft, even though mainstream recognition remained elusive. And started his career with DD National.
Everything changed with Permanent Roommates in 2014. As the lovable and overenthusiastic Mikesh Chaudhary, Sumeet became one of the first actors to prove that web series stars could enjoy the same popularity as television and film celebrities. The rest, as they say, is digital history.
Shriya Pilgaonkar
Being born into a family of actors may open doors, but Shriya Pilgaonkar chose to carve her own path. Rather than chasing conventional Bollywood launches, she focused on independent films and digital projects that allowed her talent to speak for itself.
Her portrayal of Sweety Gupta in Mirzapur may have been brief, but it left a lasting impact. The role quickly made her a fan favourite and paved the way for critically acclaimed projects such as Guilty Minds, where she showcased her range as a leading actor.
Jitendra Kumar (Jeetu Bhaiya)
It's difficult to imagine Panchayat's beloved Sachiv Ji anywhere other than on screen, but Jitendra Kumar's life once revolved around engineering textbooks rather than scripts. An IIT Kharagpur graduate, he was studying Civil Engineering when fellow alumnus and TVF creative director Biswapati Sarkar spotted his talent.
Before becoming one of OTT's most bankable stars, Jeetu juggled a corporate job while appearing in TVF sketches and YouTube videos. His relatable charm and effortless performances eventually made him the face of a new generation of digital storytelling.
Dhruv Sehgal
Unlike many actors who entered the industry dreaming of stardom, Dhruv Sehgal's journey began behind the camera. He worked as a writer, researcher and assistant director, focusing on storytelling rather than acting. In fact, he originally conceived and wrote Little Things as a series of short, low-budget internet episodes, with no plans of becoming its leading man.
However, audiences quickly fell in love with his effortless chemistry with Mithila Palkar. His portrayal of Dhruv Vats, a relatable young man navigating love and adulthood, struck a chord with viewers and transformed him into one of OTT's most beloved romantic leads. What started as a passion project eventually became one of India's most successful digital love stories.
Ahsaas Channa
Today, Ahsaas Channa is one of the most recognisable faces in India's digital entertainment space, earning the unofficial title of the "Queen of Indian Web Series". While many viewers know her from a string of popular OTT shows, her rise to prominence came through consistently delivering memorable performances in youth-centric content.
Over the years, she has become a familiar presence in some of the country's biggest digital hits, including Kota Factory, Girls Hostel, The Interns and Mismatched. Her ability to portray relatable, emotionally grounded characters has made her a favourite among Gen Z audiences and cemented her status as one of the defining stars of India's web-series era.
Today, they dominate our watchlists and social media feeds, but long before the fame, fan edits and blockbuster web series, these actors were navigating college life, corporate jobs and endless auditions. From IIT graduates who traded stable careers for the spotlight to theatre actors who spent years chasing their big break, their journeys to OTT stardom are anything but ordinary.
As these rare throwback photos show, every star has a beginning. Here's a look at what some of India's most popular OTT faces were doing before they became household names.
Amol Parashar
Not many people walk away from a promising corporate career, but Amol Parashar did exactly that. The IIT Delhi graduate left behind a secure professional future to pursue acting in Mumbai—a decision that came with plenty of uncertainty.
His gamble paid off when he appeared as the effortlessly cool Chitvan Sharma in TVF's Tripling. The character became an instant fan favourite, turning Amol into one of the internet's most loved actors and proving that sometimes the biggest risks bring the biggest rewards.
Mithila Palkar
Mithila Palkar's rise to fame began with a cup, a song and a viral moment. Her rendition of the popular Cup Song took the internet by storm in 2016, instantly introducing her to millions of viewers.
That online popularity opened the door to a string of digital projects before she landed the role of Kavya Kulkarni in Little Things. The show's relatable take on modern relationships made it a fan favourite and helped establish Mithila as one of the defining faces of India's OTT boom.
Sumeet Vyas
Before OTT platforms transformed Indian entertainment, Sumeet Vyas was quietly putting in the hard yards on Mumbai's theatre circuit. Years of stage performances sharpened his craft, even though mainstream recognition remained elusive. And started his career with DD National.
Everything changed with Permanent Roommates in 2014. As the lovable and overenthusiastic Mikesh Chaudhary, Sumeet became one of the first actors to prove that web series stars could enjoy the same popularity as television and film celebrities. The rest, as they say, is digital history.
Shriya Pilgaonkar
Being born into a family of actors may open doors, but Shriya Pilgaonkar chose to carve her own path. Rather than chasing conventional Bollywood launches, she focused on independent films and digital projects that allowed her talent to speak for itself.
Her portrayal of Sweety Gupta in Mirzapur may have been brief, but it left a lasting impact. The role quickly made her a fan favourite and paved the way for critically acclaimed projects such as Guilty Minds, where she showcased her range as a leading actor.
Jitendra Kumar (Jeetu Bhaiya)
It's difficult to imagine Panchayat's beloved Sachiv Ji anywhere other than on screen, but Jitendra Kumar's life once revolved around engineering textbooks rather than scripts. An IIT Kharagpur graduate, he was studying Civil Engineering when fellow alumnus and TVF creative director Biswapati Sarkar spotted his talent.
Before becoming one of OTT's most bankable stars, Jeetu juggled a corporate job while appearing in TVF sketches and YouTube videos. His relatable charm and effortless performances eventually made him the face of a new generation of digital storytelling.
Dhruv Sehgal
Unlike many actors who entered the industry dreaming of stardom, Dhruv Sehgal's journey began behind the camera. He worked as a writer, researcher and assistant director, focusing on storytelling rather than acting. In fact, he originally conceived and wrote Little Things as a series of short, low-budget internet episodes, with no plans of becoming its leading man.
However, audiences quickly fell in love with his effortless chemistry with Mithila Palkar. His portrayal of Dhruv Vats, a relatable young man navigating love and adulthood, struck a chord with viewers and transformed him into one of OTT's most beloved romantic leads. What started as a passion project eventually became one of India's most successful digital love stories.
Ahsaas Channa
Today, Ahsaas Channa is one of the most recognisable faces in India's digital entertainment space, earning the unofficial title of the "Queen of Indian Web Series". While many viewers know her from a string of popular OTT shows, her rise to prominence came through consistently delivering memorable performances in youth-centric content.
Over the years, she has become a familiar presence in some of the country's biggest digital hits, including Kota Factory, Girls Hostel, The Interns and Mismatched. Her ability to portray relatable, emotionally grounded characters has made her a favourite among Gen Z audiences and cemented her status as one of the defining stars of India's web-series era.
