mid-day's 42nd anniversary: Actor earns viral fame

Shikha Malhotra 27The actor who is a trained nurse joined BMCrsquos Covid team after the lockdown last year only to see her fortunes taking a massive leapAs it upended countless lives the pandemic turned Shikha Malhotrarsquos fledgling acting career on its head The trained nurse decided to take up a job at a BMC hospital after last yearrsquos lockdown What followed was beyond her imaginationldquoI had done a couple of movies but was not known After I started working in a Covid hospital during the first lockdown I got fame and respect In the past oneandahalf years I have received awards appreciation and now I am known across the world as an actorturnednurse Covid has changed my life foreverrdquo said the 27yearold actorOriginally from Delhi Malhotra has acted in Bollywood films like Running Shaadi and Fan apart from featuring in Punjabi and south Indian movies She featured in the HindiRajasthani movie Kaanchli that released on February 7 2020 A month later the virus brought the nation to a grinding haltShikha has played the lead role in Kaanchli apart from being a part of Running Shaadi Fan and Punjabi and south Indian moviesThough she had completed a nursing course from Delhirsquos Vardhman Mahavir Medical College Malhotra was more focussed on a career in movies Left with no work she began approaching hospitals with her nursing certificates Finally she heard from the BMC on March 26ldquoI started working at Balasaheb Thackerey civic hospital in Jogeshwari like any other nurse But everything changed after midday published a story about me National and international media acknowledged my efforts and praised merdquo said Malhotra But there was a twist in her fairytale ldquoI contracted Covid in October I was admitted for a month and was sinking but BMC doctors did their best and saved my liferdquo she saidAfter recovering from Covid Malhotra realised Kaanchli had drawn more than 50 lakh views on YouTube Although she was thrilled her health received another setbackldquoI had a stroke and was paralysed on the left side I was taken to Cooper Hospital where BMC officials and doctors made sure I got the best treatment When the news broke sympathy and wishes poured in I donrsquot think I wouldrsquove received this kind of love had I been working in the movies for even 10 yearsrdquo Malhotra saidShe was felicitated by the state government as a Covid warrior and commended by the Governor on Maharashtra Day And then in a sweet marriage of both her professions she landed a commercial that featured her as an emergency room nurse ldquoThis was incredible Like any other struggling actor I wanted to feature on TV and the big screen Now I am known as an actor who did Covid work Views for my films have crossed 75 lakh which is as good as any blockbuster movierdquoShe is now focussing on fitness ldquoBMC officials have told me not to rejoin as I need more time to be fit to work in a PPE suit but I will be back in action soonrdquo