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Meet man who made debut with Sachin Tendulkar, quit cricket to become actor, career was ruined due to..., now lives life like..., he is...
Many cricketers such as Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, and Shikhar Dhawan have made cameo appearances in Bollywood. However, none of them ever quit playing the sport. Today, we will discuss a man who started his career by playing alongside Sachin Tendulkar. Over time, he realised his interest leaned more towards acting, which led him to quit cricket and pursue a career as an actor. After venturing into acting, this man became a TV star, but his Bollywood career never took off.
This person had an impressive cricket debut when he played against Pakistan in his first match. Coincidentally, it also marked the international debut of Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. If you're wondering who this person is, let us give you a bit of nostalgia. Remember the famous horror-comedy show Ssshhh…Koi Hai? He is the same actor we're talking about! He is none other than Salil Ankola. When Salil Started His Career with Sachin Tendulkar
Salil Ankola, a right-arm fast-medium bowler, represented India in 20 One Day Internationals between 1989 and 1997, including the 1996 Cricket World Cup co-hosted by India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Salil Ankola's TV Debut
However, Salil had to face a string of dismal performances, and with that, he decided to retire at the age of 28. Salil realised his passion for acting and made his debut in the TV series Chahat Aur Nafrat in 1997. Over the years, he worked in various serials such as Kora Kagaz, Kehta Hai Dil, Vikraal Aur Gabraal, and Rishtey.
However, in the late 2000s, good scripts and offers started to decline, and Salil was left with nothing. This was the time when he turned to alcohol. The addiction not only ruined his professional career but also his personal life. His 19-year-long marriage ended in divorce in 2011.
The sportsperson in him resurfaced, leading him to seek help at a rehabilitation centre. Ankola made a strong comeback and gained recognition for his role as Surya Dev in the Colors TV show Karmaphal Daata Shani, which aired from 2016 to 2018.
