Shaalien Malhotra on why he has been away acting: I have diversified into a lot more things apart from acting

Shaalien Malhotra has been keeping busy—both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. Known for his television work, the actor has now branched out into voice work and production, juggling roles that keep him connected to the industry while also letting him grow beyond acting.

He tells us, "I have diversified into a lot more things apart from acting, which actually do help me in acting also. So I give a lot of voicing. I do a lot of voicing work for a lot of South films for Tamil and Telugu to be dubbed in Hindi. Acting happens to me when it happens, when there are good shows coming, when there are good roles, when they think I fit. I make ads. So I keep myself busy." His current excitement lies in producing—something that offers a different set of challenges.

“I'm very excited about the projects that I'm doing as a producer, yeah. It's a different ballgame. It's a different space to be in, to be pitching, to be going in for meetings, learning a few things of how people react to your approach, because you're new. And then making ads is always a good high, because it's a project that you have to make in a particular time span and deliver it.

So yeah, that work keeps me very much interested. On the acting forefront, I would still want Arjun to come back, because a lot of people have been asking for it.

And there's been a lot of rage about it. But if it doesn't, I'm sure that something good is coming my way by the end of next month, hopefully. I think that's the timeline.” He recently attended The Giant Wheel Festival and shares, "It's a vibe. That is, it's basically a part of space that brings people together. It's like a celebration where all age groups are coming." When asked about his childhood, he recalled what he misses most.

“I think when you ask this to any grown-up who's crossed their childhood, it will always be the carefree life. It will always be the no-stress zones. It will always be hanging out with friends in the evening. It will be playing hide-and-seek when the light goes off in the colonies of Delhi. So playing cricket day and night. But I think the sweetest childhood memory, if I recall, is going to be with family, celebrating my birthday with mom and dad.

Watching various movies with them. Because those times are very precious. And when they go, these are the only memories that stay with you. So I think anything related to my mom, or my dad, or my brother, since my childhood, I think every memory and each memory is very special.”