Gautam Gulati
Gautam GulatiGautam Gulati/ Instagram

Easily one of the popular contestants of the "Bigg Boss" series, Gautam Gulati's journey to stardom has not been easy.

From being part of an unnoticed short-film "Darpok" which was screened at the Cannes Film Festival (2014), to playing second fiddle in immensely popular daily soap "Diya Aur Baati Hum", the suave star has seen his share of lows. But his stint in the "BB8" house has undoubtedly given his career a much-needed and well-deserved boost.

Directed by Rakesh Mehta, the story of "Darpok" follows a traumatised boy who couldn't prevent his mother from being raped. Intense and gritty, Gautam's performance was reportedly appreciated at the coveted film festival.

"Diya Aur Baati Hum" saw him play a cheeky brother and gave him enough exposure. But somehow didn't give his career the high he needed to prove his worth. Also, he briefly featured in "Kasamh Se", "Tujh Sang Preet Lagayi Sajana", and "Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani".

Cut to his entry in "BB8". Raw, energetic and entertaining, the viewers saw, loved and appreciated his every move in the controversial reality show. The red chilli paste-smearing episode to the 'Gautam City' task, he has turned out to be one of most loved contestants ever.

The major tiff with Karishma Tanna followed by housemates abandoning him was what made him the star he is today. The sidelined contestant was extremely apologetic about his wrong doings but unfortunately became an object of scorn for all. However, the ability to realise one's mistake was what was liked the most by the viewers and he soon went on to become mister popular.

Lauded by stars who've visited the house and "BB8" sets to promote their releases, Gautam has often found himself amid unending praises. And somewhere while he was making an effort to be numero uno in the mad house, he has been pulled on board for Sushant Singh Rajput's "M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story".

According to a DNA report, Gautam will be seen essaying the role of fast bowler Zaheer Khan. Directed by Neeraj Pandey, the film will reportedly feature Alia Bhatt, Fawad Khan and John Abraham in key roles.

In a nutshell, Gautam's journey so far has been exceptional giving him the exposure he deserves.