Vikas Manaktala is an Indian actor, who is best known for playing the role of Amardeep Huda in the TV series Left Right Left (2006) on SAB TV. In November 2022, he participated as a wild-card contestant in the Hindi television reality show Bigg Boss season 16 on Colors TV.
Wiki/Biography
Vikas Manaktala, also spelt as Vikkas Manaktala , was born on Friday, 10 February 1984 (age 38 years; as of 2022) in Tilak Nagar, New Delhi, India. His zodiac sign is Aquarius. Vikas completed his schooling at Mira Model School, New Delhi. He pursued his master’s degree in arts at the Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, New Delhi, India.
A childhood picture of Vikas Manaktala (right)
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 6′
Weight (approx.): 85 kg
Hair Colour: Dark Brown
Eye Colour: Light Brown
Body Measurements (approx.): Chest 42″, Waist 33″, Biceps 16″
Family
Vikas Manaktala belongs to a Punjabi family.
Parents & Siblings
Vikas’s father’s name is Yashpal Manaktala. He has two sisters, Simmi Manaktala and Megha Manaktala.
Vikas Manaktala with his father, Yashpal Manaktala
Vikas Manaktala with his sisters, Megha Manaktala (left) and Simmi Manaktala (right)
Wife & Children
On 21 April 2015, Vikas got married to Gunjan Walia in Chandigarh.
Vikas Manaktala with his wife Gunjan Walia
In 2014, they got engaged in Delhi after being in a relationship for a few months. Gunjan was previously married to Sachin Verma, an actor, but they separated within a year of marriage in 2009.
Relationships/Affairs
In 2006, it was speculated that Vikas was in a relationship with his co-star, Priyanka Bassi, who played the role of Naina Singh Ahluwalia in the TV show Left Right Left. The two met on the set of the show, and reportedly, while shooting together, they started dating each other. In an interview, on being asked about his relationship with Priyanka, Vikas denied the rumours and said,
That’s not true. We are good friends and that chemistry reflects on screen.”
Vikas Manaktala with Priyanka Bassi, his rumoured girlfriend
Religion
Vikas Manaktala follows Hinduism.
Vikas Manaktala taking blessings from Lord Ganesh while celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi
Caste
Vikas Manaktala is a Khatri.
Career
During his childhood, Vikas aspired to become a scientist. While studying in college, Vikas realised his passion for modelling and started his career as a model in 2002.
Vikas Manaktala while walking on the ramp during a fashion show
Television
In 2006, Vikas made his acting debut with the television show Left Right Left on SAB TV in which he played the role of Amardeep “Amar” Huda.
Vikas Manaktala as Amardeep Huda in a still from his debut television show Left Right Left (2006) on SAB TV
In the same year, he was nominated for the Fresh New Face – Male category at the Indian Telly Awards for the TV show Left Right Left. After taking a leap of around five years, in 2013, he played the role of Aditya Jagannath in the TV show Main Naa Bhoolungi on Sony TV.
Vikas Manaktala as Aditya Jagannath in a still from the TV show Main Naa Bhoolungi (2013) on Sony TV
In 2016, Vikas appeared as Neel Sharma in the show Yeh Hai Aashiqui on Bindass. In 2017, he appeared on Life OK in the show Ghulaam as Veer Pratap.
Vikas Manaktala as Veer Pratap in a still from the TV show Ghulaam (2017) on Life OK
In 2019, Vikas appeared in three shows, Jhansi Ki Rani as Gangadhar Rao on Colors TV, Laal Ishq as Balveer on &TV, and Namah Lakshmi Narayan as Shiva on StarPlus.
In 2022, he appeared as a wild card contestant in the Hindi reality show Bigg Boss season 16 on Colors TV.
Vikas Manaktala as a wild card contestant on the Hindi television reality show Bigg Boss season 16 on Colors TV
Other
Vikas has appeared in a few commercials for brands like Reid & Taylor, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Videocon, starring Shah Rukh Khan, and Maruti Suzuki. In 2019, he was featured in the music video Psycho on YouTube.
Poster of the music video Psycho (2019), featuring Vikas Manaktala
Controversies
Made headlines for throwing tantrums on the set of the show Left Right Left
Reportedly, in 2006, Vikas made headlines after he constantly showed tantrums while shooting for the TV show Left Right Left on SAB TV. Some sources revealed that he had unwanted fights with his female co-stars and due to his demands and temper, the shooting was stalled on a few occasions. A source revealed that while shooting for an important sequence, the production house asked Vikas to get into a particular costume, but he refused to wear it and demanded the costume of his choice. Later, his demand was not met by the production house, and he had to shoot with the costume assigned.
Feud with the co-star Aishwarya Sakhuja
In 2014, after the show Main Naa Bhulungi went on air on Sony TV, there were reports of constant arguments between Vikas Manaktala and Aishwarya Sakhuja. As per some sources, their disputes were so intense, which made Aishwarya come up with the decision of quitting the show. Not only Aishwarya, but Vikas had issues with his other co-star, Nigaar Z Khan. A source from the set talked about his behaviour on the set and said,
For the longest time, Vikas couldn’t get work because of his attitude and unprofessionalism. One expected him to be a changed person after so many years, but in vain. He continues to throw tantrums. He tried to guide Nigaar on how to enact her scenes, which didn’t go down well with her. A couple of unit members have quit the show because of him. He is demanding to the extent that he refused to take a regular shower after shooting in the swimming pool. Instead, he halted the shoot by four hours to check out the nearby hotels for shower.”
Conflict with his co-star, Niti Taylor
Reportedly, in April 2017, Vikas got into a huge fight with his co-star, Niti Talyor, from the television show Ghulam. As per sources, Niti was not satisfied with the work of her make-up artist and Vikas agreed to share his makeup artist with Niti. However, the make-up artist attended Vikas first as the upcoming sequence was to be shot on him, Niti walked out of the set as she found it insulting. In an interview, Vikas talked about Niti’s behaviour on the sets and how it affected their shoot schedule and said,
Whatever happened shouldn’t have happened. There was no need to complicate things. I initiated a conversation with Niti the next day as I didn’t want the quality of the show to suffer. She apologised to me and also decided to render an apology to the producers.”
Favourites
- Fashion Designer: Rohit Bal
Facts/Trivia
- Vikas is called Vikku and Vik by her friends and family members.
- Vikas is a fitness enthusiast, and he often posts pictures of working out on social media.
Vikas Manaktala at the gym
- While studying in school, Vikas developed an interest in sports and played soccer and basketball at the national level.
- In 2017, Vikas won the award for Best Actor in a Negative Role for the television show Ghulaam (2017) at the Boroplus Gold Awards.
Vikas Manaktala posing with his award for Best Actor in a Negative Role for the television show Ghulaam (2017) at the Boroplus Gold Awards
- Vikas has a pet dog, Oli Singh, and he often posts pictures of his pet on social media.
Vikas Manaktala with his pet dog Oli Singh
- Vikas’s hobbies include swimming, playing soccer, and basketball.
- Vikas follows a non-vegetarian diet.
Vikas Manaktala’s Instagram post regarding his food habit
- In March 2014, Vikas was forced to vacate his rented apartment in Mumbai after he played the negative role of Aditya Jagannath in the television show Main Naa Bhoolungi on Sony TV. Vikas revealed that his landlady panicked after his character in the show turned negative and asked him to vacate her premises as soon as possible.
- Vikas is often spotted smoking cigars and consuming alcohol on various occasions.
Vikas Manaktala (right) while smoking a cigar
Vikas Manaktala with his wife Gunjan Walia, holding a glass of wine
- Vikas, in an interview, revealed that to prepare for the role of a cadet, Amardeep Huda, he went for training at the Raigad Military School in Mumbai.