They left their hometowns and families behind in pursuit of their acting dreams. Braving a new city and a whole new way of life, these debutantes work 15-hour shifts daily in four new television serials.
We take a look at four fresh faces in the serials called Parivaar, Meri Awaz Suno Roshini, Kasturi and Teen Bahuranya.
Deepti Devi, Parivaar
Deepti confesses that she is a workaholic. A commerce graduate from Pune, she plans to do her Masters next month.
While she always wanted to act, her parents wanted her to concentrate on her studies and treat acting as a hobby. So she always participated in school and college plays. After watching her performances, people encouraged her get into acting.
But her parents needed a lot of persuation. Finally, she was allowed to audition for a Marathi serial, which she aced. Very soon, offers started pouring in.
Now, after one and a half years, she has been seen in four Marathi serials and two film (Sumar Ek Sangarsh, Pak Pak Pakak).
In February, she was selected for the lead role in Parivaar: Karthvya Ki Pariksha.
"I am childish and pampered, whereas my character (Radha) is a mature lady," Deepti says, "I worked really hard to portray the character. I have got some good feedback.
"I will continue doing Marathi serials because they gave me the name and recognition," she adds. Marathi serials are limited to Maharashtra where as Hindi serials are watched all over the world. It has more of glamour, fame and name."
Ashima Bhalla, Meri Awaz Suno Roshini
Originally from Chandigarh, Ashima came to Mumbai four and half years ago to pursue her acting dreams. A newcomer, the actress arrived with her mother while her father, an armyman, stayed behind.
She did a course from the Kishore Namit Kapoor acting school and got her first break in South Indian films. She also has acted in couple of Hindi films like Pyaar Zindagi Hai and Hathyaar.
"I had got TV offers earlier but they did not excite me," Ashima says. "Film shoots are more relaxed. We shoot three or four times a week. But television is demanding, as we have to work round the clock.
"My role in Meri Awaz Suno Roshini is based on a real life character called Sudha," Ashima adds. "I accepted the role because it was a story of a small town girl who comes to Mumbai to become a singer, just like how I came here to become an actor.
"It is different from the regular saas-bahu soaps. I am committed to television for another three months now. I work 15 hours a day, everyday. Once the serial is on air, I will start signing films if I get good roles. It's fun working with my co-stars on TV," she concludes.
Shubangi Atre Poorey, Kasturi
Kasturi is a story of a middle-class Punjabi girl who wants to study further but cannot due to family opposition.
Hailing from Indore, Shubangi graduated from Holkar Science College and has also done a Masters in Business Management. She was crowned Miss Madhya Pradesh in 2003 and is a trained classical dancer.
She moved to Pune three years ago after her marriage to Piyush Poorey, who works in an ad agency. They have an 18-month daughter, Ashi.
A photographer friend had told her to try her hand at acting. She did a month long workshop with AT Entertainment, Pune, and soon, auditioned for Kasturi. But she was offered a role in Kasautii Zindagi Kay, as Palchin.
Recalling her experience, Shubangi says, "When I was shooting for Kasautii Zindagi Kay, I got a call from the production house for the lead role in Kasturi. I didn't know how to react. Initially, during the shooting of Kasturi, I fainted because we were working nonstop. Now, I am used to it."
About her role, she says, "I can identify with Kasturi in some ways. Like her, I know what I want to do, and I'm from a middle-class family like
Kadambari Desai, Teen Bahuranya
You may have seen her earlier in Balaji's Kabhi Sauthen Kabhi Saheli or Keh Tha Hai Dil.
Kadambari, a philosophy graduate from a suburban Mumbai college, got many acting offers but turned them down because she wanted lead roles.
This ambitious actress was bitten by the acting bug at the tender age of three, where she played a baby sparrow in a play! Later, she performed in experimental plays, and also acted in a Marathi play written by noted playwright, Vijay Tendulkar.
"I went for an audition for Teen Bahuranya and was selected. I am simple like my character Janaki in that serial," she says.
Working 14-15 hours, she gets only one holiday every 10 days.
"My father-in-law is one of my biggest fans and he is very happy that I play Janaki," says Kadambari, who is married to Sameer Desai, an ad professional. "He wants to know what will happen in next episode before it is aired so that he can show off to his friends. We have got good response for this serial even thought it is just one month old.
"I have done Kundan Shah's unreleased film, Teen Behene, based on the real story of three sisters who committed suicide in Kanpur."
She is also doing a Marathi serial called Awagachi Samsara on Zee TV (Marathi) and anchors Tax Free on ETV Marathi.