The Delhi resident won praise from all corners after she started working at a Jogeshwari hospital; her film views have crossed 75 lakh on YouTube
Shikha was felicitated as a Covid warrior on Maharashtra Day
Shikha Malhotra, 27
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The actor, who is a trained nurse, joined BMC’s Covid team after the lockdown last year, only to see her fortunes taking a massive leap
As it upended countless lives, the pandemic turned Shikha Malhotra’s fledgling acting career on its head. The trained nurse decided to take up a job at a BMC hospital after last year’s lockdown. What followed was beyond her imagination.
“I had done a couple of movies, but was not known. After I started working in a Covid hospital during the first lockdown, I got fame and respect. In the past one-and-a-half years, I have received awards, appreciation and now I am known across the world as an actor-turned-nurse. Covid has changed my life forever,” said the 27-year-old actor.
Originally from Delhi, Malhotra has acted in Bollywood films like Running Shaadi and Fan apart from featuring in Punjabi and south Indian movies. She featured in the Hindi-Rajasthani movie Kaanchli that released on February 7, 2020. A month later, the virus brought the nation to a grinding halt.
Shikha has played the lead role in Kaanchli apart from being a part of Running Shaadi, Fan and Punjabi and south Indian movies
Though she had completed a nursing course from Delhi’s Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, Malhotra was more focussed on a career in movies. Left with no work, she began approaching hospitals with her nursing certificates. Finally, she heard from the BMC on March 26.
“I started working at Balasaheb Thackerey civic hospital in Jogeshwari like any other nurse. But everything changed after mid-day published a story about me. National and international media acknowledged my efforts and praised me,” said Malhotra. But there was a twist in her fairytale. “I contracted Covid in October. I was admitted for a month and was sinking, but BMC doctors did their best and saved my life,” she said.
After recovering from Covid, Malhotra realised Kaanchli had drawn more than 50 lakh views on YouTube. Although she was thrilled, her health received another setback.
“I had a stroke, and was paralysed on the left side. I was taken to Cooper Hospital where BMC officials and doctors made sure I got the best treatment. When the news broke, sympathy and wishes poured in. I don’t think I would’ve received this kind of love had I been working in the movies for even 10 years,” Malhotra said.
She was felicitated by the state government as a Covid warrior and commended by the Governor on Maharashtra Day. And then in a sweet marriage of both her professions, she landed a commercial that featured her as an emergency room nurse. “This was incredible. Like any other struggling actor I wanted to feature on TV and the big screen. Now, I am known as an actor who did Covid work. Views for my films have crossed 75 lakh which is as good as any blockbuster movie.”
She is now focussing on fitness. “BMC officials have told me not to rejoin as I need more time to be fit to work in a PPE suit, but I will be back in action soon.”
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