From 7,000 to 100k followers: Who is India's Got Latent breakout star Sukrut Deo?
Mumbai/IBNS: "Aap viral hone wale ho" (You are going to go viral), Bollywood star Alia Bhatt had almost predicted what was coming for Marathi theatre actor Sukrut Deo, who emerged as the breakout star of the inaugural episode of India's Got Latent Season 2.
Deo, who performed a drunk man's act on the show, walked onto the stage with just around 6,000-7,000 followers on Instagram.
Within days of the episode's release, his follower count surged past 100,000 as clips of his performance and emotional moments from the show went viral across social media.
Who is Sukrut Deo?
A Maharashtra-based actor, theatre artist, poet and comedian, Sukrut Deo has been active in Marathi theatre for nearly seven years.
Apart from acting, he has built a reputation as a poet and stand-up performer.
Before gaining national recognition, Deo appeared in several Marathi stage productions and played small roles in television serials.
His performance on the show received widespread appreciation from the judges' panel, which included Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, who were promoting their upcoming film Alpha.
Deo's performance strikes an emotional chord
After delivering a performance that captivated both the audience and judges, Deo became emotional on stage, prompting Alia Bhatt to ask him about his feelings.
"Why are you crying?" Alia asked, while fellow panellist Balraj Ghai tried to comfort him.
The moment resonated strongly with viewers, with many social media users praising both Deo's talent and the return episode of the controversy-hit show.
Deo's dedication to his craft was also on display when he refused to break character despite Alia calling for a "cut."
Later, at the insistence of host Samay Raina, he finally stepped out of the drunken-man persona and introduced himself in his natural voice, earning loud cheers from the audience.
Why was the show controversial?
The first season of India's Got Latent became one of India's most popular internet shows before it was pulled down following controversy over remarks made during an episode. The incident led to multiple FIRs and widespread backlash.
The controversy affected several creators associated with the show, and Season 2 marks the franchise's official return after that turbulent phase.
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