Vivan Bhatena Wiki, Height, Age, Wife, Family, Biography & More

Vivan Bhatena is an Indian model, TV host, and TV & film actor. He won the Grasim Mr India contest in 2001.

Wiki/Biography

Vivan Bhatena was born on Saturday, 28 October 1978 (age 43 years; as of 2021) in Mumbai. His zodiac sign is Scorpio.

He did his schooling at Maneckji Cooper Education Trust School, Mumbai. He then attended Jai Hind College, Mumbai. He holds an MBA degree. Later, he did his professional training in DOP and photography.

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 10″

Weight (approx.): 65 kg

Hair Colour: Black

Eye Colour: Brown

Body Measurements (approx.): Chest 40″, Waist 32″, Biceps 16″

Family

He was born to a Parsi father and a Maharashtrian mother.

Parents & Siblings

There is not much information available about his parents and siblings.

Wife & Children

On 27 March 2008, he got married to the Indian businesswoman Nikhila Palat, and the couple has a daughter named Nivaya Bhathena, who was born on 9 June 2019.

Career

Model

He started his career as a model and subsequently, appeared in various print advertisements. His first print advertisement was for Levi’s Jeans. In 1999, he was featured in the Hindi music video ‘Maine Payal Hai Chhankai’ by Falguni Pathak. During an interview, he shared how he got his first modelling assignment and music video. He said,

I attended an inter-collegiate event where Levis Jeans was looking for models. I got selected by them. During that time, the casting director of a video (that directors Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru were doing for Falguni Pathak) asked me if I interested, I agreed even though I didn’t even know what the video was about. It became a massive hit. I got Rs 4,000 for a video that was more than enough.”

He then appeared in a few more Hindi music videos. In 2001, he participated in the Grasim Mr India contest and won the title. After working as a model for a few years, he got bored of it and headed towards theatre. In an interview, while talking about it, he said,

I was modelling for about three-five years and had got bored of it. It was getting a little stale for me, moving up and down on ramps, changing clothes, were not inspiring me. It wasn’t really stable enough for me; I wanted to do something which moved me more. Hence, I started doing theatre, and understanding acting and seeing what I could do on stage really made a lot of difference.”

Television

Later, he was spotted by the team of Balaji Telefilms in one of his music videos. The team offered him a TV serial, but it got shelved. In 2004, he was again called by Balaji Telefilms for a TV serial. He accepted the offer and debuted with the popular Hindi TV serial ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’ in which he played the role of Abhishek. Some of his other Hindi TV serials are ‘Vaidehi’ (2006), ‘Chand Ke Paar Chalo’ (2008), ‘Pyaar Ka Bandhan’ (2009), and ‘Sanskaar Laxmi’ (2011).

After working in a few TV serials, he quit acting in TV serials. During an interview, he shared the reason for it. He said,

I was reaching almost the top of the ladder and the only name ahead of me was Ronit Roy. I quit and rejected a few offers as it was not taking me anywhere. And at that point in time, there was a sudden shift happening where a lot of people who had worked on television shifted to films and left us with the rejects of small-town actors who were very disrespectful and didn’t speak very well. I just kind of felt that this is not a place for me anymore. I also lost a lot of work in television. There were many fights that I’ve gone into for getting the right screen space on television; there were people who were badmouthing me. I couldn’t get work, and eventually, lost a lot of work. But I made sure that it didn’t dampen me. I moved on to films, but yes, I had a very tough time because nobody was willing to give me a part in anything. And for five years, I had to sit at home and do nothing, It was very, very difficult.”

He then worked as an anchor and VJ with MTV channel to meet his financial expenses. In 2016, he participated as a contestant in the TV reality show ‘Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 7.’

Film

He then auditioned for a few Hindi films and made his film debut with the Hindi film ‘Chak De! India’ (2007) in which he played the role of Abhimanyu Singh (vice-captain of the cricket team). He then played supporting roles in a few other Hindi films like ‘Karthik Calling Karthik’ (2010), ‘Dangal’ (2016), ‘Judwaa 2’ (2017), and ‘Hate Story 4’ (2018).

In 2021, he acted in the Hindi film ‘Sooryavanshi’ as Inspector Vivaan Singh.

He has also acted in the Telugu film ‘Raja the Great’ (2017) as Devraj.

In 2021, he portrayed the character of Lord Hanuman in the Hindi web series ‘Ramyug’ streamed on MX Player. In an interview, while talking about the role, he said,

I had never done anything like this before. Kunal Kohli approached me for this role. I told him that if I am doing something like this, it has to be worth it. I was actually pitching for the role of Raavan. But he wanted me to play Hanuman. The physical transformation was an interesting and challenging journey for me to undertake. I realised what I can put my body through. I like to do things that challenge me. You don’t always succeed in whatever you do but you give it your best anyway. That is exactly what I try to maintain and achieve.”

He has also appeared in various TV commercials.

Favourites

• Film: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

• Book: Enzo Ferrari: The Man, the Cars, the Races by Brock Yates

• Restaurant: Zaffran in Mumbai

• Travel Destination(s): London, Bangkok

Facts/Trivia

• During an interview, he shared how he developed an interest in acting. He said,
  

  I used to get bullied in school, and films became my escape. Television was where I did most of my social learning and understanding of dynamics and how to behave with people. In school, I barely had any interaction with other students. Nobody would talk to me. I grew up as a movie buff. I studied cinema. I love every aspect of it. I think that is what really makes you a part of this industry, otherwise you just really cannot exist in this field without a passion for it.”

• In an interview, he was asked about his idol in acting. He said,
  

  I grew up in a Parsi household where my father wanted us to watch classic cinemas. I used to be a huge Alfred Hitchcock fan. I loved cinema. It was an escape for me. I used to get bullied in school, and films became my escape. Television was where I did most of my social learning and understanding of dynamics and how to behave with people. In school, I barely had any interaction with other students. Nobody would talk to me. I grew up as a movie buff. I studied cinema. I love every aspect of it. I think that is what really makes you a part of this industry, otherwise you just really cannot exist in this field without a passion for it.”

  He further added,

  Growing up I idolised actors like Sean Connery, Charlton Heston, Michael Douglas and others. In Bollywood, of course there was Amitabh Bachchan and Dharamji (Dharmendra) who have been a part of some amazing films. I watched a lot of Marathi films also. My mother was a Maharashtrian so we used to watch a lot of comedy films of Laxmikant Berde. Today, I can do a decent comedy as an actor, because I learnt a lot from his films.”

• He is an avid animal lover and has a pet dog named Muffin.

  Vivan Bhatena and his pet dog

• He owns a blue coloured Audi car.

  Vivan Bhatena’s Instagram post about his car

• Vivan has got a big tiger tattoo inked on his left bicep.

  Vivan Bhatena’s tattoo

• He is a fitness enthusiast and regularly workouts in a gym.

• Vivan follows a non-vegetarian diet.

  Vivan Bhatena’s Instagram post

• Vivan has been featured on the cover of a few popular magazines.

  Vivan Bhatena in a print advertisement

• He is often spotted drinking alcohol at various parties and events.

  Vivan Bhatena holding a glass of alcohol

• He has participated in various car racing and volleyball championships.

• In an interview, he talked about facing financial difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in 2020. He said,
  

  The financial implications became difficult for me. It’s not a joke to raise a child, especially when you want to give the child the best. We lost several actors from the industry due to financial pressure. I don’t think half of them even got reported. People see the outside world of us actors, but they don’t see the anxiety we go through. When everything just comes to a standstill, you don’t know where you’re headed, that can take a toll on you mentally.”