Vikas Manaktala is a charismatic Indian television actor who rose to fame with his breakout role in the military drama Left Right Left and has since charmed audiences with intense performances in shows like Ghulaam and Jhansi Ki Rani, while building a net worth estimated at around INR 5 crore through steady TV gigs and smart endorsements.
Quick Stats: Vikas Manaktala at a Glance
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Vikas Manaktala (also spelled Vikkas) |
| Date of Birth | February 10, 1984 |
| Age (as of 2025) | 41 years |
| Birthplace | Tilak Nagar, New Delhi, India |
| Height | 6 feet (183 cm) |
| Weight | 85 kg |
| Profession | Actor, Model |
| Debut Show | Left Right Left (2006) |
| Notable Roles | Cadet Amar Huda (Left Right Left), Gangadhar Rao (Jhansi Ki Rani), Veer Pratap (Ghulaam) |
| Marital Status | Married to actress Gunjan Walia (since 2015) |
| Net Worth (2025) | ~₹10 crore (≈US $1.2 million) as of 2025 |
| Awards | Indian Telly Award for Fresh New Face – Male (2011) |
Early Life: Delhi Dreams and a Dash to Mumbai
Imagine a cheeky teen weaving through Delhi’s chaotic streets on a battered bike, eyes glued to glossy magazines featuring strutting models. That’s young Vikas Manaktala, born in 1984 amid the vibrant hum of Tilak Nagar, New Delhi. His dad, Yashpal, hustled in the family business, while mom Chanchal whipped up Punjabi delights that fueled his endless energy. Siblings Megha and Simmi? They were his built-in cheer squad, teasing him through scraped knees and schoolyard scrapes.
Vikas breezed through Meera Model School, where he mastered the art of blending straight-A smarts with class-clown charm. “Teachers loved me—until report cards dropped,” he once chuckled in a candid chat. Off to Delhi College of Arts and Commerce for a Master’s in Arts, but the runway called louder. By 2002, at just 18, Vikas traded textbooks for spotlights, dipping toes into local modeling gigs. Those catwalks sparked something fierce: a hunger for more than Delhi’s familiar chaos.
Cue the big leap—Mumbai, the dream factory that chews up hopefuls and spits out stars. Vikas arrived with a suitcase, big ambitions, and barely a plan. Ramp walks for top designers followed, plus ads rubbing shoulders with Amitabh Bachchan for Reid & Taylor. “It felt like jumping off a cliff with a parachute made of hope,” he quipped later. Those gritty days—vada pav diets, couch-surfing, endless auditions—forged the resilient Vikas we know. No fancy breaks, just pure hustle.
Breaking into TV: Cadet Chaos and Contract Clashes
Hold onto your helmets—2006 marked Vikas Manaktala’s explosive TV entry with Left Right Left on SAB TV. As Cadet Amar Huda, he embodied the fresh-faced recruit tumbling into army academy mayhem alongside five rowdy pals. Drills, dalliances, and dorm-room drama? Vikas nailed the wide-eyed wonder, turning viewers into instant fans. “Amar was me at 22—clueless but charging ahead,” he shared with a grin.
The show? A youthquake hit, with “Huda” fever gripping India. Vikas rode the wave till 2008, but fame’s flip side lurked. A lawsuit against producers Tony and Deeya Singh for extending his contract sans fair pay landed in Bombay High Court. Arbitration dragged, but Vikas stood firm: “It was my first lesson in valuing my sweat.” The fallout? A five-year TV hiatus, a time for reflection amid the sting.
Rebound magic struck in 2013 with Main Naa Bhoolungi on Sony TV, where Vikas slayed as the vengeful Aditya Jagannath. Twists, thrills, and on-set sparks (or spats?) with co-star Aishwarya Sakhuja made headlines—rumors flew of near-quits over “creative clashes.” Vikas waved it off: “Passion brews the best stories.” This gig reignited his fire, proving comebacks taste sweetest.
Career Peaks: From Warriors to Web Spies
Vikas Manaktala didn’t tiptoe back—he stormed in. 2017’s Ghulaam on Life OK unleashed him as the brooding Veer Pratap, a chained hero breaking free in a whirlwind of action and angst. Paired with Niti Taylor and Param Singh, he flexed grit and grace, boosting ratings sky-high. “Veer taught me chains are mind-made,” he reflected, sword in hand.
Royalty beckoned in 2019’s Jhansi Ki Rani on Zee TV, casting Vikas as the steadfast Gangadhar Rao, backing Rani Lakshmibai’s fiery fight. Turbaned and tender, he wove history with heart, sparking fan frenzy for his noble swagger. That year doubled down: Laal Ishq on &TV as Balveer opposite wife Gunjan Walia (more on that love story soon), and Namah on Star Plus as the divine Shiva—blue-skinned destroyer with a dancer’s poise. “God roles ground you—literally,” he joked about those meditative prep sessions.
Reality TV detour? 2022’s Bigg Boss 16 wildcard entry on Colors TV. Three weeks of housemate head-butts, hot-water hijinks, and a raw reveal of Gunjan’s miscarriage—it was messy, real, and meme-worthy. Evicted early, Vikas emerged unfazed: “The house mirrors life’s wild ride.”
But 2025? Pure pinnacle. After a deliberate four-year TV sabbatical (“Forced, but freeing,” he told News18), Vikas Manaktala debuted on OTT with Special Ops 2 on Disney+ Hotstar, slipping into Agent Abhay Singh’s skin. Directed by Neeraj Pandey, this espionage thriller dropped July 11, 2025, packing chases, betrayals, and Vikas bulking up 11 kg for authenticity. “Neeraj sir’s vision? Game-changer—opened doors I knocked on for 14 years,” he gushed to Bollywood Hungama. Critics rave: His raw edge elevates the spy saga, ditching TV tropes for taut tension. No films yet, but whispers of a historical web series brew.
Here’s a snappy timeline of Vikas Manaktala’s rollercoaster ride:
| Year | Show/Project | Role | Platform/Channel | Highlight Scoop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Left Right Left | Cadet Amar Huda | SAB TV | Breakout youth anthem |
| 2013 | Main Naa Bhoolungi | Aditya Jagannath | Sony TV | Revenge thriller revival |
| 2017 | Ghulaam | Veer Pratap | Life OK | Action-hero breakout |
| 2019 | Jhansi Ki Rani | Gangadhar Rao | Zee TV | Historical heartthrob |
| 2019 | Namah | Shiva | Star Plus | Mythic mastery |
| 2022 | Bigg Boss 16 | Contestant | Colors TV | Wildcard wisdom (13th place) |
| 2025 | Special Ops 2 | Abhay Singh | Disney+ Hotstar | OTT triumph, 11kg glow-up |
Personal Life: Wedded Bliss, Heartaches, and Hidden Talents
Vikas Manaktala’s a softie wrapped in swagger. Romance bloomed on set with Gunjan Walia during Laal Ishq—their 2015 Chandigarh wedding was a colorful whirl of rituals, dances, and that electric “yes.” “Gunjan’s my calm in the storm,” he beams. They’ve navigated bumps, like sharing her miscarriage pain on Bigg Boss—”Vulnerability bonds deeper,” Vikas says. Kids? Not yet; they’re savoring spontaneous getaways and gym dates.
Family anchors him: Sisters dish advice over home-cooked rajma, echoing mom’s warmth. Off-duty Vikas? A yoga-bending contortionist (Shiva prep paid off!), travel junkie chasing sunsets, and Instagram poet (@vikkasmofficial) dropping life nuggets to 500K+ followers. “Fame fades; connections fuel,” he posts. Fun twist: Early rumors with Left Right Left co-star Priyanka Bassi? Pure fiction—”Screen sparks, real hearts elsewhere.”
Net Worth Breakdown: From Ramp Pennies to Spy Riches
Vikas Manaktala’s fortune flipped to INR ~₹10 crore (≈US $1.2 million) by late 2025, a leap from pre-OTT days, thanks to savvy plays. TV episodes fetched INR 1-1.5 lakh each, but Special Ops 2’s streaming residuals and endorsements (hello, fitness brands loving that glow-up) supercharged it. “Money’s a tool, not the trophy,” he shrugs, crediting the four-year break for financial smarts—side gigs like events kept lights on.
| Income Stream | Share (%) | Witty Nugget |
|---|---|---|
| OTT & TV Roles | 55% | Special Ops spy paydays dominate |
| Endorsements | 20% | Modeling roots bloom into ad gold |
| Reality/Events | 15% | Bigg Boss buzz + red-carpet rewards |
| Modeling Revivals | 5% | Reid & Taylor throwbacks cash in |
| Investments/Other | 5% | Quiet stocks and passion projects |
Controversies: Spats, Slips, and Silver Linings
Vikas Manaktala’s path? Paved with passion—and potholes. The 2008 producer suit branded him “trouble,” but he flipped it to “advocate.” Main Naa Bhoolungi set rumors? Co-star tiffs painted him fiery, yet fueled fiercer performances.
Bigg Boss 16 amplified the drama: A hot-water prank gone wrong, caste-slur slip (quick apology followed), and eviction after 90 days. “It exposed my edges—now I sand ’em smoother,” he told Mid-Day in August 2025. No fresh scandals; instead, Special Ops 2 promo chats highlight growth. These blips? They add flavor to his underdog tale, reminding us stars are gloriously human.
Conclusion
Vikas Manaktala’s saga? A Delhi daredevil’s dance from cadet capers to spy shadows, spiced with spousal sweetness and setback savvy. At 41, with Special Ops 2 cementing his OTT throne and INR 8 crore mirroring his mettle, he’s not chasing fame—he’s redefining it. Takeaways? Embrace the breaks, own the oops, and let heart lead the hustle. Vikas Manaktala proves: Reinvention isn’t luck; it’s the fire you fan. Cheers to his next plot twist—who’s bingeing with me?
Read Also:
FAQs
What’s Vikas Manaktala’s latest project in 2025?
Buckle up for Special Ops 2 on Disney+ Hotstar—Vikas slays as Agent Abhay Singh in this July 2025 thriller. He packed on 11 kg for the role, calling it his “dream pivot”!
How did Vikas Manaktala meet his wife Gunjan Walia?
Sparks flew on the Laal Ishq set around 2019; they sealed it with a 2015 wedding bash in Chandigarh. “She’s my co-star for life,” he swoons.
Did Vikas Manaktala win awards early in his career?
Nominated for the 2011 Indian Telly Award as Fresh Face for Left Right Left—a nod that launched his love for the lens.
Why did Vikas Manaktala take a four-year TV break before 2025?
Post-Bigg Boss, he craved meatier roles. “TV’s stable, but OTT’s my oxygen,” he shared in a News18 exclusive—leading straight to Special Ops 2.
Is Vikas Manaktala planning films next?
Rumors swirl of a historical flick, but he’s teasing “director’s hat” vibes. Stay tuned—his web series whispers hint at big-screen bounds!
How has Vikas Manaktala’s net worth grown by 2025?
From TV steady to OTT jackpot, it’s ~₹10 crore strong, fueled by Special Ops 2 residuals and endorsements. Smart saves during breaks? Genius move.
Any kids for Vikas Manaktala and Gunjan?
Not yet—they’re all about adventures now, but family dreams simmer. “Timing’s our jam,” Vikas hints.
Disclaimer: This Vikas Manaktala bio pulls from public sources and 2025 interviews up to November. Estimates like net worth are approximations; sensitive bits like family losses deserve empathy—verify with primaries for accuracy.
