He then played a supporting role in Prathyartha, directed by Sunil Kumar Desai, and a lead role in the same director's Sparsha. In 2001, a role in Huchcha gave him his first big following.
Following his supporting role in Prathyartha, directed by Sunil Kumar Desai, he took on a lead part in Sparsha, another film by the same director. In 2001, his performance in Huchcha marked his first major breakthrough.