A year when Bollywood stars shone the brightest on television

There was a time when Bollywood actors used to keep a distance from television as a medium. Even if a couple of them did try their luck in small screen, they went unnoticed. From the past few years, television has gathered steam and is fast becoming a popular choice for Bollywood celebs. The advent of reality TV coupled with arrival of big Bollywood faces seemed to have changed the ball game. In real sense, it all started, when Amitabh Bachchan entered the drawing rooms of people through Kaun Banega Crorepati (2000). Actors like Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan proved they could add value to the small screen as well as their repertoire with their shows. Cut to circa 2015, it seems we cannot count the Bollywood celebs debuting in a year on fingers.

This year, some of them have finally made their foray into television, while others have made comebacks. While Farah Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Farhan Akhtar were among those who made comebacks; Bipasha Basu, Priyanka Chopra, Arjun Kapoor made their debuts. Here're are the Bollywood celebs who made their presence felt in television this year.

Farhan Akhtar: The director-actor-singer marked his comeback on TV this year with I Can Do That, the remake of American show of the same name. The actor earlier hosted the show Oye! It's Friday and appeared as judge on the first season of Nach Baliye.

Sonakshi Sinha: Bollywood actress Sonakshi Sinha debuted in television this year as Indian Idol Junior judge. She had announced her debut with the tweet: "Enough guessing!! HAPPY to announce #ShotgunJunior is going to be a part of Indian Idol Junior."

Shahid Kapoor: Though the actor was hesitant about judging other people, when he actually started the journey as Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Reloaded's judge, he quite enjoyed it. "I had a lot of fun doing Jhalak and I must say that I'm happy that I started with a show like that. So, I'm more than happy to do more shows on television," Shahid had told IANS.

Salman Khan: Will he or won't he return as the face of Bigg Boss for the sixth consecutive time? The speculations started right after the eighth season wound up. His chances of returning as a host decreased after he was sentenced to five years in prison for the 2002 hit-and-run case by a lower court. But he soon announced his comeback with the tweet-"Bigg Boss 9 is mine" -after appealing against his conviction at the Bombay High Court. Of course he went on to host Bigg Boss Season Nau and according to reports, will also grace the grand finale of bhaiya-bhabhi's (Arbaaz and Malaika) show Power Couple soon.

Priyanka Chopra: Priyanka Chopra's international television debut with ABC network's show Quantico created quite a buzz in India and internationally. The first episode got a lot of favourable reviews and the actress was termed as an 'arresting lead'. The show managed to get itself full season order within the first three episodes being aired. The show, and Priyanka's casting as Alex Parrish opened up a lot of debate on an Indian face headlining a major US TV show, and the actress' appearances on TV shows such as Jimmy Kimmel and earned her pretty good ratings.

Neha Dhupia: The actress who will soon be seen judging MTV Roadies X4, also returned as the judge of Kingfisher Supermodels this year. This was her second stint with Kingfisher Supermodels; the actress was the judge, mentor and face of the show. In Roadies, the Julie actress says she would be a tough judge--"something people will have to watch out for."

Mahesh Bhatt: While the director-producer might have written and directed serials like A Mouthful of Sky, Swabhimaan and Kabhie Kabhie, he finally turned host with &TV's Khwabon Ka Safar With Mahesh Bhatt.

Hrithik Roshan: Whatever he does, he does with rapt attention. That's why he's extremely selective about his projects. When he did dance show Just Dance (2011) as a judge, the show got the highest opening (a cumulative TRP of 4.7) for a reality show at that time. The actor is back on TV as a host with Discovery's series--Heroes. The nine-part series celebrates determination, willpower and triumph of real life heroes who overcame their limitation and challenges to emerge victorious. "I wish to share with the world and spread the belief that it is possible to look adversity in the face and emerge victorious by overcoming it. The show will bring to focus these incredible real life stories, which the entire nation needs to admire," he said in one of his interviews.

Himesh Reshammiya: He has always surprised people with his makeovers. The musician-turned-director-turned-singer-turned-judge made his comeback on TV as a coach in singing based reality show The Voice India. He managed to surprise again with his super-slimmed down version with a tattoo on his arm.

Farah Khan: After hosting the chat show--Tere Mere Beach Mein (2009) that connected celebrities with common people, choreographer-director-actor Farah Khan got back to hosting after six years, this time inviting celebs on her daawat on the show-Farah Ki Daawat (Colors TV). However, her favourite job on small screen is judging reality shows like Indian Idol, Nach Baliye, Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega, Dance India Dance Li'l Masters, India's Got Talent among others.

Divya Dutta: The versatile actress who has done a diverse range of roles on big screen will host crime show Savdhaan India. She has previously done television soap Samvidhaan in which she appeared as Purnima Banerjee. "Crime is increasing day by day, in that shows like Savdhan India is trying to be aware against crimes and criminals which is very good, this crimes can happen to anybody in day to day life," she said in an interview to a daily.

Bipasha Basu: Cashing in on her image of the horror queen of Bollywood, the actress probably aiming to replicate the magic on small screen, signed on Darr sabko Lagta Hai. The actress is the narrator of the 26-episode horror series on &TV.

Arjun Kapoor: While Khatron Ke Khiladi is not being considered a perfect debut for the Gunday star, as he has to step into the shoes of previous hosts like Rohit Shetty, Akshay Kumar, and Priyanka Chopra, his fans are looking forward to the actor's TV debut. Arjun recently wrapped up shooting of the seventh season in Argentina. "I'm continuing the legacy Akshay and Rohit have started... we all have our unique skills and personality. So hopefully, this time mine will come on the forefront," he said in an interview.

Amitabh Bachchan: After doing eight seasons of Kaun Banega Crorepati, Big B tried something different by doing Star Plus' Aaj Ki Raat Hai Zindagi. In the show, he interacts with ordinary people who have achieved something extraordinary. We must say one-and-a-half decade on, his charm is still intact on TV.

Aarya Babbar: After delivering a series of duds, and doing reality show Bigg Boss 8, the actor right now is playing Raavan in Sankatmochan Mahabali Hanuman. We wonder if the actor is obsessed with Raavan, for he has even written a comic book-Pushpak Viman. The actor, however, thinks highly of television as a medium. "Television is bigger than films now, it reaches a larger set of audience on a daily basis. Content on TV is also going international, but I still feel we are rooted with Indian soaps and mytho's as they are the pillars of Indian television and it is because of their ratings that we are growing," he said in an interview.