India, Sept. 17 -- Several models have transitioned to acting, but only a few have managed to gain recognition and make a place for themselves in the highly competitive industry. From junior Wimbledon to mainstream music videos, model and actor Bikram Saluja had one of the most unexpected entries into Indian entertainment. Yet, despite making a major Bollywood debut opposite Karisma Kapoor, he eventually stepped away from acting.

Born and brought up in Indore, Bikram Saluja was an elite athlete long before entering showbiz. At the age of eight, he chanced upon tennis at a local club and dreamt of competing on the professional tennis circuit. By the age of 18, in 1992, he was ranked among the top 50 junior tennis players globally and play...