Janhvi Kapoor To Aditi Bhatia: Meet The Young Actresses Who Are Changing Bollywood Without Playing It Safe

Playing a quintessential Bollywood heroine in a commercial film used to be considered the dream for actresses in Hindi cinema. But in recent years, many actresses have challenged those norms with films that have created an impact and made a difference, without playing it safe, They have portrayed the harsh realities of the real world on screen, and made a place in the audience's heart through their skills and storytelling in those films. Here are some of those actresses:

Adah Sharma: The Kerala Story

The Kerala Story released amid low expectations, but the storyline of the film connected so well with the audiences that it went on to become a blockbuster and one of the highest grossing female-led films of all time. Adah Sharma brought the innocence and intensity required to bring out her character of a young girl who is pushed into the dark world of terrorism. Her act received appreciation and gave her the recognition that she had been working towards for so many years.

Nitanshi Goel: Laapataa Ladies

In just her first film, Nitanshi Goel showed the command over her craft. At 17 years of age, the actress played the character of Phool, who is stranded away from her husband due to an accident, but she brought flair and depth to her part that resonated with the audience. The film even made it as India's entry to the Oscars and brought home many awards for Nitanshi.

⁠Janhvi Kapoor: Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl

Today, Janhvi Kapoor is one of the most sought-after leading actresses in Hindi cinema, but early on in her career, she chose to go an unconventional path. With her second film, Janhvi took on the role of an Air Force officer in Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl. The way she brought the role alive, showed the audience her range as an actor, and she followed it with more character-driven roles in films like Good Luck Jerry and Milli.

⁠Aditi Bhatia: The Kerala Story 2

Actress Aditi Bhatia is set to begin her Bollywood journey this month with The Kerala Story 2, and instead of choosing for a light-hearted film, she chose the intense drama Kerala Story 2 to start her film career. The actress plays a young innocent girl in the film whose life is upended after being lured into a dangerous, deceptive marriage. With a strong acting background behind her, Aditi is set to bring an authenticity and intensity on screen with her role.

Radhikka Madan: Pataakha

Over the years, Radhikka Madan has made diverse choices in her career, and it began with her first film on screen. In Pataakha, the actress chose for an unconventional debut, playing a rugged village girl who is loud, short-tempered and violent at times. The unexpected entry in Bollywood established Radhikka as an artiste, leading to diverse films like Angrezi Medium, Shiddat, Sarfira and more.