Entertainment amalgamated with good content is a recipe for success.
The silver screen has showcased this combination for years now, but not all Bollywood actors get their dues. They may not be the conventional, good-looking ‘actor’ but they surely know how to ‘act’. The ever-expanding world of OTT platforms has given these Bollywood artists the chance to make a mark all over again. They are getting a lot of liberty in delivering the kind of content which gets restricted in Bollywood films. And the audience is loving it.
Here is a list of some Bollywood actors who have gone OTT, are enjoying content-based liberty and getting acknowledged. Their work is worth checking out.
1. Radhika Apte — The bold and beautiful Radhika is the first name which comes to our mind when it comes to OTT platforms. The actress has portrayed powerful characters in Lust Stories, Ghoul, Sacred Games, Hunterrr, Andhadhun and much more. It’s her roles in these OTT platform series that have made her the ‘OTT queen’.
2. Huma Qureshi — She made her debut on Netflix with a dystopian show ‘Leila’ and received widespread appreciation for her work. Having made a cameo appearance in Zee 5’s series Ghoomketu, Huma has signed for the ‘Army of the dead’ from the Hollywood stable. “It gives more freedom to actors. When you are working for OTT platforms, you get more time to spend with the characters without restriction. So this way you can tell your stories in a much better way,” Huma told Indiatv.
3. Saif Ali Khan — Saif’s career has definitely skyrocketed thanks to his association with the OTT platform, Netflix. After delivering two successful seasons of Sacred Games, he has gained global recognition. It’s learnt that he has now signed another web series which is on the lines of the American thriller ‘House of cards’.
4. Emraan Hashmi –– The Bollywood actor made his web debut with the Netflix Indian original series ‘Bard of Blood’. He feels happy that the OTT platforms don’t typecast artists and offer a lot of content-based freedom. The advent of web has opened a new horizon for actors like Hashmi, who previously struggled with typecasting. “I am really happy with this phase, especially seeing how OTT platforms are pushing creativity to the next level. The kind of stories that are being conceived for the web and the characters being written cannot be compared to films. I think it is a great beginning,” Hashmi told National Herald.
5. Jaideep Ahlawat –– Jaideep’s outstanding work in the recently-released Paatal Lok has won over the audience and made everyone take notice of him once again. The Raazi actor also featured in the 2018 Netflix anthology Lust Stories and the Bard Of Blood, besides movies like Vishwaroop and Raees.
6. Pankaj Tripathi — One of the most underrated actors, Pankaj Tripathi has got much-deserved recognition from the Over The Top platforms. He put up a stellar performance in Amazon Prime’s original Mirzapur, in the role as Kaleen Bhaiya. He was also a part of other much-watched series like Sacred Games and Criminal Justice.
7. Rasika Duggal — Another artist who has benefitted immensely from OTT platforms is Rasika, who has proved her mettle with some fine performances. Her work in Mirzapur and Delhi Crime have stood out and made her a name to reckon with.
8. Vikrant Massey — Another talented but underrated actor who got to broaden his horizon with OTT platforms. Appreciated for his performance in in Broken but Beautiful over two seasons, he also featured in Hotstar original Criminal Justice, where he portrayed the role of a prisoner.
9. Kiara Advani — Having tasted her first commercial success with a brief role in M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story four years ago, Kiara became famous as Shahid Kapoor’s love interest Preeti in the 2019 film Kabir Singh. She stepped into the web platform with Netflix’s Lust Stories. She made heads turn recently with her role in the series Guilty, being admired for her looks as well as performance.
10. Jitendra Kumar — Fondly called ‘Jeetu bhaiya’ by his fans, Jitendra has garnered critical acclaim for his work on digital platforms. From Kota Factory to his recent Amazon Prime release Panchayat, the Shubh Mangal Jyada Saavdhaan actor has become a force to reckon with.
