Indian actresses are no longer confined to the national boundaries; instead, they’ve also made a mark in Hollywood, making India proud on a global level. From starring in a variety of projects across genres, these actresses not only added golden feathers to their cap of filmography, but also made India proud on a global level. Here’s looking at top actresses who etched a mark in Hollywood.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas
Global icon Priyanka Chopra Jonas is one of the few Indian actresses who has soared in Hollywood. She played Alex Parrish in the action thriller Quantico in 2015, and received critical acclaim as well as many other Hollywood roles. In Baywatch, her role as the antagonist was named one of the best among other cast members. The Matrix Resurrections, Love Again and Citadel further glorified her Hollywood filmography.
Tabu
Tabu was seen in the 2006 English-language film Namesake, sharing the screen space with Irrfan. She again teamed up with him in the 2012 English film Life of Pi. Recently, she marked her return to the global streaming space with Dune: Prophecy in 2024. She played sister Francesca, marking her much-awaited return to the Hollywood space.
Deepika Padukone
Deepika Padukone made a striking Hollywood debut opposite Vin Diesel in xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017), playing the fierce Serena Unger. Her performance showcased her unmatched range and the ability to hold her own opposite some of the most established Hollywood actors.
Alia Bhatt
Alia Bhatt made her big Hollywood debut with Heart of Stone, starring alongside Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan. With her fine acting skills, the Gangubai Kathiawadi star made a smooth entry into the Hollywood league by starring in a spy action thriller, and also added another golden feather to her cap.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, one of the most celebrated and respected actresses of Hindi cinema, has not only etched a mark in Bollywood with a string of hit releases, but has also pinned Indian cinema on the Hollywood map with projects like Bride & Prejudice, The Mistress of Spices, Provoked and The Pink Panther 2, earning praise for her work across all projects.
Nimrat Kaur
Nimrat Kaur established a global footprint by starring in the American drama series, Homeland. The actress stepped into the authoritative role of Tasneem Qureishi, an Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agent in Pakistan and also the organisation’s Director General. She further amplified her global footprint with the drama series, Foundation (Season 2), wherein she stepped in as Jared Harris’ wife Yanna Seldon. The actress was cast in the series after the director David Goyer was charmed by her performance in The Lunchbox and Homeland.