The OTT segment seems to be the new hub for Bollywood stars. And while some biggies like Shah Rukh Khan (Bard of Blood) and Anushka Sharma (Bulbbul) have turned successful producers with their web-shows, many of them are claiming their spotlight in front of the camera. After Saif Ali Khan’s successful web-debut in Sacred Games, Rajkummar Rao’s debut in Bose: Dead / Alive and Dia Mirza’s highly appreciated debut in Kaafir, we saw several other stars heading to claim their space in the web world! From Jacqueline Fernandez (Mrs Serial Killer) to Lara Dutta (Hundred) to Arshad Warsi (Asur). And the latest to join the star-on-web bandwagon is Sushmita Sen who stepped in with Aarya, while Abhishek Bachchan’s debut Breathe Into The Shadows is now being much-awaited and looked forward to! But while almost all of these actors made an impact in their respective debuts, here’s looking at the Top 5 names in recent months who we think absolutely hit the bullseye in the digital space:
Sushmita Sen in Aarya
Leading the list of our Top Five is Bollywood diva Sushmita Sen who made a smashing comeback to acting with her entry in the web-world in and as Aarya streaming on Disney Plus Hotstar. The actress plays a mother who is pushed into the world of crime and drugs to protect her family. There’s a gradual turn as Aarya casts aside her pain and fears to pave way for the shrewd businesswoman in her and Sushmita nails the layered character right from the first scene.
Chandrachur Singh in Aarya
Interestingly, Chandrachur Singh who plays Sushmita Sen’s husband in Aarya too earns a spot in this list. The actor returned to facing the camera after a decade and has made us all miss the years and his work when he wasn’t around. Playing Tej, the actor embodies the gentle and kind-hearted father and husband, inspite of dealing in drugs. The desperation with which he wants a way out is balanced out beautifully by the actor’s calm demeanour. Web or movies, we definitely want to see more of the actor now, what say!
Jimmy Shergill in Your Honour
Jimmy Shergill is undoubtedly one of the most under-rated actors of our industry. Irrespective of the fate of his films at the Box-Office, there is just no denying the versatility he brings to the table. Caught between his duty to deliver justice as an honest Judge and his responsibility as a father in saving his son, Jimmy plays Judge Bishan with utter conviction in this crime thriller on SonyLIV. The grey character that he portrays does complete justice to his acting abilities and he in turn delivers effortlessly. His gripping performance earns him a spot in our Top Five for sure.
Lara Dutta in Hundred
What’s common between Sushmita Sen and Lara Dutta? Besides the fact that both of the former beauty queens have been holders of the same crown (Sush won Miss Universe in 1994 and Lara won it in 2000), the two have now made their web debuts in the same year too. And now, like Sushmita, Lara too has grabbed a spot in this list. In Hundred, Lara plays Sam aka Inspector Saumya, who takes on baddies of all sorts (drug mafia and organ traffickers to corrupt politicians) while struggling to deal with her unbearable boss at work and an uninspiring husband at home. Joining in her adventures is her uncanny partner Nethra played by Sairat actress Rinku Rajguru. Lara has a natural sense of humour that shines through her characters even in the darkest of times when required and the actress and her Jodi with Rinku is definitely the highlight of this web-series. As Sam, Lara just wins our hearts and so, also a spot on this list.
Tripti Dimri in Bulbbul
The Laila Majnu actress stepped into the OTT space with Bulbbul, which doesn’t exactly qualify as a web-series, but does get her a spot on the list. The supernatural thriller showcases Tripti Dimri in the title role that she portrays beautifully, bringing to the character the allure and a touch of exotic with her smile. The character is laced with a certain mysterious charm and innocence, and Tripti channelizes her acting prowess to ace it effortlessly. Her chemistry with all the three male leads – Rahul Bose (Mahendra and Indranil) Avinash Tiwary (Satya) and Parambrata Chattopadhyay (Sudip) – is fascinating to watch and her equation with Paoli Dam (Binodini) is equally interesting.