11 Breakthrough Female Faces Ruling the Indian OTT Platforms

By: Sruthi, Writer, WomenEntrepreneurIndia

The combination of entertainment and high-quality content is a winning combo in today’s show business. Gone are the days when mediocrity would be rewarded at the box office. With OTT platforms coming into the picture, every cog in the film making machine, right from directors, musicians, technicians, is required to give their best to produce watchable content. As a consequence, there has been a rise in content driven and high quality movies and web-series.

The OTT revolution has also given a new lease of life to several talented actors who were unable to find a footing in the traditional movie business otherwise. Seeing beyond their physical attributes, the focus is now on your acting craft. The audience is definitely not complaining.

We rounded up a list of such breakthrough female actors who have come into the limelight owing to the OTT revolution. Going above and beyond the narrow scope that was earlier prevalent for female actors, these women today are enjoying creative freedom, and are giving the audience a glimpse into the powerhouse of their acting chops.

Aaditi Pohankar Sudhir

Aaditi Pohankar is a very talented Indian actress. She has worked in the Hindi, Tamil, and Marathi film industries. She has acted in films such as “Love Sex Aur Dhokha”, “Kunasathi Kunitari”, and “Lai Bhaari”. “Mannavan Vanthanadi” in kollywood was her first film in the South Indian cinema industry. She was born in the Indian state of Maharashtra and raised there.

Aditi rose to prominence in 2020 as a part of Netflix's online series “She.” The story revolves around undercover female constable Bhumi and is based on a criminal thriller. Later, she co-starred in Prakash Jha's debut web series, “Aashram,” alongside Bobby Deol.

Amruta Subhash

Amruta Subhash is a well-known Indian actress who has appeared in films, television programmes, and stage productions. She played a supporting role in Zoya Akhtar's “Gully Boy”. She earned her bachelor's degree from the National School of Drama in New Delhi. Her performance in “Shwaas,” India's Oscar nomination, garnered her a National Award. She received a national award and a filmfare award for her work in Astu as a supporting actress. She has been in a number of highly praised films that have received international acclaim, including the Crystal Bear at the Berlin Film Festival and the Fedeora Award at the Venice Film Festival.

In the Netflix Original “Selections Day” and “Chausar,” she co-starred with Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Amruta was recognised for her performance as a raw agent in the second season of Sacred Games.

Anupria Goenka

Anupria Goenka has worked with many well-known actors and actresses, including Salman Khan, Shahid Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan, John Abraham, and others. Even in the OTT arena, her performances in “Sacred Games,” “Criminal Justice,” “The Final Call,” “Abhay,” “Asur,” “Aashram,” and many others have made an indelible mark. Her raw talent and the nuance with which she inhabits the skin of each character sets her apart from the rest. Her sense of style is impeccable, and she goes above and beyond to bring the persona to life onscreen.

Rasika Dugal

Rasika Dugal is the undisputed queen of OTT programming. From “Mirzapur” to “Out of Love” to “Permanent Roommates” to “Humorously Yours” to “Made In Heaven,” she has charted one smash after another. Her modest demeanour brings attention to her performance in every role she does. She appears in “A Suitable Boy” on “BBC series,” as well as “Out of Love” and “Lootcase” in “Disney+Hotstar.” She has also appeared in the “Netflix” original series “Delhi Crimes” and the feature film “Hamid.” She also appeared in the first season of the “TVF” series.

Sakshi Tanwar

Sakshi Tanwar, a TV serial actress, has acted in films and online series, notably “Karle Tu Bhi Mohabbat,” a web series available on “ALT Balaji.” She also appeared in the films “MOM (Mission Over Mars)” and “Final Call,” which are both included in “Zee5”. Sakshi played the lead in “Mohalla Assi,” which is available on “Amazon Prime.”

Sayani Gupta

Sayani Gupta is known for her eccentric style and distinctive looks. Add to it her on-screen brilliance, and characters from shows like Four More Shots Please and Inside Edge triumph. Her seamless interpretations have wowed viewers even in her OTT films, such as “Pagglait,” “Axone,” “Posham Pa,” and others.

Shreya Dhanwanthary

Shreya Dhanwanthary is a model, actress, and novelist. She is best known for her role as Sucheta Dalal in the OTT film “Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story.” Shreya is also the author of the book, 'Fade to White'. Her debut Telugu film, Josh, was released in 2009. She also appeared in the Telugu film “Sneha Geetham” and the Bollywood film “Why Cheat India” in 2010. In 2012, Dhanwanthary featured in the short film “The Girl in Me.”

Shreya Chaudhary

Shreya Chaudhary is an Indian actress and model who has appeared in films such as "Dear Maya" (2017) and "Bandish Bandits" (2020). She auditioned for a TV commercial while in college and went on to star in several others. In 2014, Shreya competed in the Femina Miss India Kolkata beauty pageant. FBB Femina Miss Fashion Icon, FBB Miss Body Beautiful, and Times Miss Sudoku are just a handful of the beauty pageant titles she's won. Shreya made her acting debut as "Ira" in Manisha Koirala's comeback film Dear Maya in 2017. "Bandish Bandit," an Amazon Prime Original web series set in the 2020s, has propelled her to fame. She has also appeared on the covers of some well-known Indian magazines.

Shweta Tripathi

Shweta Tripathi ensures that each character she portrays onscreen is distinct not only in terms of how they are written, but also in their demeanour. Her character, Golu from “Mirzapur,” has struck a connection with young girls all around the country. Aside from that, her flexibility as a character can be seen in “Tripling,” “The Gone Game,” “Made In Heaven,” “Lakhon Mein Ek,” “The Trip,” and a myriad of more episodes.

Sobhita Dhulipala

Sobhita Dhulipala is the reigning queen of OTT style. Regardless of what she wears, it makes a fashion statement. Her appearances on television shows such as “Made In Heaven” and “Bard Of Blood” have gone viral. She's been casting herself in parts that allow her to appear appealing while also exhibiting her significant acting talent.

Tripti Dimri

Tripti had her acting debut in the 2017 film Poster Boys, but it was her OTT debut in “Bulbbul'' that propelled her career. She won best actor female for Bulbbul in the first Flyx Filmfare OTT Awards 2020. Bulbbul's captivating performance will live on in the minds of anyone who saw it.