Bollywood Stars Diving In Web Series
Netflix, Amazon Prime video, Youtube, ZEE5, MX player, Voot, SonyLIV, Alt BALAJI all these platforms have been home to such amazing content lately that entertainment in India is no more just about good looks, lean figure, and big budgets. Especially when the audience is vouching for only good content. It doesn’t matter how big your magnanimous your Superstar Status is. Indian Audience has options and they’ll invest their time only in something which is worth spending time on.
Failure of movies like ‘Thugs of Hindustan’ that featured Amir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan faced unexpected disappointment. And then ‘Zero‘ starring Shahrukh Khan and Anushka Sharma helps me prove my point.
As a result of this Bollywood is now pondering over the definition of the cinema/ theatre. It is obvious that actors with good acting skills are more attracted to web series. Because Bollywood has its own pros and cons. If your debut movie gets a hit your career has 90℅ chances for a long journey. If not then few more will take you down and maybe someday you get a good script.
Recently ‘Sacred games’ and ‘Mirzapur’ have been blockbusters on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video respectively. From where I’m looking at this, it is only the beginning. Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Hotstar, Zee5, and AltBalaji are all set to hit your screens with the most awaited content of the time.
So let’s jump on the list we have compiled where we look at all the Bollywood biggies diving in the digital pool.
Radhika Apte
Starting with the Indian theatre, film actress, Radhika Apte who has made her Bollywood debut with ‘Vaah life ho Toh Aisi’. There was a time when her acting career was at the sink in Bollywood. She wasn’t the big name. But then she worked in some small but significant roles, mostly in web shows.
Her acting in web blockbusters Sacred Games, Ghoul, Lust Stories and ‘Stories by Rabindranath Tagore’ is something you would never wish to skip.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui
With ‘Gangs Of Wasseypur’ Nawaz came into light. Now with ‘Yudh’ on Sony TV, Sacred Games on Netflix originals Nawaz has already created a stride in web series’ world. His negative role in Sacred Games has been loved by the audience. He is also among those 10℅ actors whose acting career had a drop down first and then they are being cast along with big Bollywood stars.
Of course, it has not been a fairytale. Recently he has been seen in the BBC Productions ‘MC Mafia’. Which is going to be his debut in International cinema.
Bhumi Padnekar
Well, she has had a great start in Bollywood. She was awarded the Best Female Debut 2015 at Filmfare Awards. Then in the same year, her first web appearance in the ‘Man’s World’. She has played the role of Indumati a strong woman in the satire of a man’s life.
She was all the part of the much-hyped “LUST STORIES”. In the show, she has played the role of a maid who has an affair with her employer. The Web series was definitely a good catch.
Pankaj Tripathi
Earlier, he has had many ups and downs in his acting career. Or let’s say mostly downs. For a surprise element, he has worked in 60 TV Shows till today. But recently he has gripped us with many hit roles. Sacred Games, Mirzapur and recently released Criminal Justice where he showcased what a wonderful actor he is. However, the sole reason for him to be on this list is the ‘Kaleen Bhaiya‘ as a don of ‘Mirzapur‘.
Moreover, ‘The Tashkent Files’ proved how flawless and natural actor he is. Every web series in which he has worked got the IMDB ratings of above 8.2 out of 10.
Richa Chaddha
She began her career as a model and then she moved to the theatre. she made her place in Bollywood with Masaan and Fukrey. Richa has played all kinds of roles from the beginning of her career until now. Whether it is Devi Pathak of Masaan or Bholi Punjaban of Fukrey. Whatever the role is a comedy, romance, critical, meaningful, she has never failed to impress the audience. Nagma in Gangs of Wasseypur was one of her remarkable performances.
Talking about the web. She has been seen experimenting in Inside Edge as Zarina Malik and Man’s World in which she has played a police inspector. Inside edge is a brilliant show. We’ve been there. Her performance in the show was nothing but flawless.
Vicky Kaushal
With his great start in Bollywood movies, he is the new heartthrob of the nation. His debut in Bollywood was with Masaan which did not draw him fame but was one hell of a movie.
And there is Paras of Lust Stories who drew everyone’s attention. On Netflix, you can find this good boy and crush on him all you want because he looks adorable, he acts well and you can’t go out and about this one without saying haye haww and aww.
Priyanka Chopra
Well, Priyanka is unstoppable we all know that. With the start of the year, her very first Netflix Originals released. Isn’t it romantic is actually a romantic comedy.
But this is not it. You are soon going to watch her owing to the screens in another web show. This one is going to be live on Youtube Originals. In ‘If I could tell you just one thing’, she will interact with her peers, role models and friends and ask them the one thing which made them what they are today.
Rajkumar Rao
Rajkumar Rao, originally Rajkumar Yadav got his big break in 2010 with Love Sex Aur Dhokha. All of his roles in Bollywood have been significant. From his small appearances in Gangs of Wasseypur-2, Talaash, and Chittagong to great performance in Trapped and Newton that has left a great impact on everyone.
Consequently, in 2017 he decided to gain more experience in web shows. And accepted the offer to play the role of Subhash Chandra Bose in his biography based web series. On IMDB ‘Bose: Dead/Alive‘ has been rated 9/10.
Saif Ali Khan
The foremost look of the Netflix Originals Sacred Games 2 was all thrill and intimidating.
Saif Ali Khan- the lead in the show impressed everyone in the first season. His gloomy Bollywood career seems survived with this epic drama.
And now that the sequel is on a roll. It is going to be huge for both him and the audience.
Vivek Oberoi
In Karan Ayushman’s Inside Edge, Vivek Oberoi has played the role of a rich businessman. This Excel Entertainment Production has got him major success. The show has also been nominated for the Best Drama Series category at 46th International Emmy Awards last year.
It is a great show, it’ll keep you on your toes and if you are vouching for good Indian web series, you might not want to miss this one.
Karishma Kapoor
Actress Karishma Kapoor is planning to bounce back to acting after seven long years. She will be seen in Ekta Kapoor’s ‘Metalhood’ that’ll be showcased on AltBalaji.
You will find her playing the role of a mother of three kids. This will be her very first look on screen after Dangerous Ishhq in 2012.
Naseeruddin Shah
The Padma Bhushan awardee Naseeruddin Shah is considered one of the finest actors in India. And he is also a prominent figure in Indian parallel cinema.
Recently he has been seen on the small screen playing a significant role in ‘The Tashkent Files’. This web series is a political drama about former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri’s sudden death. Also, he is going to play a major role in Zero KMS, based on human trafficking. We’ll be able to catch up with Zero KMS on Zee5 networks very soon.
Mithun Chakraborty
Popularly known as ‘Mithun Da’, the actor is 68 years old and is still keeping up. His work in The Tashkent Files along with Naseeruddin Shah and Pankaj Tripathi can attract nothing but praise.
R. Madhavan
Ranganathan Madhavan, popularly known as R. Madhavan has done brilliant work in ‘Breathe’, released in 2018. His outstanding performance reminds us of what we’re missing on in mainstream Bollywood.
Breathe is definitely one heck of a show!
And there is a show Deal Ya No Deal on Sony Entertainment based on international Deal Or No Deal format. In which Madhavan has played the host of the show. This one is more like Kon Banega Crorepati. And like always he is excellent in this too.
Akshay Kumar
The Canadian-Indian actor, Akshay Kumar originally, Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia is all set to fire up your screens with his debut in web series. Amazon Prime is going to stream his very first web show ‘The End’.
It will be an action-packed thriller starring the Khiladi of the Bollywood. This one is actually one of the most awaited projects of Khiladi Kumar.
Diya Mirza
Divya Mirza is well known for her philanthropic nature. For the last few years, she has not been a part of any mega Bollywood movie. But remains in news because of her side work.
She has been listed here because of ‘Kaafir’. However, she’s the only star on the show but she might surprise us with this one. Still, the first look of her web series is all in news. A woman wearing hijaab, walking over the beautiful mountains is going to be streaming on Zee5 networks soon.
Emraan Hashmi
Lastly, we have Emraan Hashmi on the list.
The Red Chillies Entertainment of Shahrukh Khan is going to produce its first ever web series ‘The Bard of Blood’. It is based on Bilal Siddiqi’s thriller book The Bard of Blood, published in 2015. Emraan Hashmi is going to play the lead role of ‘Kabir Anand’ in this fictional story. Also, don’t forget to catch him up in Zee5 Originals’ ‘Tigers’.
Finally, our compilation on the shining stars of Bollywood in web series ends here. But there’s a lot coming up. A lot of news, buzz around a lot of projects and there hopefully would be a lot of stars diving in the pool of the web media.
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