Screen Time: Indian Actors Who Redefined the OTT Landscape in 2024
There’s been a star-studded lineup this year, with A-listers like Varun Dhawan and Samantha lighting up the streaming space in Raj and DK’s action-packed Citadel: Honey, Bunny—and superstar Manisha Koirala making an impressive debut as the chief courtesan in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s lavish Heeramandi. Everyone wants a slice of the delicious OTT pie! Here’s a look at six accomplished actors who have made waves with their captivating performances.
Ananya Panday: Starlet to Streaming Sensation
Leave it to a Gen Z trailblazer to redefine the narrative. Ananya Panday, once dismissed as just another Bollywood starlet who benefitted from nepotism, has silenced her critics with a string of stellar performances that prove she’s more than just a pretty face. In 2024, she delivered back-to-back hits that showcased her range and depth.
Her latest triumph, Vikramaditya Motwane’s CTRL, is a tech thriller that dives into the sinister side of social media. Playing Nella, a social media influencer haunted by an AI avatar, Panday masterfully balances vulnerability and steely defiance. The film’s chilling, futuristic narrative elevated her performance, proving she could hold her own in a genre that demanded intensity and nuance. Earlier this year, she lit up the screen in Call Me Bae as Bella “Bae” Chowdhary, a South Delhi heiress-turned-journalist who charms her way through a “riches-to-rags” transformation with humor and grit. Inspired by iconic characters like Reese Witherspoon’s Elle Woods (Legally Blonde) and Kareena Kapoor Khan’s Poo (Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham), Panday’s Bae is effortlessly chic, heartfelt, and commands every scene she’s in.
Fans will recall that the groundwork for Panday’s evolution was laid in 2023 with Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, where she portrayed Ahana, a Gen Z woman grappling with the pressures of digital identity, friendships, and heartbreak. Her nuanced portrayal of a young woman caught between flightiness and resolve resonated with audiences and critics alike. But the real turning point in her career came with Gehraiyaan (2022). As Tia, a woman navigating betrayal and emotional upheaval, Panday mpressed audiences with her performance.
Vikrant Massey: Shape-Shifting Star
What a journey Vikrant Massey has had! From the timid and emotionally fragile Shutu in Konkona Sen Sharma’s A Death in the Gunj to the cold, calculating predator Prem in this year’s Sector 36, Massey continues to prove he’s one of India’s most versatile actors. Shutu, a character weighed down by familial expectations and insecurities, remains one of Massey’s most memorable performances. It showcased his remarkable ability to convey innocence and vulnerability with heartbreaking authenticity. But in Sector 36, inspired by the horrifying Nithari murders, Massey flips the script entirely. His portrayal of Prem, a remorseless predator, is chilling and haunting, a stark departure from his “everyman” charm. Massey’s willingness to delve into morally dark and complex roles proves his fearless approach to his craft.
In another OTT hit this year, Phir Aayi Haseen Dilruba, the sequel to Haseen Dilruba, Massey revisits his role as Rishu, a man torn between love, betrayal, and survival. This time, the narrative takes on even darker shades, and considering its pulpy milieu, Massey’s performance never slips into caricature. From Mirzapur’s Bablu Pandit, whose intelligence and vulnerability stood out in the gritty crime drama, to Criminal Justice and Broken But Beautiful, he has consistently delivered standout performances. Also worth mentioning is Massey's performance in 12th Fail, where he shines as Manoj, a student who overcomes the odds to ace the country’s civil service exams.
Shalini Passi: Goddess of Glam and Glitz
“The only reason I don't keep grudges against people is because it affects my skin.”
This memorable mantra was uttered by the newest sensation to hit the streaming world. Delhi-based art patron, philanthropist, and now OTT star, Shalini Passi has quickly become a fan favorite, thanks to her unapologetic embrace of the glitzy side of life, paired with a charm that’s impossible to ignore. Passi is one of the three Delhi socialites (Riddhima Kapoor Sahni and Kalyani Saha Chawla being the other two) who have joined the original cast of the Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives in their third season on Netflix. Passi immediately set herself apart by injecting humor, sass, and a dose of reality. She is unafraid to be herself (she walked into the ocean, dressed in a complete ensemble), was straightforward in her criticism of celebrity culture, and also walked everywhere with her two ladies-in-waiting, Dayaan and Baayan (right and left).
But Passi isn’t just about the glam life on screen. Off-camera, she’s a philanthropist, entrepreneur, and founder of the Shalini Passi Art Foundation and MASH, a platform dedicated to fostering innovation in contemporary art, fashion, design, and film. She proves that reality TV doesn’t have to be all drama and theatrics.
Mammootty and Jyotika: Regional Rulers
With their absorbing performances in Kaathal: The Core, a Malayalam film that transcends cultural and linguistic boundaries, legends Mammootty and Jyotika once again prove why they are two of the finest actors in Indian cinema. Directed by Jeo Baby, this poignant drama delves deep into themes of identity, love, and liberation, showcasing the powerful and nuanced acting of its two leads. Mammootty plays Mathew, a reserved yet tormented man struggling with his own identity and the oppressive weight of societal expectations. His portrayal of Mathew is extraordinary—as a closeted gay man, he captures the quiet anguish of a person trapped in a life he never chose. Mammootty, known for his powerful performances in films like Pazhassi Raja (2009), Peranbu (2018), and The Great Father (2017), brings a quiet yet intense energy to the role, making his character’s journey of self-discovery both relatable and heart-wrenching.
Opposite him, Jyotika delivers a compelling performance as Omana, Mathew’s wife, a woman who longs for freedom from a marriage that was never real. Her portrayal of Omana is both tender and fierce.
Diljit Dosanjh: Spotlighting Soulful Singing
Diljit Dosanjh has long been celebrated for his versatility as a singer and actor, captivating audiences not just with his infectious energy but with his deep connection to Punjabi music and culture. In Chamkila, Dosanjh steps into the shoes of an icon, portraying the legendary folk singer Amar Singh Chamkila in a film that does far more than showcase the man behind the music. It brings a forgotten cultural giant into the spotlight. Chamkila, widely regarded as one of Punjab's most controversial and influential musicians, was a voice of defiance and raw emotion. Yet, outside of Punjab, his name remained largely unknown, overshadowed by the other Indian music genres. Imtiaz Ali's Chamkila changes that by bringing his bold and boundary-pushing music to a broader audience, with Diljit Dosanjh’s stirring performance at the film’s core.
From the moment the film’s first notes hit, the power of Chamkila's music becomes apparent. AR Rahman’s evocative soundtrack captures the essence of Chamkila’s unique blend of folk music and provocative lyrics.
Baisakhi Roy is a culture writer and journalist based in Ontario, Canada. Her work has appeared in The Globe and Mail, Huffington Post Canada, Chatelaine, Broadview and CBC. Formerly a reporter with The Indian Express in India, Roy is an avid Bollywood fan and co-hosts the Hindi language podcast KhabardaarPodcast.com. Email: baisakhi.roy@gmail.com
Enjoyed reading Khabar magazine? Subscribe to Khabar and get a full digital copy of this Indian-American community magazine.
