9 Upcoming Stars That You Need To Look Out For On OTT Platforms
niharika nayakBA (Media & Communication) Experience: 4 yearsNiharika has a passion for all things art, music, and travel and has over 4 years of experience in writing for social media. During her spare time, she likes experimenting in the kitchen, playing vide... more
OTT platforms have taken the Indian film industry by storm and shifted the power from big-name actors and big-budget productions to heavy scripts and powerful talent. Thanks to OTT, we, as audience members, have gotten to see improved scripts, diverse talents, and incredible cinematography. OTT has also changed the tides for young stars trying to make their big break in Bollywood. Although many of the actors on our list have been featured in roles in various Bollywood films, it wasn’t until they took to OTT platforms that they became a household name. Take, for example, actor Rohit Saraf. The 24-year-old who is tagged as India’s “brand new crush” won the hearts of fans after his performance in Netflix produced, Mismatched and Ludo. He is among a broad group of web series newcomers like Aaditi Pohankar and Jitendra Kumar, whose whole fortunes changed after OTT became the next big thing. So if you’re wondering which rising stars to look out for in 2021, we have a list for you:
1. Rohit Saraf
Rohit impressed many young fans after playing the role of Rishi Singh Shekhawat in Mismatched. Although his character came across as pretty simple, he seemed to have an underlying complexity about him that made you want to dig deeper. Similarly, with his role in Ludo as Rahul Awasthi, he played a small-town boy whose luck soon changes after a series of misfortunes. Although he had more minor roles in films like Dear Zindagi and The Sky Is Pink, we cannot help but be captivated by his performances on screen.
2. Aaditi Pohankar
Aaditi Pohankar has been around for some time. After her breakout performance opposite Riteish Deshmukh in a Marathi film, Lal Bhaari, in 2014, she patiently waited for the right role to play. And soon, it was Imtiaz Ali and Prakash Jha, who had her cast in their shows, She and Aashram. Ever since these two shows hit streaming services, Aaditi has become a hot new favorite.
3. Monika Panwar
A graduate of the National School of Drama in the capital city, Delhi, Monika is a popular name on the theatre and play circuit. Before acting in the Netflix series that shot her to stardom, she appeared in films such as Destiny, Super 30, and Sailing Through Life. Her role as Gudiya Singh in the Netflix web series, Jamtara – Sabka Number Ayega, won her many fans. Although the story of her character is fictional, the show addressed plenty of real political issues.
4. Vijay Verma
Vijay’s career began as a small-time theatre actor in his hometown of Hyderabad, where he worked on numerous plays before he decided to enter the world of film. His various roles in popular movies like Pink, Gully Boy, and Gangs of Ghosts won him tonnes of respect. However, it was his role in Amazon Prime’s Mirzapur that won him a lot of praise from critics and allowed him to share the spotlight with other Bollywood stars. He also starred in A Suitable Boy as the character of Rasheed, a man fighting a losing battle between his heart and familial duty.
5. Jitendra Kumar
Jitendra Kumar held his own among actors like Neena Gupta, Raghuvir Yadav, and more in the Amazon Prime web series Panchayat. In the past few years, he worked with many web series for streaming service TVF, but his acting in Panchayat made him super popular among netizens. His incredible talent on the show landed him a popular role as a closeted gay man in Shubh Mangal Zyaada Saavdhan. He starred opposite Ayushmann Khurana, and their cute romance made our hearts melt.
6. Divyenndu
Although he has played many supporting roles in Bollywood films like Pyaar Ka Punchnama and Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, his part in Mirzapur is what truly caught the eyes of fans. Divyenndu truly outshone with his portrayal of the character, Munna Bhaiya, in Mirzapur. However, it wasn’t until the second season of the series, that he garnered a steady fan following and made people keep their eyes peeled for more.
7. Mithila Palkar
Mithila is known for her roles in the TV series, Girl in the City and the Netflix production, Little Things. In 2016, she gained fame after her Marathi version of Anna Kendrick’s “cup song” went viral. Her acting debut happened in the year 2014 when she starred in a Marathi short film by the name of Majha Honeymoon. In 2019 she starred in the film Chopsticks alongside Abhay Deol, and in 2020, she starred as a fictionalized version of herself in Masaba Masaba.
8. Abhishek Banerjee
Before casting his net into the world of acting, Abhishek Benerjee started his career in the film industry as the casting director for Rang De Basanti. While that film performed insanely well at the box office and the cast stole our hearts, Abhishek decided to take a step further. His role as the character of Janna in the horror film Stree is still deeply etched into the hearts of his diehard fans. However, it’s his role in Paatal Lok that brought him into the spotlight.
9. Isha Talwar
While Divyenndu stole our hearts as Munna Bhaiya in Mirzapur, Isha Talwar was no less with her incredible skills as Madhuri Yadav. She essays the role with ease and plays the widowed daughter of the CM Surya Pratap Yadav. Isha’s stellar portrayal of the character is what made us itch to see what she has in store for us next.
With OTT platforms being the new craze, we’re bound to see some exciting big-budget and low-budget productions online. All of the actors on our list have been featured for their versatility and ease in which they played their roles, and we cannot wait to see what they come up with next. Have you seen any of the OTT shows that these incredible actors have acted in? Tell us in the comment section below!
