7 South Indian Beauties Who Rocked Bollywood
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There has consistently been an unmistakable contrast between the South Indian film industry and the rest of Bollywood. Considering most moviegoers up the north of India speak Hindi or English as their first language, it’s no surprise that South Indian films don’t do well in that market. However, did you know that many of the Bollywood actresses you admire are from South India and they have made their debut in South Indian films? Actresses like Rekha, Deepika Padukone, Aishwarya Rai, etc. are just a few of the names on this list. In this list, we showcase seven gorgeous South Indian actresses who cast their mark in Bollywood and achieved widespread acclaim.
1. Deepika Padukone
Deepika is one of the most well-known actresses in Bollywood. She was born to acclaimed badminton player, Prakash Padukone in Copenhagen. Her childhood was spent in the capital city of Karnataka, Bengaluru. Like her father, Deepika was also a professional badminton player but stopped pursuing the sport after she decided to become a model instead. Deepika actually made her first foray into the world of films with the Kannada movie Aishwarya in 2006. Although her first shot at glory was the Farah Khan movie Om Shanti Om, in 2007. She was discovered by Farah after the director saw her modeling campaigns.
2. Sridevi
Sridevi was born in Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu. She made her first debut into motion pictures as a child actress at the age of four. She scored her first lead role in the Tamil movie Moondru Mudichu. The movie starred two legendary Tamil film actors, Rajinikanth and Kamal Hassan. After the success of this film, she starred in many hit Tamil films and was widely recognized as a talented actress and entertainer. Her introduction into Hindi film cinema began with Solva Sawan, and she went on to play significant roles in the movies Himmatwala, Chandni and Mr India. Many consider the actress to be the first female superstar of Hindi cinema. In 2012, following a long hiatus, Sridevi appeared in English Vinglish which won her critical acclaim and power.
3. Tabu
Born and raised in Hyderabad, Tabu moved to Mumbai to pursue her education at St. Xavier’s College. She made her debut in the world of cinema with the Telugu film Coolie No.1 opposite superstar actor Venkatesh. Her first successful Bollywood film was Vijaypath which featured Ajay Devgn as well. She went on to act in many films from Mira Nair’s The Namesake to Haider, and Andhadun.
4. Rekha
Known for her stunning vixen like persona and mysterious personal life, did you know Rekha too is a South Indian actress? Born to prominent South Indian actors Gemini Ganesan and Pushpavalli, it’s no wonder that Rekha had been blessed in the looks department. Rekha starred in many films as a child actress before making her Kannada film debut as an adult in Operation Jackpot Nalli CID 999. In the year 1970, she made her Bollywood debut with Sawan Bhadon that turned her into an overnight star.
5. Hema Malini
Veteran actress Hema Malini was born to an Iyengar family in Tamil Nadu. She made her entry into films with the Tamil film Idhu Sathiyam. She later shifted to Bollywood and starred in a movie opposite Raj Kapoor titled Sapno Ka Saudagar. After receiving commercial success with this film, she went on to rule Bollywood with her hits like Johny Mera Naam, Seeta Aur Geeta and Sholay.
6. Vidya Balan
Originally hailing from the district of Palakkad in Kerala and of Tamilian descent, Vidya grew up in the city of Mumbai. She went on to enroll in the prestigious St. Xavier’s University and studied Sociology over there. She made her Hindi movie debut in Hum Paanch and went on to star in many successful motion pictures like No One Killed Jessica, The Dirty Picture, and Kahani.
7. Aishwarya Rai
One of Bollywood’s leading ladies, Aishwarya hails from a Tulu speaking Bunt family in Mangalore, Karnataka. After winning the Miss World Pageant in 1994, there’s been no turning back for the actress, and she’s just kept moving forward, spawning hit after hit. She made her first debut in Tamil film Iruvar which was directed by superstar film director, Mani Ratnam. Her entry into Bollywood wasn’t as big of a deal, but she did receive attention after starring in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam with Salman Khan.
Suffice to say that South Indian actresses have made quite a mark on Bollywood. Tell us what you think of this list? Tell us who your pick is for best South Indian actress in Bollywood, in the comments below.
