Bollywood Musing: 7 Supporting Actresses We Would Like To See Doing Lead Roles

They may not be the crowd-pullers of Bollywood but when they are performing out there, you are sure to be captivated. Supporting actresses have been a part of Bollywood for as long as you can remember and more often than not, they have acted their hearts out in a way that people are not likely to forget. Many of them come from a theatre background and have strong acting calibre. So we think they will be equally impressive in carrying off a lead role.

Following is a list of top 7 supporting actresses of Bollywood whom we would definitely want to see in lead roles.

1. Swara Bhaskar
We first noticed her as the bold Payal in Tanu Weds Manu, liked her as the housewife Suman in Aurangzeb and totally loved her as the Banarasi Bindiya in Raanjhanaa. This talented Delhi lass started her acting career with Act One, a Delhi-based theatre group. In 2008, she made her move to Mumbai and today, she is recognised as one of the most talented actresses. We would like to see her in a leading role where she can amaze us with her acting skills and have a bit more of screen space, compared to her earlier projects.

2. Richa Chadda
After being noticed in Oye Lucky Lucky Oye as the drunkard sister of the main lead, Richa Chadda has come a long way. If the critically appraised role in Gangs of Wasseypur series and her bold portrayal of a gangster called Bholi Punjaban in the sleeper hit Fukrey were not enough proof of her potential, she won hearts in a short yet memorable role in the Rs 100 crore hit Ram Leela. What we expect in the near future is a leading role in another mafia movie, which we think, suits her best.

3. Shahana Goswami
What might come as a shocker is that Shahana Goswami has been around for more years than you can remember. Her first outing was in Zoya Akhtar’s Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd., when she was just 20. To date, she has several laudable performances to her credit, including her most memorable role of Debbie in Rock On, the role that won her Filmfare Best Actress (Critics) award, a first for any supporting actress. With that kind of acting talent, we are sure she will be amazing as a leading lady in the future.

4. Aditi Rao Hydari
Debuting in a role much older than her actual age is a bold step taken by this Hyderabadi princess. But her beautiful portrayal of Rama Bua, the unmarried aunt of Sonam Kapoor in Delhi-6, earned her some pretty good roles in the later years. She worked as a supporting actress in Yeh Saali Zindagi, Rockstar and Murder 3, and later did some lead roles as well. Her portrayal of Lolita in London, Paris, New York earned her positive reviews but the movie failed to leave a mark at the box office. But just like the male lead, Ali Zafar, Aditi sang in the movie and the rendition got her some rave reviews.

5. Diana Penty
Her role of the innocent and pious Meera in Saif Ali Khan’s Cocktail impressed viewers and critics alike. With a dream debut and several nominations in her kitty, we expected to see more of this pretty model. However, Diana is yet to sign a lead role in any Hindi film and is currently busy promoting several brands.

6. Jeneva Talwar
She is probably the least familiar name in the list, but that doesn’t undermine her acting talent. She has appeared in several acclaimed flicks like Ru Ba Ru, Turning 30, Patiala House and Shaurya, and proved time and again that you need not be a leading name to impress movie-goers. But we still want Jeneva to do a role in a commercial movie – so that the masses can further appreciate her praiseworthy prowess.

7. Divya Dutta
Been there, done that… Divya Dutta is not new to the industry. In fact, she has been wowing us for some 20 years and still outshines many of her contemporaries when it comes to character roles. Who can forget her Multani-speaking character Shanno, who managed to strike all the right chords in Veer Zaara? Her portrayal of Ishrat Kaur, the elder sister of Milkha Singh in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, won her several awards and nominations. With ample industry experience, Dutta can do wonders if she ever decides to step in the shoes of a leading lady, in a role tailor-made for her.

Image courtesy: Indiatimes