Hits and flops are part and parcel of an actor’s career, and these talented actresses had their fair share too. Films do not do well for various reasons, one such reason attributed is to performance. Sometimes the film will be a hit despite the insignificant roles of the characters especially the heroines and looks like most of our actresses chose roles that almost made the audience forget that they existed. Expectations are high this year with an impressive lineup for these lead ladies for whom its time show that they can carry off substance role with confidence.
1. Nayanthara, Anushka Shetty & Trisha
Nayan is on top of her game currently. However, it was not just about last year but this year as well. Although her film ‘Dora’ did not perform well, her movie ‘Aramm’ just won a million hearts and carried the entire movie on her shoulder. Nayanthara’s Aramm was so good that it kept the actress right on Numero Uno and despite her having a minuscule role in Sivakarthikeyan’s ‘Velaikkaran’, ‘Aramm’ helped her for the entire year. She now has ‘Imaikka Nodigal’, ‘Kolaiyudhir Kalam’ and ‘Jai Simha’ for the year. There are also talks about the actress taking up a film with Dulquer or Nivin.
Giving her a competition came Anushka Shetty who literally blew global minds away with the character of Devasena. Unlike other princesses’ who do nothing but hide behind their princes, Devasena proved that anything is possible when one is a woman and Anushka Shetty nailed the action sequences with much grace and poise. She was also one of those very few actresses who shined in the film despite having two big heroes. Anushka is all set to release ‘Bhagamathie’ this year.
Despite not having any major releases last year, Trisha has maintained her position as a top actress. Apart from being the celebrity advocate for United Nations, the actress has mostly signed up for women-centric films. ‘Garjanai’, ‘Mohini’ and ‘1818’. Apart from that, the actress has ‘Sadhuranga Vettai 2’ alongside Arvind Swami, ‘Hey Jude’ alongside Nivin Pauly which also marks her Malayalam Debut and ’96’ alongside Vijay Sethupathi. She earlier confirmed her lead in Vikram’s ‘Saamy square’. However, due to reasons unknown, the actress dropped out of the film.
2. Hansika & Shruti Haasan
With Bogan being a bomb at the box office, Hansika did not have any other releases and one or two jewellery ads. However, just a week into the year and her new movie see her playing an interesting character of a thief alongside Prabhudeva (Gulaebaghavali). Two more of her films are being expected with one playing the role of actor Atharvaa’s love interest in the next untitled romantic drama and the other with Vikram Prabhu.
Shruti Haasan has not been doing any films lately. Her last film was ‘Singam 3’ with a noticeable character as an investigative journalist. She was offered the lead role in Sundar. C’s woman-centric film ‘Sanghamitra’ alongside Jayam Ravi and Arya. However, due to what seemed like a riff between the director and Shruti, the actress withdrew from the film. With literally no film signed this year, Shruti Haasan seems to be inactive for almost two years now.
3. Samantha, Tamannaah & Kajal Aggarwal
Samantha has definitely had a great 2017 as she wedded the love of her life and son of actor Nagarjuna, Naga Chaitanya. Films like ‘Raju Gari Gadhi 2’ and ‘Mersal’ were box-office hits. However, her role in ‘Mersal’ was so tiny and unworthy, we wonder why the actress even took it up or why directors even consider actresses for such unnoticeable roles? However, we hope Sam chooses films with more substance where she shines and no actor takes away her brightness on-screen. She has signed up for films like ‘Super Deluxe’ alongside Vijay Sethupathi, Ponram-Sivakarthikeyan’s next and the Savithri biopic titled ‘Mahanati’. She is also wrapping up ‘Irumbu Thirai’ alongside Vishal. It is said that the actress has signed up for ‘U-turn’, a Kannada remake which had Shraddha Srinath in the lead.
Much like Samantha, Tamannaah was seen for not more than two to five minutes in the film “Bahubali 2′. The actress who has been inactive for a while post that is expecting the release of ‘Sketch’ alongside Vikram which is the remake of the superhit Telugu film ‘Pelli Chupulu’ on Pongal. Tamannaah will also be seen in Telugu version of the film ‘Queen’ which was a Bollywood blockbuster starring Kangana Ranaut.
Kajal also did a role in Vijay-Atlee’s ‘Mersal’ where she was seen as long as Samantha was. The actress’ ‘Vivegam’ with Ajith had a lengthier role but with no substance which was the same case with the Rana Daggubati starrer ‘Nene Raja Nene Mantri’. However, Kajal has some strong lineups this year. She is all set to take the industry by storm with women-centric films like ‘Paris Paris’ which is a remake of the Bollywood blockbuster film ‘Queen’ and ‘Awe’ where she plays the role of ‘Kali’.
4. Amala Paul, Andrea & Amy Jackson
Amy Jackson has been inactive for two years in a row now. Despite her guest appearances in Prabhu Deva – Tamannaah starrer ‘Devi’, there wasn’t anything else she was seen in. However, this year will be huge for the actress as she will be seen in the most expected Magnum Opus film ‘2.0’ starring Superstar Rajinikanth in the lead and directed by Shankar. We hope Amy has a strong role in the film!
Amala Paul is one of those very few actresses who can ACT. Her performance in ‘Thiruttu Payaley 2’ was applaudable and although ‘Velailla Pattadhari 2’ was a bomb at the box-office, she had a decent role in the film and she always manages to perform any given role. She has ‘Baskar Oru Rascal’ alongside Arvind Swami lined up this year.
2017 was Andrea’s year all the way. Her trilingual ‘The House Next Door’ alongside Siddharth was a huge success, her role as the villain in the film ‘Thupparivalan’ was appreciated and her extraordinary performance in ‘Taramani’ was brilliant. Andrea is awaiting the release of ‘Vishwaroopam 2’ alongside Kamal Haasan and ‘Vada Chennai’ alongside Dhanush this year.
5. Jyothika & Aishwarya Rajessh
Jyothika’s comeback has been so strong that her audience only keeps increasing. ’36 Vayadhinile’ was an amazing comeback and yet again under Suriya’s production banner Jyo’s ‘Magalir Mattum’ last year was a bomb at the box-office but her performance on-point as always. However, her lineup this year is humungous as the actress is all set to rule 2018. She is finally a Mani Ratnam heroine which will start rolling from this year. She also is awaiting the release of Bala directed ‘Naachiyar’ alongside GV Prakash.
Do we even need to explain the acting skills Aishwarya Rajessh owns? Her Malayalam film ‘Jomonte Suvisheshangal’ was appreciated as much as her acting. However, the actress did not have any hits as such last year. Fear not, as Aishwarya will be humungous this year as she has been chosen as the leading lady by two huge directors – Gautham Menon and Mani Ratnam. She is also shooting for ‘Idam Porul Yeval’ with Vijay Sethupathi and ‘Vada Chennai’ with Dhanush.
6. Newbies
Sai Pallavi, Aathmika, Megha Akash, Sayyesha and Priya Bhavani Shankar are the newbies to Kollywood who entered Kollywood last year or entering it this year. Sai Pallavi has given blockbusters in Telugu and Malayalam and is all set to take the Tamil cinema by storm with the movie ‘Karu’ directed by AL Vijay. She will also be doing ‘Maari 2’ alongside Dhanush and next untitled film alongside Suriya.
Sayyeshaa is yet another actress who is the most expected. She has signed three Kollywood films already namely ‘Vanamagan’ alongside Jayam Ravi, ‘Junga’ alongside Vijay Sethupathi and an untitled film starring Karthi in the lead and directed by Pandiraj.
Aathmika’s debut last year with ‘Meesaya Murukku’ alongside Hiphop Tamizha Adi was a good step forward and the actress did a decent performance for being a beginner. Her film this year remains unconfirmed for now.
Megha Akash is entering Kollywood this year with a Gautham Menon film just like Manjima did in the year 2016 alongside Dhanush. Similarly, Priya Bhavani Shankar’s ‘Meyyadha Maan’ last year was super successful. Her movie releases this year remains unknown too.
Concluding this, we hope, as an audience, to see great lineups this year from actresses like Sai Pallavi, Aishwarya Rajessh, and Jyothika this yeat while we hope the others choose roles that are meaty and with substance which lets them shine brighter than a diamond!
