North-East Actresses Who Proved Their Worth In Bollywood
Posted On: 06 Jun 2022 | Last Updated : 19 Oct 2022 | Views : 10.6k
Encompassing the eight states - Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura, North East India is the land of scenic beauty and hospitable people. However, the North East Indians often face discrimination and alienation in other states of the nation because of their looks. A genuine example of racism, the Northeast Indians are often said to have not enough Indian looks. Despite all these problems and harsh remarks from the people of their own nation, Northeast Indians have never stopped amazing us in any aspect. From winning the sports championship to bringing their local art and dance form to international platforms, they have walked a long way. Similarly, their looks never barred them from becoming Bollywood superstars, and today, we’ll talk about these North East India actresses of Bollywood who proved their worth in a short span of time. For more such Bollywood-related updates, articles, topics, and trivia on movies and celebrities, stay tuned.
1. Seema Biswas - Bandit Queen (1994)
If there ever would be a list of ‘Top 10 Bollywood Actresses from Northeast India’, Assamese-born Seema Biswas would always make to it. She started her career with Krishnan Kartha’s Amshini in 1987 and did other Assamese projects during that time. However, she gained fame with Shekhar Kapur’s 1994 biographical film Bandit Queen, in which she played the real-life dacoit Phoolan Devi. She was praised for her performance and portrayal of the dacoit, who faced a number of miseries in her lifetime before she took the path of crime. Other important movies of her career include - Khamoshi: The Musical (1996), Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa (1998), Ghaav: The Wound (2002), Bhoot (2003), Water (2005), Vivah (2006), Half Girlfriend (2017) and many more.
2. Dipannita Sharma - 16 December (2002)
Another Assamese beauty, Dipannita Sharma, who graduated in History, started her career in Bollywood with the 2002 action thriller drama 16 December, for which she was nominated in the Zee Cine Awards and Star Screen Awards in the Best Debut Female category. She was later seen in movies like Dil Vil Pyar Vyar (2002), My Brother… Nikhil (2005), Ladies vs Ricky Bahl (2011), Jodi Breakers (2012), Coffee with D (2017), War (2019) and many more.
3. Masochon V. Zimik - Chak De! India (2007)
Masochon V. Zimik was born and brought up in the city of Ukhrul in Manipur. The actress is best known for her role in the 2007 sports drama Chak De! India, in which she played Molly Zimik from Manipur, the left half player in the Indian Hockey Team. One of the 16 actresses, who were referred as the Chak De! Girls, Masochon V. Zimik represented the Northeast Indians and the racism they face in other states.
4. Kimi Laldawla - Chak De! India (2007)
The Indian film actress, Kimi Laldawla has predominantly worked in Bollywood. Born in Mizoram, Kimi Laldawla, one of the Chak De! Girls, started her acting career with the Shah Rukh Khan starrer 2007 sports drama Chak De! India. She portrayed the role of the penalty specialist Mary Ralte from Mizoram in the Indian hockey team. With Northeast actresses Kimi Laldawla and Masochon V. Zimik, the film portrayed the racism faced by the Northeast Indians by the people from other states of the nation.
5. Monikangana Dutta - Guzaarish (2010)
Born and brought up in Guwahati, Assam, Monikangana Dutta is an international model, who started her career in 2001 and won the Metropolitan Top Model Contest of France. She has walked the ramp for many top fashion designers, and appeared in the editorials of many fashion magazines like Vogue, Elle, Tank Magazine, etc. She made her acting debut with the 2010 romantic drama Guzaarish, directed by Sanjay Leela Bansali, starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai in the titular roles. She played the role of Estella Francis, assistant of magician Ethan (Hrithik Roshan).
6. Geetanjali Thapa – Kuchh Bheege Alfaaz (2018)
Born in Gangtok, Sikkim, Geetanjali Thapa is one of the most famous Bollywood actresses from Northeast India. She started her career with the 2012 thriller drama I.D., directed by Kamal K. M., co-starring Murari Kumar. Her role in the 2013 road movie Liar’s Dice helped her to establish her career in Bollywood. She also won the National Film Award for Best Actress for her role in Liar’s Dice. Other important movies of her career include Monsoon Shootout (2013), Trapped (2016), Kuchh Bheege Alfaaz (2018), Bioscopewala (2018), etc.
7. Reema Debnath - PK (2014)
Daughter of a retired civil servant, Reema Debnath is a Northeast India actress of Bollywood who was born in Agartala, Tripura. She then moved to Kolkata, and studied and performed in the Kolkata Film & Television Institute (KFTI). When she moved to Mumbai, she started working in TV serials, advertisements and films. She is best known for her role of Phuljhadiya, the prostitute, in the 2014 sci-fi comedy drama PK, directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Other important films featuring her include Bodyguard (2011), Macchli Jal Ki Rani Hai (2012), etc.
8. Patralekha Paul - CityLights (2014)
Patralekha Paul, born in Shillong, Meghalaya, is an Indian actress, who made her acting debut with Hansal Mehta’s 2014 film CityLights, alongside Rajkummar Rao, for which she won Screen Award for Most Promising Newcomer - Female. She portrayed the role of a poor housewife, who moves to Mumbai with her husband and daughter in hopes to make it big, but has to face the hardships and reality of this big city. This low budget film became commercially successful, and Patralekha and Rajkummar were praised by critics as well as audience. This Northeast Female Celeb of Bollywood married her longtime boyfriend and co-star Rajkummar Rao in 2021. Other movies featuring her include Love Games (2016), Nanu Ki Jaanu (2018), etc.
9. Andrea Tariang - Pink (2016)
Born in Shillong, Meghalaya, Andrea Tariang is a well-known Indian actress, singer and model. She is best known for her portrayal of Northeast Indian girl in the 2016 courtroom drama Pink, directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, that follows the story of three girls - Minal (Taapsee Pannu), Falak (Kirti Kulhari) and Andrea (Andrea Tariang), who get involved in an incident that is going to change their entire life. Helped by an old lawyer, Deepak Sehgal (Amitabh Bachchan), the three girls finally get justice. The movie gained huge popularity for its storyline that focused on the tagline - ‘No means No’. It even helped all three actresses to garner the praises of the audience and critics for their performances.
10. Devi Dolo - Mohenjo Daro (2016)
Born in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, Devi Dolo is one of the Northeast Indian actresses in Bollywood who started her acting career with a small role in Ashutosh Gowariker’s epic action-adventure drama Mohenjo Daro, starring Hrithik Roshan and Pooja Hegde. She played the role of a tourist from a faraway region, Makkan. After Mohenjo Daro, the actress was seen in number web series and music albums. She has also acted in the 2020 film Filmi Raasleela, which is based on the ‘me too movement’ in Bollywood.
11. Lin Laishram - Rangoon (2017)
Linthoingambi ‘Lin’ Laishram is an Indian actress and model from Manipur. She started her career with a small role in the 2007 Masala film Om Shanti Om, directed by Farah Khan. She then majorly focused on her modeling career and soon became the brand ambassador of a New York-based jewelry company. She was also the participant of the reality TV show Calendar Girls. The actress is best known for her role as Mema in the 2017 period drama Rangoon, starring Kangana Ranaut, Saif Ali Khan and Shahid Kapoor. She has also acted in Mary Kom (2014), Umrika (2015) and Axone (2019).
12. Panchi Bora - 22 Yards (2019)
The Indian actress and model, Panchi Bora was born in Guwahati, Assam. She started her career with television commercials and advertisements. Later, she started her acting career with the TV serial Kitni Mast Hai Zindagi (2004-05), and then appeared in several Telugu films, like - Aakasame Haddu (2011), Dhamarukam (2012), etc. She has also acted in the 2013 comedy drama It’s My Life, but she is best known for her role in the 2019 sports drama 22 Yards, directed by Mitali Ghoshal.
13. Chum Darang - Badhaai Do (2022)
Chum Darang is an Indian model, actress and entrepreneur from Arunachal Pradesh. She started her career as a model, and has participated and won several beauty pageants including ‘Miss AAPSU 2010’. She has represented India in many international beauty pageants. Chum Darang started her acting career with a small role in the 2020 web series Paatal Lok. In Bollywood, she started her career with Harshvardhan Kulkarni’s 2022 romantic comedy drama Badhaai Do, co-starring Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar. Chum played the role of a lesbian named Rimjhim, who falls in love with Sumi (Bhumi Pednekar), but due to societal pressure, the two are forced to keep their relationship a secret. Darang was praised for her performance in the movie. She has also acted in the 2022 biographical drama Gangubai Kathiawadi, starring Alia Bhatt.
14. Andrea Kevichüsa - Anek (2022)
The descendant of Angami Naga from Khonoma, actress Andrea Kevichüsa was born in Kohima, Nagaland. The model turned actress, Andrea Kevichüsa started her modeling career at the young age of 16, and has walked the ramp for the top fashion designers including Sabyasachi Mukherjee. She made her screen debut in Bollywood with the 2022 social thriller drama Anek, starring Ayushmann Khurrana, directed by Anubhav Sinha.
