New crop of South-Asian actors cementing position in Hollywood after Priyanka Chopra Irrfan Khan
New crop of South-Asian actors cementing position in Hollywood after Priyanka Chopra Irrfan Khan
Priyanka Chopra, Irrfan Khan,
Kal Penn gained momentum
In Hollywood and won acclaim for their performance.
Now, the new crop of South-Asian actors are cementing their position like never before. This comes after
After Kal Penn, Irrfan Khan, Priyanka Chopra
Gone are the days when actors were often confined to stereotypical roles, playing characters that lacked depth. But, now they are portraying characters that transcend cultural boundaries and resonate with audiences worldwide.
Actors like Kal Penn, Kunal Nayyar, Mindy Kaling, Aziz Ansari and Irrfan Khan happen to be pioneers in this area.
The new wave of talent is further putting a challenge to these stereotypes with more authentic performances and diverse representations on screen.
One notable figure leading this charge is British-Pakistani actor Riz Ahmed, whose exceptional performances won for him critical acclaim and accolades across various platforms. Ahmed’s portrayal in films like Sound of Metal and Nightcrawler demonstrated his versatility and depth as an actor.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas stands as a beacon of change, in an era where diversity and representation are at the forefront of discussions in the entertainment industry. She broke the stereotypes when she played Alex Parrish in the American TV series Quantico. In a role traditionally reserved for Western actors, Chopra mesmerised audiences with her portrayal of a talented FBI recruit navigating through complex missions and personal challenges.
She has also acted in series like Citadel, Isn’t It Romantic, A Kid Like Jack and Baywatch.
Alia Bhatt in recent past and Dhanush also made their Hollywood debut in significant roles in films, Heart of Stone and The Gray Man, respectively. If Tom Harper’s Heart of Stone had Hollywood A-listers Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan besides Alia, Dhanush shared screen space with Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans for Russo Brothers’ ambitious project
The Gray Man.
The Russo Brothers’ recent venture, Citadel featuring Priyanka Chopra is also said to be made into an Indian spin off by the same name. Actors Varun Dhwan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu have been cast for the upcoming series.
Kamala Khan, the titular character of Ms Marvel, essayed by a talented Canadian actress of Pakistani descent Iman Vellani, is the first South-Asian superhero of Marvel Cinematic Universe on OTT platform. Kamala Khan brings to life the complexity and richness of a character grappling with her identity, culture, and newfound superpowers. As a Pakistani-American teenager residing in Jersey City, Kamala’s journey resonates with audiences worldwide, offering a fresh perspective on the superhero genre. It also includes big names such as Farhan Akhtar and Fawad Khan.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, seen in Netflix series Never Have I Ever, is another South-Asian face to watch out for.
The show is produced by Indian-American screenwriter-actor Mindy Kaling. With Never Have I Ever, she crafted a narrative that resonates with audiences of all backgrounds while celebrating the unique experiences of South-Asian Americans.
Ramakrishnan’s emote of Devi Vishwakumar is not defined by her ethnicity but by her dreams, desires and the universal struggles of adolescence.
Another series, One Day, released recently on Netflix has Ambika Mod as the lead actress. Interestingly, the story isn’t about a ‘young brown woman and her experience as a young brown woman’ in London, but it’s about ‘a woman living her life and her relationships with her boyfriend, friends and her career.’
The series’ success is a reminder of the fact that diversity is now an accepted norm. As Riz Ahmed puts in, “Our differences are what make us unique, but our shared humanity is what connects us all.
News Edit K.V.Raman
