Women Power

Serial:  Bade Achhe Lagte Hai on Sony

While Sakshi Tanwar’s first television series was Dastoor, her breakthrough came with Kahanii Ghar Ghar Ki, a show which ran for about eight years.
Her character Parvati Agarwal, continues to be one of the most popular characters of all time on the tube. At a time, when actresses get typecast after playing a character for too long, Tanwar, was successful in leaving behind Parvati and becoming equally popular as Priya with Bade Acche Lagte Hai. The character of Priya is a far cry from the character of Parvati. She is bold, speaks her mind and yet, has her values intact. Undoubtedly, it also established Sakshi Tanwar as one of the top-notch actresses we have
today on television today.

Paridhi Sharma aka Jodha

Serial: Jodha Akbar on Zee TV

Before she became Akbar’s Jodha, Paridhi Sharma was seen in Ruk Jaana Nahi. In fact, she even vamped it up in a show called Tere Mere Sapne, which disappeared without a whimper. But that’s not the case with her latest avatar as Jodha, she’s loved for it. To be able to essay a legendary character comes with its fair share of challenges, but Sharma has a different take to that. “Jodha, the character that I play in Jodha Akbar, is a very strong woman and has no qualms about voicing her opinions. The viewers did take some time to understand the character, but gradually began to understand her views, which I feel is the biggest achievement as an actor. In today’s times, all one needs to do is play the character as real as possible, and connect with the audiences,” she says.

Surbhi Jyoti aka Zoya

Serial: Qubool Hai on Zee

While Qubool Hai aims to dispel the stereotypes around Muslims and Islam, but at its core, it’s a love story between Asad and Zoya. Surbhi Jyoti, who plays the character of Zoya, has earlier appeared in a few Punjabi television shows and film. But it’s with Zoya that she came into the spotlight. Talking about the character being popular, she says, “I’m glad that the show has received such an overwhelming response. What attracted me to Zoya’s character is her immense self belief and a straight-forward nature. She fights her own battles and never gives up. Though Zoya comes from a conservative Muslim family, she’s progressive in her thinking. I think it’s these things about her that has a struck a chord with the audience.”

Devoleena Bhattacharjee aka Gopi

Serial: Saath Nibhana Saathiya on Star Plus

Devoleena Bhattacharjee replaced Gia Manek to play the demure Gopi in Saath Nibhana Saathiya. People thought that the immensely popular character would lose its charm with a new actor in the role, but Devoleena fit into Gopi’s shoes in no time and was accepted immediately. The actress is more than happy to be well-received by the audience!

Toral Rasputra aka Anandi

Serial: Balika Vadhu on Colors

Actresses have come and gone playing Anandi, but the popularity of the character has never waned even one bit in a serial like Balika Vadhu, which has been five years in the running. Consider this: Anandi was first play by child actor Avika Gor, which was then taken over by Pratyusha Bannerjee as the grown-up Anandi. She was then replaced by Toral Rasputra, who effortlessly stepped into the shoes of the character, which is no small feat. While Toral isn’t really a newcomer, and has done a few shows in the past, it’s only with Balika Vadhu that she became a household name. Anandi’s popularity is a testament to the fact that a character matters more on television than the actor herself. Moreover, what seems to have worked in the show’s favour, is the fact that it’s always conveyed some kind of a social message — be it portraying the negative sides of child marriage, or getting the lead characters to adopt a disabled child.

Dhrashti Dhami aka Madhubala

Serial: Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon on Colors

From playing the bubbly Geet in Geet Huyi Sabse Parayi, Dhrashti Dhami has now moulded herself into Madhubala with Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon. Interestingly, all the characters that she’s played so far, even a small one in Dil Mil Gaye have never gone unnoticed. From being a middle-class girl to a superstar’s wife to an actress herself, the character Madhubala has always remained a grounded person — a warm, beautiful girl who cannot stand injustice. With the various changes in her avatars as Madhubala, Dhami continues to be popular among the viewers, which was evident when she won on celebrity dance show, Jhalak Dikhla Jaa.

Deepika Singh aka Sandhya

Serial: Diya Aur Baati on Star Plus

Sandhya in Diya Aur Baati maybe her debut role, but Deepika Singh’s portrayal of the character has won many hearts. This is more to do with the character and the show probably, since it has broken some existing gender stereotypes and mores. While Sandhya’s husband is not educated as her and is a halwai, he encourages her to study and be an IPS officer. On the other hand, she continues to follow her dreams, despite being married in an orthodox household; she tries to strike a balance between keeping her family happy and following her dream of becoming an IPS officer!

Divyanka Tripathi aka Ishita

Serial: Yeh Hai Mohabbatein on Star Plus

She isn’t an unknown face . Like Sakshi Tanwar, Divyanka Tripathi was popular as Vidya in Banoo Main Teri Dulhan. She’s now making a mark as Ishita Iyer in Yeh Hai Mohabbatein. In the time between these two series, Divyanka took a break from her the intense bahu soap opera and took part in reality shows like Comedy Circus. But now that she’s back as Ishita, she’s already making a mark with a large chunk of the audience as a modern day woman, who’s a dentist and has no qualms about being single and leading life her own terms. She’s even open to the idea of being a single mother and adopt a child. The current track has her married to a divorced man, Raman Kumar (played by Karan Patel) with a daughter, and it’s not hunky dory between the couple.