The demand for these 8 actresses proves that Kollywood is no place for Tamil artistes

9 years ago

First up, we’re not trying to be divisive or xenophobic. It’s just that cinema is a medium that depends to a large degree on language and we’re wondering why there are scarcely any Tamil actresses on the A-list in Kollywood. Here are the top actresses of the moment which proves the point:

Hansika Motwani

The actress who started life as a child artiste in the Hindi serial Shaka Laka Boom Boom is now shaking it up in Kollywood. She made her Tamil film debut in Maappillai, opposite Dhanush, and directors and audiences have been in love with her fair skin and curvy bod since then. Several big-ticket films have followed, including Oru Kal Oru Kannadi with Udayanidhi Stalin, Singam II and the more recent Romeo and Juliet. She’ll next be seen in the Vijay-starrer Puli. And in Kollywood you know that’s big!

Kajal Aggarwal

This Mumbai girl made her debut with a nondescript role in Kyun Ho Gaya Na, but it was in Kollywood that she’s tasted stardom. Kajal has acted with all the top heroes, a sure sign of having arrived in the male-dominated mainstream Tamil film industry. She’s starred opposite Suriya in Maattrraan, Vijay in Thuppakki and Jilla and is Dhanush’s heroine in the upcoming Maari. Again, looks rather than acting chops have paved the way for Kajal in Kollywood.

Tapsee Pannu

This Punjabi kudi had a dream launch in Tamil film. She was cast in the role of an Anglo Indian girl in the award-winning Aadukalam and delivered a convincing performance. She’s also featured in Vandhan Vendran, the Ajith-starrer Arrambam, Vai Raja Vai and Kanchana 2. To give her credit, in these films, Tapsee has proved she’s more than just a pretty face.

Tamannaah Bhatia

With a complexion that fair, Tamannaah simply had to be in demand in Kollywood. She made her debut with Kedi in 2006 and is still going strong. Tamannaah’s big films have been Dhanush-starrer Padikkathavan, the full-on masala flick Ayan, Kanden Kadhalai – the remake of Jab We Met – Paiyaa and Veeram. In most of these, she’s been cast merely as a glamorous accessory to the hero and she’s looked great.

Rakul Preet Singh

Beauty pageants have often proven to be a shortcut to films and that’s the route Rakul Preet Singh took. Having featured in Thadayara Thaakka and Puthagam, she was last seen in the Tamil film Yennamo Yedho. It’s Telugu cinema that’s keeping Rakul Preet busy at the moment.

Amy Jackson

The Britain-born model got her first break in Kollywood in the period film Madrasa Pattinam, in which she – aptly – played a British memsaab in pre-Independence Madras. Then, it seems, theTamil film industry fell under her spell. She went on to feature in the Vikram-starrer Thandavam and was his heroine in the forgettable Ai. Amy’s ineptitude with Tamil doesn’t seem to hold her back, for she has four big films in the pipeline, one of them being Vijay’s next, to be directed by Atlee.

Amyra Dastur

Her Wiki page says that the Parsi girl speaks English, French and Gujarati. The lack of knowledge of Tamil didn’t seem to matter and she was cast as Dhanush’s heroine in his recent film, Anegan. We’ll have to wait and see if Kollywood has more to offer her.

Shriya Saran

In Kollywood, where shelf lives are short for actresses, Shriya is not the hot property she once was. The actress who continues to be busy in Hindi and Telugu, has starred in Kollywood productions like Azhagiya Tamizh Magan, Rajapattai, Kandasamy and Chikku Bukku. The highlight possibly of her Tamil film career was playing Rajinikanth’s heroine in Sivaji: The Boss