Once considered the stepchild of mainstream cinema, Bhojpuri cinema has since grown into a thriving industry that boasts of a business of almost Rs 2,000 crores. And it is soon to make its digital debut with Hero Vardiwala on Ekta Kapoor’s Alt Balaji.
Starring Dinesh Lal Yadav, aka Nirahua, and Amrapali Dubey in the lead, the trailer is already catching the audience’s attention. Ekta Kapoor isn’t the only one who has realised the potential of Bhojpuri content. Word has it that Priyanka Chopra too has invested in Bhojpuri films. Her production house, Purple Pebble Pictures, co-produced the film, Bam Bam, Bol Raha Hai Kashi, in 2016.
In the last few years, Bhojpuri cinema has seen quite the revolution, especially when it comes to its female actors. In fact, according to an ET report, popular actresses of the industry, like Madhu Sharma, Amrapali Dubey and Kajal Raghwani, have even increased their fee by about 50 percent.
Here are the actresses of Bhojpuri cinema who are making their mark in the male dominated Bhopuri movie ind
Amrapali Dubey
The biggest female star of Bhojpuri Cinema, Amrapali started her career in 2008 with the television series titled Saat Phere: Saloni Ka Safar on Zee TV.
Amrapali — the highest paid actress of Bhojpuri cinema — with a reported fee of Rs. 9 to 10 lakhs per film made her debut as a lead actress in the 2014 blockbuster movie Nirhua Hindustani. Her other credits include Patna se Pakistan, Ram Lakhan, Ashiq Awara and Raja Babu. Apart from this, she is also the most viewed Bhojpuri actress on YouTube.
Akshara Singh
Beginning her career with the Bhojpuri movie Satyamev Jayate opposite Ravi Kishan, Akshara Singh soon became one of the most popular names in Bhojpuri cinema. Other films she has to her credit include Pran Jaye Par Vachana Na Jaye, Dhadkan, Sarkar Raj, Sajan, Chlal Sasural and Hero No.1.
Monalisa/Antara Biswas
These days, actress Monalisa is playing the role of a ‘daayan’ in a Star Plus serial called Nazar. But long before her ‘daayan’ days, she had already earned her popularity from Bhojpuri movies.
Monalisa, 36, had started her career from Bollywood, but not ‘making it’ there didn’t stop her from realising her dreams. In 2008, she made her debut in Bhojpuri cinema with the movie, Sansar. Popular on social media, she has also appeared as a contestant in reality shows like Bigg Boss and Nach Baliye.
Kajal Raghwani
Kajal Raghwani is a Mumbai-based actress who entered Bhojpuri cinema with the film, Sughna. Coming from a non-Bhojpuri background, she had little to no command over the regional language. Eventually, with hard work, she delivered over 50 movies. One of her dance videos became so popular on YouTube that it earned 21 crore views.
She is greatly inspired by Bollywood’s great actresses, Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit. Her Bhojpuri hits hits include Sangharsh, Patna se Pakistan, and Ashique Awara.
Anjana Singh
Although Bihar girl Anjana Singh’s debut film in Bhojpuri cinema was Ek Aur Faulad, opposite one of Bhojpuri industry’s biggest stars, Ravi Kishan, she began her career by trying her luck on the small screen.
The small screen’s loss was the Bhojpuri industry’s gain. Singh’s Bhojpuri debut movie went on to become a blockbuster, catapulting her career as well.
After the massive success of her first film, Anjana Singh was seen with another superstar of Bhojpuri films, Pawan Singh, in a movie called Truck Driver.
This film got a really good response and since then, if industry buzz is to be believed, Singh has been getting several offers.
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