10 Bollywood stars who made it big in Hollywood: from Alia Bhatt, Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, to Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra Jonas – how did these actors crack Tinseltown?
While Indian stars have been making a mark in the West for decades, and have been seamlessly transitioning between industries, they also have been breaking stereotypes and expanding the global influence of Indian cinema. Not limited to film, Indian voices are increasingly prominent in TV shows, streaming projects and various creative endeavours, leaving an indelible mark in the global entertainment space with their diverse roles.
Read on to get to know 10 Indian stars who have seamlessly transitioned to the West.
1. Priyanka Chopra Jonas
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2. Deepika Padukone
Deepika Padukone made her stunning debut in the Hindi film industry in 2008 with Om Shanti Om, starring opposite Indian superstar Shah Rukh Khan. With an impressive 17-year career, she is one of the most popular leading stars in India.
3. Alia Bhatt
In just 11 years, Alia Bhatt has become one of the top female stars in India, captivating audiences with her versatility and critically acclaimed performances. She has gained recognition for her emotionally charged roles in films like Highway (2014), Udta Punjab (2016), Dear Zindagi (2016), Gully Boy (2019), Darlings (2022) and Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022).
Recently, she made her Hollywood debut in Heart of Stone (2023) on Netflix, sharing the screen with Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan in a film directed by Tom Harper. In 2021, Bhatt signed with the international talent agency WME.
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4. Irrfan Khan
Celebrated for his depth, versatility and compelling screen presence, the late Indian actor Irrfan Khan marked his international debut with Asif Kapadia’s The Warrior in 2001. He gained global recognition in Mira Nair’s 2006 film The Namesake and achieved international fame in Danny Boyle’s 2008 Oscar-winning hit, Slumdog Millionaire.
5. Shabana Azmi
Shabana Azmi has long been a force to reckon with in the Indian film industry. Continuously pushing boundaries, her rich performances have often been witnessed on the global stage too. Her international ventures have included roles in John Schlesinger’s Madame Sousatzka (1988), Roland Joffé’s City of Joy (1992), Blake Edwards’ Son of the Pink Panther (1993), and Deepa Mehta’s Fire (1996).
6. Anupam Kher
Anupam Kher, a prominent veteran actor in Indian cinema with a career spanning four decades, has appeared in over 540 films. Beyond India, he made a mark in Hollywood with Gurinder Chadha’s Bend it Like Beckham (2002) and later collaborated with her on Bride and Prejudice (2004), a Bollywood adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
His diverse roles spanned the Oscar-winning Silver Linings Playbook (2012), directed by David O. Russell, the Kumail Nanjiani vehicle The Big Sick (2017) and the action thriller Hotel Mumbai (2018). Kher has also showcased his acting prowess in dramas such as New Amsterdam (2018-2023) and the Netflix original series Sense8 (2015-2018).
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7. Freida Pinto
Freida Pinto rose to fame after her breakout role in Slumdog Millionaire, earning a Bafta nomination. Born and raised in India, she quickly expanded her portfolio with projects including Miral (2010), Trishna (2011), Immortals (2011), Desert Dancer (2014) and the hugely successful Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011).
8. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
After winning the coveted Miss World title in 1994, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan became a highly sought-after actress in the Indian film industry, and she continues to remain a prominent star. Showcasing her global appeal, she has moved seamlessly between Bollywood and Hollywood, and appeared in several English-language films.
After starring in Bride and Prejudice, Rai Bachchan demonstrated her versatility with roles in Paul Mayeda Berges’ The Mistress of Spices (2005), the Jag Mundhra drama Provoked (2006), Doug Lefler epic The Last Legion (2007) and Harald Zwart’s The Pink Panther 2 (2009).
9. Anil Kapoor
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10. Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan, a Bollywood star for over five decades, made his Hollywood debut in the role of Meyer Wolfsheim, a Jewish businessman, in a brief but impactful appearance in Baz Luhrmann’s 2013 film, The Great Gatsby.
The film’s lead, Leonardo DiCaprio, told NDTV at the time, “He couldn’t be a more gentle, wonderful individual to work with. And astoundingly talented. To come and play Meyer Wolfsheim in this movie and embody that roughness and a mystery, everything that comes out of his mouth is filled with so much more and so much presence. And then you see the camera cut and he’s the perfect gentleman, just a joy to be around and a wonderful collaborator. He’s a magnificent actor and I was honoured to work with him.”
- These Bollywood stars are helping to diversify Hollywood, from Alia Bhatt’s turn in Heart of Stone with Gal Gadot, to Amitabh Bachchan in Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby with Leonardo DiCaprio
- Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been in five Hollywood movies, Deepika Padukone played Vin Diesel’s love interest, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas portrayed an antagonist in the film version of Baywatch