It’s already half a year and Bollywood has managed to shell out some strong supporting performances from the actresses. Veteran stars dominated 2019's first six months, where a fierce and revenge seeking Amrita Singh gave us chills in Badla and Juhi Chawla proved yet again that no one can replace her in the comedy genre with her heartwarming performance in Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga.

Here’s listing some exceptional actresses in supporting roles, by far, this year:

Juhi Chawla: Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga

Juhi Chawla in Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, as Chatro, is a corroboration of a comedian par excellence. In her almost 31-year-old career in films, Juhi has made us believe she has the whackiest sense of comic timing onscreen. It won’t be wrong to say that after late Sridevi, Juhi is the only one who can pull off wacky, quirky and offbeat characters. In Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, Juhi, despite the risk of becoming caricaturesque, uplifts her character with finesse. Chatro, a divorcee in her 40s, runs a catering service with a liking for acting. Be it here the emotional declaration of why she took a divorce to live her life on her terms to a dialogue that parents should allow their children to be, Juhi makes a lasting impression on us that stays back for the longest time. Although a supporting role, nobody better than Juhi could have pulled off a character so sensitive and multiple layers.

Juhi Chawla in Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga

Amrita Singh: Badla

Amrita Singh was a delight to watch on the big screen and this time too, it was worth the wait. Amrita, who was last seen in 2 States, made a smashing comeback after five long years. With Badla, Amrita took up a role that was diverse from the ones she did in the past. Although it was a role of a typical mother, she flipped the coin to show a different side of a mother who can go to any extent to locate her son, who was in reality killed in an accident by Taapsee Pannu’s and Tony Luke’s car. While connecting the dots linked to her son Sunny going missing, Amrita as the Rani was hell-bent on creating circumstances that would cause Taapsee to confess her crime. She took her audience by surprise with her natural acting and made us believe she is a gem in disguise. Unlike 2 States, Amrita brought the phrase ‘less is more’ to life by keeping over drama aside as it would have proved fatal here. She very well knows when to put her Punjabi genes into use and when not.

Kalki Koechlin: Gully Boy

Kalki Koechlin as Sky in Gully Boy is the perfect catalyst to Ranveer Singh aka Murad’s rap career. She is the one who gives Murad a boost by collaborating with him and Siddhant Chaturvedi as MC Sher for a rap. Soon, apart from professional relationships, Kalki begins to develop a personal feeling for Murad and faces the brunt of his hot-tempered girlfriend Safeena’s anger. Instead of creating a ruckus, Kalki deals with dignity and poise. Her love for Murad isn’t filled with any malice or selfishness. Kalki is the sunshine in Ranveer’s life and gives him a new purpose to take forward his talent of rapping to a professional level. In the scene where she exchanges a kiss with Murad, who abruptly stops her saying he can’t ditch Safeena, Kalki is pure magic on screen. She comes to terms of Murad’s undying love for Safeena and tries to express content with her eyes. Although a brief role, Kalki as Sky takes the narrative forward beautifully.

Kalki Koechlin in Gully Boy

Tabu - De De Pyar De

Tabu is a scene stealer. The actress, although makes an entry towards the second part of the film, she makes the wait worth and adds a punch of her charm to the film. Not just she owns each and every scene post interval, she makes sure to stay back in your mind for while after the film ends. Tabu as Manju is no superwoman but a real person who is nursing a heartbreak when her husband Ashish separates from her and their kids. She injects traits of a typical Indian wife when she expresses her dislike for Ashish aka Ajay Devgn’s romantic relationship with Ayesha played by Rakul Preet Singh, a girl of her children’s age. Tabu, thankfully doesn’t make the portrayal of Ashish’s estranged wife over exaggerated and loud but keeps it mature and understated.  A natural in all aspects, Tabu makes De De Pyar De memorable with her act and scenes that could be brought to life onscreen only by a performer like her. Certain scenes when she breaks down on Ajay’s shoulder and fighting for her love, one shall feel the urge to give her a tight hug for sure. Not just her dignified and mature act makes her a favourite of the audience but a well-sketched character adds as the Midas touch.

Tabu in De De Pyar De

Madhuri Dixit Nene: Kalank

Madhuri Dixit is an enchantress on screen and that comes without a doubt. As Bahaar Begum, this Begum definitely showers a ‘bahaar’ of grace and soul to Kalank. Madhuri, a dance teacher and mujrewali in the badnam gali of Husnabad is an epitome of charm and forms the core narrative that is Alia Bhatt’s Roop and Varun Dhawan’s Zafar’s love story. The actress depicts an old-world charm with ease and makes us drool over her time and again. As far as we believe, Madhuri has the best dialogues in the film and emotes them effortlessly. Certain moments when she meets Alia’s Roop for the first time and has a brief interaction with her, the Dixit lady says, “Hum iss guftagu se thak gaye hai, kal aaiyega,” is pure magic and stays back with you for a really long time, all thanks to the naughtiness and elegance in the enactment. Not just this, her scenes with Varun and Sanjay Dutt were sheerly spellbinding. Special mention to her stylish and tasteful Kathak steps in the song Ghar More Pardesiya. 

Madhuri Dixit Nene in Kalank

Amruta Subhash: Gully Boy

A strong character portrayed brilliantly by the ace Marathi actress. Amruta as Ranveer Singh’s mother expresses helplessness after her husband brings home another wife and conveys rage in moderation without going overboard and loud. Amruta for sure knows to balance her act as a helpless wife who is a subject of domestic violence and a doting mother with sheer ease. As Razia Ahmed, Amruta adds layers to her character by emoting humiliation and protectiveness in equal measure. Unlike the traditional Indian woman, she knows when to put a full stop to sufferings and dealing with odds in life with dignity. From maintaining silence and suffocating within to taking it upon herself to make the situation better, Amruta does it with organic ease. Without Amruta’s character, Ranveer’s Murad would have definitely lacked the emotional rush that led to him taking up all challenges for their financial betterment. 

Amruta Subhash in Gully Boy

Sonakshi Sinha: Kalank

Sonakshi Sinha as Satya was the perfect catalyst in Kalank. Her silences spoke more than dialogues while her elegance and poise were a major treat. Reminding us of Pakhi from Lootera, Sonakshi made it clear that she can fit herself in any role if written beautifully. As the terminally ill Satya, Sonakshi made us sympathize for her state where she shares a mutual love with her husband. Despite knowing her husband’s undying love for her, she forces to marry a rather younger girl Roop in order to see him happy post her death. True support to the lead actress, Sonakshi does everything possible to make Roop aka Alia Bhatt feel comfortable at her husband’s place. Satya, after her husband begins to spend time with Roop, upon her insistence, develops traits of jealous but with a feeling of satisfaction that someone will be there to take care of him after her. That’s when Sonakshi justifies her name’s meaning-pure gold. Sonakshi’s moments with her onscreen husband Aditya Roy Kapur was beautiful and we did want to see them together on screen for a longer time.

Sonakshi Sinha in Kalank

Sayani Gupta and Isha Talwar: Article 15

Sayani Gupta is one of the most understated actresses in the new bunch of actors in Bollywood and it is an absolute shame. In the recently released Article 15, Sayani plays the role of Gaura, a Dalit girl, whose sister Pooja goes missing post a horrifying gang rape. The actress does most of the talking with her wretched eyes and expressions. A portrayal so real that one actually starts believing that Gaura is a real person living in a cruel world to fight for survival. Sayani’s Gaura, a demure woman with fear dripping off her eyes and face, makes us uncomfortable with the reality. She is hauntingly beautiful in the film that acts as a perfect mirror to the caste issues prevalent in India despite stringent laws made against it. Sayani does deserve an applaud and a longer role or maybe even a spin-off on her relationship with Nishad- a Dalit revolutionary played by Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub.

Sayani Gupta in Article 15

Coming to Isha Talwar, as Ayan Ranjan aka Ayushmann Khurrana’s journalist cum activist girlfriend Aditi, the actress who made her Bollywood debut with this hard-hitting film, delivers a fine performance. Isha lends perfect support to Ayan when he vents his heart out about the troubles of the district he is transferred to. With a strong and prominent role in the film surrounded by probably the best and nuanced actors in Bollywood, Isha manages to steal the limelight whenever she appears on the screen, even though for a brief time. Isha as Aditi brings a balance to Ayushmann’s Ayan by motivating him to fight the battle despite odds.

Isha Talwar in Article 15

Ankita Lokhande: Manikarnika

Making her debut in Bollywood, Ankita Lokhande is yet another addition to the list of successful TV actresses breaking through with a powerful role. Despite enjoying very less screen time, Ankita as Jhalkaribai made the most of it, to show her real worth on the big screen. As Jhalkaribai, Ankita played the role of Manikarnika aka Jhansi Ki Rani- Kangana Ranaut’s confidante. In the only Kangana show, Ankita was the one amongst many veteran actors who stood out. The actress made a commendable transit from a naïve bahu in Pavitra Rishta to a brave warrior in her first film itself. Ankita surely knows how to get her craft on point. Not just this, Ankita learned and aced tough skills like firing a gun, riding a horse and sword fighting to name a few. The way she displayed her learnings on the screen was phenomenal. The actress, to everyone’s delight, performed a graceful dance with Kangana in the first half of the film and made it clear that she ain’t just a seasoned actress but a superstar material too. Although we desired to see this Maharashtrian beauty for a little longer but alas.

Ankita Lokhande in Manikarnika

Shweta Basu Prasad: The Tashkent Files

Seeing Shweta Basu Prasad on the big screen after a really long wait was an absolute delight. In The Tashkent Files, Shweta gets a meaty and lead role amidst an experienced ensemble cast as the journalist Ragini Phule who sets out to disclose the truth behind Lal Bahadur Shastri’s mysterious death in Tashkent. The actress doesn’t let a single minute of her screen time go waste with a nuanced act and brilliant expressions. Shweta’s performance in The Tashkent Files is a true testament to her skills as an actor. As Ragini, Shweta sank deep into her character’s skin so much that we felt she isn’t acting but living the life of the journalist who vows to bring out the reality.

Shweta Basu Prasad in The Tashkent Files

Kamini Kaushal: Kabir Singh

Kamini Kaushal is a sheer delight onscreen. In Kabir Singh, as far as we believe, she got the best and most noticeable dialogues. As Kabir’s grandmother, Kamini lends crucial support to both the film and character. Kaminiji, all of 92, puts youngsters to shame with her poise, elegance, and charm that she exudes onscreen. It would be unfair to say Kaminiji’s character was just another one to the film centered by Shahid Kapoor and Kiara Advani as she acts as the perfect catalyst and helps in taking the narrative ahead, especially towards the closure. In the film, when Kabir injects morphine and is lying motionless, Kaminiji, unlike other typical Bollywood grandmother, refrains from going OTT and panicking but tries to find a solution to the mess created. With dialogues like, “Suffering is very personal. Let him suffer,” Kaminiji makes for a ‘cool dadi’. Amongst all seniors in Kabir’s family, the veteran actress is the only one to support his love for Preeti. Her relationship with Shahid onscreen is so far the most genuine and authentic depiction of a grandmother-grandson relationship.

File image of Kamini Kaushal

Manasi Parekh: Uri: The Surgical Strike

Uri: The Surgical Strike was a landmark film in all aspects. The film didn’t just have a great script and even better execution but also saw some career-changing performances by Vicky Kaushal and Mohit Raina. Apart from these two men, there was one person in the film who not only made us relate to her but came back home with us, by making a deep impression and a permanent place in our minds and that is Manasi Parekh. Manasi as Vicky’s sister in the film stole the show with her natural and heartfelt portrayal of Neha. Manasi aced emotional scenes brilliantly and made us cry or laugh with her. Her silences post Mohit’s death spoke the loudest while her laughter when she announced her pregnancy to him before the tragedy kept flashing before our eyes even after the film ended. 

Manasi Parekh in Uri: The Surgical Strike

(Source: PeepingMoon)