2019 saw a slew of good films releasing at the box office with some great and impeccable performances. The films not only minted money at the box office but also showcased some exceptional acting abilities, especially from the female actors.

Here’s looking at some exceptional actresses in the supporting category that should be in the running for this year’s awards, legit!

Ankita Lokhande- Manikarnika: the Queen of Jhansi

Ankita Lokhande made a successful transition from TV to the big screen by playing the role of Jhalkari Bai in Kangana Ranaut’s Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi. The actress was credible support not only in the film to Kangana but in real life too when the film was mired in controversy. Playing a soldier and rising from the ranks to become a close aid of Rani Laxmibai, Jhalkari Bai was a historically renowned figure who was expertly emulated on-screen by Ankita. She convincingly did the stunts and the war sequences as well. Since Jhalkari Bai used to double up for Rani Laxmibai in front of Britishers as they looked very similar, Ankita also had to undergo strenuous training just like Kangana for the film and she nailed the character well.

Juhi Chawla- Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga

Juhi Chawla teamed up with her old co-star of several films Anil Kapoor in Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga and proved once again why their Jodi is ever-popular. Playing the role of aspiring actress Chhatro who is a caterer by profession, Juhi stole the limelight from everybody in the film. Her effervescence and expert comic timing was the highlight of the film. She along with Anil gets the credit for keeping the masti alive in the film. They cracked us up with their jokes, silly innuendos, and crazy chemistry. Juhi in the film is pure joy and she proved once again that no other actress does comedy like her.

Amrita Singh-Badla

Amrita Singh is an actor par excellence, period. There is no denying this fact. She was one of the A-list actresses of her time and even when she made a comeback with films like Kalyug, Shootout at Lokhandwala and 2 States she managed to steal the show. This year, she starred with her co-star from Mard Amitabh Bachchan in Badla that had Taapsee Pannu in the lead. She impresses in a somewhat small role in the film and her camera presence is such that you yearn for her comeback to films become permanent.

Amruta Subhash-Gully Boy

Amruta Subhash played Ranveer Singh’s mother in the film Gully Boy. Interestingly, she is just six years older than him but their relationship does not seem forcibly forged in a casting director’s office. Her top-notch acting comes to fore when her husband (played by Vijay Raaz in the film) brings home a second wife. Her world collapses even though it was never stable before. She feels the humiliations and takes it in as long as she can but also fights back realizing very well that she has already lost the battle. Amruta switched from gentle to protective, from feral to broken with an ease that was hard to fathom. Her performance was such that she deserves to get more chances and an opportunity to become a household name amongst Indian audiences.

Madhuri Dixit- Kalank

Madhuri Dixit sparkled as Bahaar Begum in Karan Johar’s ambitious project Kalank. The film might not have worked at the box office but the veteran actress did manage to leave an indelible mark with her performance. Reuniting with Sanjay Dutt after 22 years the actress managed to recreate the magic. Her song Tabaah Ho Gaye from the film proved her dancing mettle once again and she reinforced the fact that she is an actress and dancer beyond compare.

Tabu-De De Pyaar De

Tabu teamed up once again with Ajay Devgn for the comedy De De Pyaar De. Her appearance in the film was a scene-stealer as the unflappable and level-headed Manju. She was the most well-rounded character in the film. Even when she makes cringe-worthy sex noises, she was believable and relatable. She dwarfed other actors with her performance but unfortunately, she got the screen time in only the second half.

Kamini Kaushal- Kabir Singh

Shahid Kapoor’s Kabir Singh was much talked about its misogyny, inherent sexism and violence against women but little attention was paid to the actor playing Kabir Singh’s grandmother. Veteran actress Kamini Kaushal is all of 92 years old, having born in 1927 in Lahore and is probably the only Hindi film actor who started her career in the 1940s and is still working (comedian Jagdeep might come closest, starting as a child artist in 1950, playing Guru Dutt’s sidekick Elaichi in 1954’s Aar-Paar). In Kabir Singh she was a lot more convincing in the role of a Punjabi dadi than Shahid and Kiara Advani were as Punjabi lovers. Her nuanced and controlled acting left an everlasting impression on the audiences’ minds long after the end credits roll. It’s a remarkable feat that at the age of 92 years Kamini Kaushal is still able to give the same zest in front of the camera to what she used to provide when she was a leading actress.

Sonakshi Sinha-Mission Mangal

Sonakshi Sinha played the role of Eka Gandhi in Mission Mangal which had an ensemble cast led by superstars Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan. However, the actress managed to impress everyone with her performance. Essaying the role of a propulsion control expert, a youngster that hates most Indian things and looking for any chance to get away to NASA, Sonakshi nailed her character to the tee.

Zaira Wasim-The Sky Is Pink

Zaira Wasim had proved her acting prowess by winning a National Award for her debut film Dangal, and although she bid adieu to Bollywood the young actress once again proved that she is no novice and can give anyone a run-for-their-money. Zaira as Aisha delivers a beautiful performance, taking forward her Secret Superstar and Dangal legacy. In a lot of ways, the film rests on her young shoulders as she plays the narrator as well as the person whose story is told. She nails her character of the terminally ill Aisha and expertly portrays her emotional outbursts as well as quirks.

Yami Gautam-Bala

Yami Gautam plays a TikTok star in Bala that Ayushmann Khurrana loses his heat to. Yami as Pari Mishra looks gorgeous and is quite impressive as Kanpur ki TikTok superstar who is full of herself. For Yami, it is all about good looks, good looks and good looks. Her character reflects the current trend of small-town influencers on social media and their growing popularity and comes out perfectly.  

Kiara Advani-Good Newwz

Kiara Advani had a somewhat secondary role in Raj Mehta’s directorial Good Newwz. Playing the role of dimwitted but lovable Monika Batra, Kiara looked innocent, charming and pretty. In her second lead role, she emerges as a true find in the 2-hour-14-minute film. Her unwavering faith in Mata Rani is as endearing as the maroon velvet tracksuit that she pairs with a phulkari kurta and an oh-so-much-glitter-that-I'm-blind bag that makes her portrayal in Good Newwz a fun and entertaining watch.

(Source: PeepingMoon)