PeepingMoon 2022: 'Darlings' Alia Bhatt-Shefali Shah, 'Jerry' Janhvi Kapoor to 'Qala' Tripti Dimri, celebrating brilliance of reigning queens of web films

By Tanmayi Savadi

on December 19, 2022 12:24:49 PM

It was an eventful year for the film fraternity. With theatres resuming full-fledged operations, it was proven that OTT can and will forever and successfully co-exist with multiplexes and cinema halls. In 2022, our actresses didn't stop experimenting and blew the minds of their fans with some impeccable performances. Choosing unique and out-of-the-box roles and bold scripts, they impressed all and how.

From Deepika Padukone & Ananya Panday's mature and nuances act in Gehraiyaan, Alia Bhatt hitting the ball out of the park with Darlings to Shefali Shah, Vidya Balan, Yami Gautam, Kiara Advani and others creating a unique space for themselves with their perfection, these queens ruled the year undoubtedly. As we bid adieu to 2022, let's celebrate the brilliance of these actresses who made the right noise with OTT films throughout and will continue doing so for many years to come.

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Deepika Padukone & Ananya Panday-Gehraiyaan

Gehraiyaan, directed by Shakun Batra, received polarising views from film critics and audiences, but Deepika Padukone and Ananya Panday were undoubtedly appreciated for their nuanced and mature performances. Deepika's Alisha, despite the chaos happening in her life, remained calm and dealt with problems with her head held high. On the other hand, Ananya's Tia was innocent and naive which was a refreshing change from the characters she played in the past.

Yami Gautam-A Thursday, Dasvi

Yami Gautam came out of the stereotyped zone with two content-driven yet entertaining films on OTT. With A Thursday, she once again established herself as a powerhouse performer. Carrying the film single-handedly, she gave one of her career-best acts in the hostage thriller. Yami transformed from a school teacher to a no-nonsense cop almost immediately. In Dasvi, she nailed the Haryanvi accent and won over with her earnest portrayal of a strict cop who empowers Abhishek Bachchan's Gangaram to clear standard 10 exams.

Vidya Balan-Jalsa

Vidya Balan. Nobody can comprehend Vidya's body of work in just a couple of words. The attention she commands on screen is what makes her one of the best actresses in the country. In Jalsa, Vidya played the role of a celebrated journalist named Maya Menon. Possessing shades of grey, she was a delight to watch. As always, Vidya was easy on the eyes and instantly lovable.

Shefali Shah-Darlings, Jalsa

2022 was the year of Shefali Shah. Not only in theatres, Shefali ruled the web space with multiple projects. She starred in not just one but two OTT films. Sharing the screenspace with Vidya in Jalsa, she hit the ball out of the park. Delivering a restrained, mature and impactful performance as Ruksana, whose daughter was critically injured in a hit-and-run case, Shefali gave many a tough run for their money. It wasn't different with Darlings too. She nailed the role of Shamshunissa, who joins hands with her daughter Badrunissa (Alia Bhatt) to punish the latter's husband Hamza for domestic violence.

Janhvi Kapoor-Goodluck Jerry

Janhvi Kapoor shone this year and how. She played the titular role in Aanand L Rai-produced Goodluck Jerry. The young starlet got into the skin of her character and perfected the Bihari accent. Her innocent looks and natural performance in Goodluck Jerry made her stand tall among the top actresses of the year.

Alia Bhatt-Darlings

Alia Bhatt turned producer with Darlings. Headlining the film with Shefali and Vijay Varma, Alia ruled the OTT charts with her performance as Badrunissa, a young, innocent girl who is physically abused by her alcoholic husband Hamza. Be it her humour, or emotional moments, Alia proved why she's known as the new queen of Bollywood.

Huma Qureshi-Monica, O My Darling

A deliciously hot Huma Qureshi arrested our attention with her top-notch performance in Monica, O My Darling. A seductress with her mannerism, she captivated with her infectious screen presence. We don't know about Monica, but Huma is certainly our darling.

Tripti Dimri-Qala

Tripti Dimri understood the graph of Qala in Anvita Dutt's Netflix film and delivered something that was sheer magic. Growing leaps and bounds as an actress, she gave a nuanced yet delicate performance as the titular character. The character's mental instability to craving for her mother's undivided love is beautifully portrayed by her.

Swastika Mukherjee- Qala

If Tripti is the heart of Qala, Swastika Mukherjee is the soul. As Qala's mother Urmila, she is mean, menacing and drop-dead gorgeous. She's haunting yet so beautiful. That's a rare quality Swastika brought to the table.

Kiara Advani & Bhumi Pednekar- Govinda Naam Mera

Kiara Advani and Bhumi Pednekar ended the year with a bang. While Kiara played the hot Suku, Bhumi went massy, quirky and loud as Gauri. Though they rarely shared the screen space, in their individual zones, they brought their characters alive.

Radhika Apte- Monica, O My Darling & Amyra Dastur-Jogi

The year cannot end without mentioning and acknowledging the lovely performance delivered by Radhika Apte in Monica, O My Darling. As a cop who is badass and fun, the actress entertained the audience thoroughly in the whacky and highly engaging film.