A new trend seems to be brewing in the country’s biggest film factory where artistes from Assam are getting meaty roles and in turn, are garnering individual praise as well as laurels to the state. So much so that, in a bid to cater to fans from the region, a coveted award travelled to Guwahati for its 65th edition and enthralled the crowd with some sincillating performances in 2020.
Today there are a slew of names that has put Assamese actors in the national as well as international map. Be it actor Adil Hussain, whose award-winning performances in a number of films has made him a household name in the industry, or Plabita Barthakur, who made a mark with her debut in Aamir Khan-starrer PK in 2014, never to look back ever again.
Yes, more often than not, Bollywood is hailed as an industry where miracles await a stroke of luck, but these bunch of actors, with their sheer hard-work and commitment to the craft, has proved their worth and are going north of stardom; one step at a time. Here is a list of Assamese actors who are making a mark in the Hindi film industry.
Adil Hussain
Known for his stellar performances in critically acclaimed movies such as The Reluctant Fundamentalist, English Vinglish, Lootera, Dobaraa, and Life of Pi, Hussain has been the torch bearer of this new wave of Assamese actors taking Bollywood by storm. Recently, the Goalpara-born actor bagged multiple Best Actor awards for his film, Footprints on Water at a number of international film festivals. The National Award winner is a force to reckon with in the Hindi film industry and grapevine has it that in the coming months, he would be seen in Mohanlal-starrer Ram.
Diganta Hazarika
Born in Nagaon, Hazarika, as many would say, had a dream debut in Bollywood alongside Hrithik Roshan in Mohenjo Daro in 2016. His work was appreciated and since the Assamese actor has been making all the right noises in the country’s biggest film industry. About six months ago, the rumour mills were on an overdrive with reports of the Hazarika starring next to Shah Rukh Khan in Pathan, but at the last moment, he, somehow, didn’t feature in the blockbuster. Apart from Bollywood, Hazarika is a regular in regional cinema and has been working overtime to hone his skills awaiting a game-changer of a role.
Plabita Barthakur
This talented actor did a slew of TV commercials and series’ before making her grand debut in Aamir Khan-starrer PK in 2016 as Anushka Sharma’s sister. The Hindi film industry took notice of her vibrant zeal and acting prowess and in Lipstick Under My Burkha, she made a mark in the industry with her subtle yet thought-provoking display. Later, she starred in the web serieses Breathe: Into The Shadows and Bombay Begums that catapult her to a fame. Currently, the talented Assamese girl is concentrating on her musical career with her band Manu & Chow as a singer-songwriter.
Rashmi Desai
Born as Shivani Desai in Nagaon, Assam, Rashmi has been doing some meaningful work in the Hindi Film industry. Before making her film debut alongside Shah Rukh Khan in Yeh Lamhe Judaai Ke in 2004, she acted in Shabnam Muasi along with Ashutosh Rana and Vijay Raj. The talented actor have two Indian Television Academy awards in her kitty and has participated in Bigg Boss Season 13 and 15. A trained classical dancer, Desai, in the upcoming months, will be seen alongside Rajpal Yadav in Anup Thapa’s Mission Laila.
Seema Biswas
The year was 1994 and Seema Biswas was making her debut in Bollywood with Shekhar Kapoor’s magnum opus, Bandit Queen. It’s been nearly three decades since that stellar performance, yet the actor has not stopped delivering exceptional work and more often than not has piqued both critics and average movie-buffs’ attention alike. She is one of the first names from Assam to make a mark in the Hindi Film Industry. With a degree from prestigious National School of Drama and a volume of plays in her kitty, the 2000 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award winning actor is a pride of Assam.
Dipannita Sharma
After making to the final five of Miss India beauty pageant in 1998, Sharma took the plunge into Bollywood and since has contributed to a number of commercial hits – Dil Vil Pyar Vyar (2002), Asambhav (2004), Ladies vs Ricky Bahl (2011) and Raat Baaki Hain (2021), among others. She made a mark in the Hindi film industry with her debut alongside Milind Soman in 16 December in 2022. Of late, the Duliajan-born actor-cum-supermodel has also donned the hat of a producer and is reportedly working on her debut venture.
