From Kajol and Madhuri Dixit to Sushmita Sen, how 90s heroines are discovering OTT good for his or her ‘second innings’

On Monday, Kajol introduced that she is making her net sequence debut with an upcoming undertaking that may stream on Disney+ Hotstar. It isn’t precisely her streaming debut (she appeared within the Netflix movie Tribhanga final yr) however positively her first foray into the net sequence house. And she is simply the newest in an extended and star-studded checklist of 90s heroines who’ve moved to OTT for his or her proverbial second innings. From Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla to Raveena Tandon and Sushmita Sen, the OTT house at present is replete with profitable feminine actors from the Nineties who will not be simply showing however headlining reveals right here. Also learn: Kajol recreates iconic Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge moment, announces her web-series debut

Karisma Kapoor was the primary main actor from the 90s to headline her personal net sequence when she appeared within the AltBalaji and Zee5 present Mentalhood two years in the past, and he or she is ready to return to OTT with one other undertaking quickly. Since then, the streaming has change into extra populated with 90s heroines. Sushmita Sen debuted with Arya (Hotstar), Raveena Tandon with Aranyak (Netflix), Madhuri Dixit with The Fame Game (Netflix), and most lately Sonali Bendre with Broken News (Zee5). Juhi Chawla will quickly be seen in her OTT debut with Amazon Prime Video’s Hush Hush later this yr, and Shilpa Shetty will probably be seen in Rohit Shetty’s Indian Police Force on the identical platform.

Many argue that the change has quite a bit to do with the truth that on streaming reveals, the idea of shelf-life for an actress doesn’t exist. On the opposite hand, in movies, main actresses are nonetheless harldy ever over 40. As a line from Madhuri’s OTT debut The Fame Game aptly places, “Hero kabr mein paaon latkaaye hai par heroine 20 saal ki chahiye (Hero is on the verge of death but wants a 20-year-old heroine).” Reacting to this Sonali Bendre, who performed a 45-year-old journalist within the Zee5 present Broken News, says, “As an artiste, you live a certain amount of life. You go through certain experiences that shape you. That’s what makes you an artiste and just when you are getting there is kind of when it stops. It’s not fair at all. So, it’s lovely to get this opportunity to be able to use what you have learnt.”

For some actors, it’s the problem and thrill of doing one thing new and totally different on a brand new medium that pulls them to the streaming house. Madhuri Dixit says, “It’s great that even after 35 years, I am debuting with something. It’s wonderful because I am a student of cinema. I love learning. Every day, I wake up and feel I am going to learn something new today. For me, it’s a different language of making films. It’s a different system in the way it operates. It’s quite different to be on OTT.”

And after all, the sight of seeing their contemporaries and male counterparts doing effectively attracts some. Many of the heroes these ladies labored with have additionally made their OTT debuts. Saif Ali Khan was in Sacred Games whereas Ajay Devgn in Rudra. Talking about this, Kajol says, “Exploring new formats is always a challenge; but it’s a great thing as I love to take challenges head-on. Being an avid fan of digital series, the concept has always been intriguing; and after following cool shows such as Aarya and Rudra, I knew there was no other platform than Disney+ Hotstar to start my series journey.” Also learn: Madhuri Dixit talks about her OTT debut with The Fame Game

But whereas many would really feel the actors would be thankful for the chance, they imagine it’s nonetheless too little and solely ‘the beginning’. As Sonali Bendre places it, “About time this happened! It’s high time. I just think it is just about starting. It’s not enough. There should be so much more.” And the viewers definitely would need that. In the feedback part of Kajol’s announcement video had been followers requesting a number of different 90s actresses to come back to OTT as effectively. And there isn’t a doubt that streaming platforms are listening. With a star, they get an enormous title and if it’s her ‘debut’, advertising and marketing the present turns into all of the extra simpler. It’s a win-win scenario for everybody.