Savitri, Jamuna, Vanisri, Jayaprada, Jayasudha – these were names in the yester years of our actress. Kajal Agarwal, Tammanah, Rakul Preet Singh – these are the names we constantly hear now.
Somewhere deep within, there’s a regret among Telugu film fans. That there are no actual Telugu heroines today ruling the roost. While Tamanna has learnt to speak the language, the top notch of actresses are mostly brought in from other languages, and made to star in our films.
In between the gap of these two generations, when the transition was happening from South to North, there were few Bollywood actresses who tried their hand, but rarely lasted for one or two movies. No doubt they got quite famous later and some were already famous by then. Maybe we have our own taste!
Let’s take a look at those stars who came, blinked and went off..
Waheeda Rehman
She debuted in Telugu films with Rojulu Marayi and played a princess in Jayasimha. She was spotted by the late/great Guru Dutt, after which there was no looking back in her career. We all know what she turned out to be.
Aishwarya Rai
Raveena Tandon
If you ask me how did Tip Tip Barsa Paani.. happen, I’d say watch the song below. It was with our own Balayya that she showcased her hotness in rain. But post that, she got busy in Bollywood. Again, like always Nagarjuna might have got suddenly reminded of her and she appeared in Akasa Vedhilo followed by Pandavulu Pandavulu Thumedha after over a decade.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtDqMWVZVW8&spfreload=10&hd=1
Monica Bedi
Before she became the girlfriend of a dreaded underworld don, Monica Bedi debuted in Telugu with Taj Mahal and she too went on to do more Bollywood films, finally ending her career in jail.
Twinkle Khanna
She just got famous and was roped in to do a Telugu film opposite Venkatesh in Seenu. Post that film, Twinkle lost touch with Telugu cinema.
Shilpa Shetty
We always remember her as the mermaid in Sahasa Veerudu Sagara Kanya. Post this, she appeared in 3 other movies, Azad being the most prominent one among them.
Preity Zinta
After noticing her raunchy debut in Dil Se and before she became one of the top actresses of Bollywood, Preity Zinta came and blinked for Premante Idera and Rajakumarudu in the beginning of her career.
Amesha Patel
The heroine who debuted simultaneously in Hindi and Telugu in the same year with PK’s Badri, preferred Bollywood after the Industry hit Kaho Na.. Pyar Hai. Later she did come back for 2 films, Nani and Narasimhudu. Maybe for some extra pocket money!
Shenaz Tresurywala
Coming from TV, she debuted in films with Eduruleni Manishi alongside Nagarjuna. She went on to act in the college romance Ishq Vishk with Shahid Kapoor, before disappearing from films altogether.
Ayesha Takia
See, it’s Nagarjuna again! Ayesha came in for just this movie, Super. Thought it was just one film, it sets the heartbeats of Telugu fans soaring above Saharan desert levels!!
Kangana Ranaut
When she was wandering in Bollywood, she dropped down here once for a movie, Ek Niranjan. The film starring Prabhas was strictly average, and Kangana went on to cement her place as one of the leading actresses in Hindi cinema in a few years.
Bipasha Basu & Lisa Ray
They just came for one movie together before they were even noticed in Bollywood. Did a movie with Mahesh Babu, Takkari Donga vanished without any notice. Not that if they were there, they would have a great future in Telugu cinema. Good for them!
Amritha Rao
Out of the blue, she just sparkled in a movie with Mahesh Babu, Athithi. A decent role, cold have made a nice career with Telugu movies. But, no one knows why she wasn’t offered more roles. Sometimes our cinema peddhollu just skip such actresses for reasons unknown.
Apart from a few, you’ll notice that all the above actresses went on to become really popular in other languages. Perhaps Telugu cinema was just the stepping stone they needed to stardom. One will never know!
