Times have gone when frontline heroines would be starring in around 8 to 10 films in a calendar year. At times, heroines had even starred even in 12 films an year. Nowadays, in the face of stiff competition, it’s becoming extremely difficult for heroines to star in 4-5 films per year at the most.
2011, the year which drew to a close three days back, witnessed the on-screen dominance of many young heroines. While leading heroines such as Nayantara, Trisha, Shriya Saran and Tamannaah suffered setbacks, young hotties in the form of Hansika, Amala Paul, Kajal Aggarwal, Samantha and Anjali have started dominating the Tamil and Telugu film industries.
Hansika debuted last year and had three films releasing out of which only the Vijay-starrer Velayudham turned out to be successful. She, however, has two big releases coming up in the form of Oru Kal Oru Kannadi and Vettai Mannan opposite Udhayanidhi and Simbu respectively in that order. Anushka delivered back-to-back hits in Simbu-Bharath starrer Vaanam and Vikram-starrer Deivathirumagal where she played with aplomb the advocate’s role. She has a few films up her sleeve including films opposite Vikram and Aarya.
Lakshmi Rai too had back-to-back successes in Ajith’s Mankatha and Raghavendra Lawrence’s Kanchana. Thanks to her improved looks, Rai was appreciated and loved by fans in both the films. Richa Gangopadhyay, the other newcomer, had two releases in Mayakkam Enna opposite Dhanush and Osthe opposite Simbu. However, both the films managed only average business.
Anjali had the best year in her career and attained the top position of starring as heroine in maximum number of films in 2011. After impressing everyone with her amazing performance in 2010’s Angaadi Theru, Anjali kept up the good work last year as well and starred in consecutive hit films in Ajith’s Mankatha and debutant director Saravanan’s Engeyum Eppodhum. She had other releases such as Magizchi, Karungaali and Thambi Vettothi Sundaram.
It remains to be seen as to who comes out on top this year!