How these Bollywood stars are building a big empire despite doing

For decades, Indian cinema's leading actresses have been expected to work consistently on the silver screen. But according to a report by Variety, that equation is rapidly changing in Bollywood. 

Stars like Deepika Padukone, Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif have become much more selective about their work than before.

However, the slowdown in their work has created new opportunities for the younger generation in Bollywood. As a result, young stars like Janhvi Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, Rashmika Mandanna, Ananya Panday and Tripti Dimri are having a busy time trying to make a name for themselves in this highly competitive industry. 

Bollywood's global icon Priyanka was last seen in the Hindi film 'The Sky is Pink' and Anushka's last big film was 'Zero'. On the other hand, Katrina was seen in 'Merry Christmas', while Kareena has been busy with projects like 'Jaan Jaane' and 'Singham Again', along with other responsibilities. 

Behind this change in actresses is their changing priorities and free business opportunities. Whereas earlier, actresses had to work non-stop, sacrificing their personal lives. 

It can be said that this trend was started by former Miss World Aishwarya Rai. She maintained her stardom despite being somewhat away from the traditional pace of mainstream cinema. In continuation of her, today's established stars are also following the same path. Along with acting, they are building their own businesses and brands. 

For example, Katrina Kaif has built a successful beauty venture, Deepika Padukone has been involved in various investments, and Alia Bhatt has made her debut as an entrepreneur with a children's clothing brand. 

The rise of OTT platforms has also played a major role in this change. Streaming platforms have given these stars the opportunity to play more complex and diverse roles. 

Priyanka Chopra has worked internationally with films like 'Citadel' and 'The Bluff', Kareena has gained new audiences with 'Jaan Jaane', and Alia has worked on international projects like 'Heart of Stone' alongside 'Darlings'. 

However, the abundance of big-budget action films at the box office and the lack of quality screenplays often keep established actresses away. 

In this context, director Mudassar Aziz cited examples of films like 'Pushpa' or 'Animal' and said that the condition of the female characters in these films is so pitiful that many actresses are consciously refraining from such work. 

All in all, Bollywood's top actresses are not completely stepping away from cinema; rather, they are entering a world of power where cinema is not the sole measure of success, but rather just a part of a larger business empire. 

Source: The Express Tribune