10 Bollywood stars who made it big in Hollywood: from Alia Bhatt, Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, to Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra Jonas – how did these actors crack Tinseltown?

Jan 4 , 2024

Freida Pinto, Anil Kapoor and Alia Bhatt are among the Bollywood stars to have found the greatest success in Hollywood. Photos: @freidapinto, @anilskapoor, @aliabhatt/Instagram

The success of the Telugu-language film RRR (2022), helmed by S.S. Rajamouli and starring N.T. Rama Rao Jr and Ram Charan, during the Hollywood awards season in 2022-2023, put a global spotlight on the Indian film industry, which produces films in multiple languages each year.

While Indian stars have been making a mark in the West for decades, and have been seamlessly transitioning between industries, they also have been breaking stereotypes and expanding the global influence of Indian cinema. Not limited to film, Indian voices are increasingly prominent in TV shows, streaming projects and various creative endeavours, leaving an indelible mark in the global entertainment space with their diverse roles.

Read on to get to know 10 Indian stars who have seamlessly transitioned to the West.

1. Priyanka Chopra Jonas

Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas on their wedding day in 2018. Photo: Handout

Referred to as “desi girl” (a South Asian woman who embraces her culture), Priyanka Chopra Jonas has successfully bridged a career between Bollywood and Hollywood. Acclaimed for her remarkable performances in Indian films, she pursued a career in the West through music before gaining widespread fame for her role as Alex Parrish in the American crime drama series Quantico (2015-18). In Hollywood, the actress portrayed the role of an antagonist in the 2017 film Baywatch, and later starred in A Kid Like Jake (2018) alongside Claire Danes and Jim Parsons.

What’s the macrobiotic diet loved by Hollywood celebs, from Madonna to Gwyneth?

Following a supporting role in the 2019 romantic comedy Isn’t It Romantic, she joined the cast of The Matrix Resurrections (2021), led by Keanu Reeves. Her recent endeavours include starring roles in the Russo Brothers spy thriller series Citadel (2023 onwards) alongside Richard Madden, and the romantic comedy Love Again (2023) with Sam Heughan. Chopra Jonas continues her reign in Hollywood, with upcoming projects such as Heads of State, also starring Idris Elba and John Cena, and Ending Things with Anthony Mackie.

2. Deepika Padukone

Deepika Padukone at the Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Invision/AP

Deepika Padukone made her stunning debut in the Hindi film industry in 2008 with Om Shanti Om, starring opposite Indian superstar Shah Rukh Khan. With an impressive 17-year career, she is one of the most popular leading stars in India.

In 2017, the actress stepped into Hollywood with a leading role in Vin Diesel’s xXx: Return of Xander Cage. The third instalment in the xXx franchise, directed by D.J. Caruso, the film features an ensemble cast, including Donnie Yen, Ruby Rose, Tony Jaa, Nina Dobrev, Toni Collette and Samuel L. Jackson. Although she hasn’t announced any new Hollywood projects, Padukone remains a prominent figure at international events and on red carpets, and is a favourite with global brands.

3. Alia Bhatt

Alia Bhatt attends the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in December 2023. Photo: AFP

In just 11 years, Alia Bhatt has become one of the top female stars in India, captivating audiences with her versatility and critically acclaimed performances. She has gained recognition for her emotionally charged roles in films like Highway (2014), Udta Punjab (2016), Dear Zindagi (2016), Gully Boy (2019), Darlings (2022) and Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022).

Recently, she made her Hollywood debut in Heart of Stone (2023) on Netflix, sharing the screen with Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan in a film directed by Tom Harper. In 2021, Bhatt signed with the international talent agency WME.

Michelle Yeoh takes on a new role in Netflix series The Brothers Sun

4. Irrfan Khan

Irrfan Khan, in 2020, in Munich, Germany. Photo: DPA

Celebrated for his depth, versatility and compelling screen presence, the late Indian actor Irrfan Khan marked his international debut with Asif Kapadia’s The Warrior in 2001. He gained global recognition in Mira Nair’s 2006 film The Namesake and achieved international fame in Danny Boyle’s 2008 Oscar-winning hit, Slumdog Millionaire.

His journey in English-language projects continued with roles in the 2007 film A Mighty Heart, the 2008 anthology New York, I Love You, and the 2012 adaptation of Yann Martel’s novel, Life of Pi, directed by Ang Lee. Khan expanded his international work with noteworthy appearances in the blockbuster movie Jurassic World (2015) and Hollywood hits like The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and The Inferno (2016), directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks.

5. Shabana Azmi

Shabana Azmi poses at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne alongside governor of Victoria Margaret Elaine Gardner, in the Indian city of Mumbai. Photo: AFP

Shabana Azmi has long been a force to reckon with in the Indian film industry. Continuously pushing boundaries, her rich performances have often been witnessed on the global stage too. Her international ventures have included roles in John Schlesinger’s Madame Sousatzka (1988), Roland Joffé’s City of Joy (1992), Blake Edwards’ Son of the Pink Panther (1993), and Deepa Mehta’s Fire (1996).

She has also appeared in Gurinder Chadha’s It’s a Wonderful Afterlife (2010), Deepa Mehta’s Midnight’s Children (2012) and Kavi Raz’s The Black Prince (2017). More recently, Azmi showcased her talent in the Paramount+ Steven Spielberg series Halo (2022 onwards) and Shekhar Kapur’s What’s Love Got to Do With It? (2022).

6. Anupam Kher

Anupam Kher at the premiere of The Headhunter’s Calling, during the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Canada. Photo: The Canadian Press via AP

Anupam Kher, a prominent veteran actor in Indian cinema with a career spanning four decades, has appeared in over 540 films. Beyond India, he made a mark in Hollywood with Gurinder Chadha’s Bend it Like Beckham (2002) and later collaborated with her on Bride and Prejudice (2004), a Bollywood adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

His diverse roles spanned the Oscar-winning Silver Linings Playbook (2012), directed by David O. Russell, the Kumail Nanjiani vehicle The Big Sick (2017) and the action thriller Hotel Mumbai (2018). Kher has also showcased his acting prowess in dramas such as New Amsterdam (2018-2023) and the Netflix original series Sense8 (2015-2018).

Who’s who in Wong Kar-wai’s debut TV show, Blossoms Shanghai?

7. Freida Pinto

Freida Pinto’s most recent role sees her working alongside Scarlett Johansson, Sienna Miller and Kristin Scott Thomas. Photo: Markus Klinko

Freida Pinto rose to fame after her breakout role in Slumdog Millionaire, earning a Bafta nomination. Born and raised in India, she quickly expanded her portfolio with projects including Miral (2010), Trishna (2011), Immortals (2011), Desert Dancer (2014) and the hugely successful Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011).

Her work extends to TV dramas too, with roles in the miniseries Guerrilla (2017) and The Path (2016-18). She went on to star in Hillbilly Elegy (2020), Mr Malcolm’s List (2022) and, most recently, North Star (2023), which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and also stars Scarlett Johansson, Sienna Miller and Kristin Scott Thomas.

8. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in a still from Ponniyin Selvan: I (2022). Photo: Lyca Productions

After winning the coveted Miss World title in 1994, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan became a highly sought-after actress in the Indian film industry, and she continues to remain a prominent star. Showcasing her global appeal, she has moved seamlessly between Bollywood and Hollywood, and appeared in several English-language films.

After starring in Bride and Prejudice, Rai Bachchan demonstrated her versatility with roles in Paul Mayeda Berges’ The Mistress of Spices (2005), the Jag Mundhra drama Provoked (2006), Doug Lefler epic The Last Legion (2007) and Harald Zwart’s The Pink Panther 2 (2009).

9. Anil Kapoor

Anil Kapoor poses during a screening of the movie Animal, in Mumbai, India, last November. Photo: EPA-EFE

An icon in the film industry for over 40 years, Anil Kapoor made a successful international and Hollywood debut in Slumdog Millionaire. Following this triumph, he showcased his versatility in the final season of the crime thriller 24 (2001-2010) and starred in the 2011 blockbuster Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol alongside Tom Cruise. Continuing his global journey, Kapoor recently appeared in the last episode of Jeremy Renner’s Disney+ four-part series, Rennervations (2023).

‘Howdy!’ Meet Anyone But You star Glen Powell’s ‘rowdy’ Texas family

10. Amitabh Bachchan

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and her father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan pose at the red carpet event of musical comedy film The Archies, in Mumbai, India, last month. Photo: EPA-EFE

Amitabh Bachchan, a Bollywood star for over five decades, made his Hollywood debut in the role of Meyer Wolfsheim, a Jewish businessman, in a brief but impactful appearance in Baz Luhrmann’s 2013 film, The Great Gatsby.

The film’s lead, Leonardo DiCaprio, told NDTV at the time, “He couldn’t be a more gentle, wonderful individual to work with. And astoundingly talented. To come and play Meyer Wolfsheim in this movie and embody that roughness and a mystery, everything that comes out of his mouth is filled with so much more and so much presence. And then you see the camera cut and he’s the perfect gentleman, just a joy to be around and a wonderful collaborator. He’s a magnificent actor and I was honoured to work with him.”

Fame and celebrity

These Bollywood stars are helping to diversify Hollywood, from Alia Bhatt’s turn in Heart of Stone with Gal Gadot, to Amitabh Bachchan in Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby with Leonardo DiCaprio
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been in five Hollywood movies, Deepika Padukone played Vin Diesel’s love interest, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas portrayed an antagonist in the film version of Baywatch