Established actresses of Hindi television
1990s
File:The actress Roopa Ganguli at a Press Conference at 36th International Film Festival of India – 2005 in Panaji, Goa on November 30, 2005.jpg
File:Smt. Smriti Irani in April 2023.jpg
File:Sakshi Tanwar graces the Ganesha puja at Ekta Kapoor’s house (05) (cropped).jpg
File:Shweta Tiwari 2024.jpg
(left to right) Roopa Ganguly, Smriti Irani, Sakshi Tanwar and Shweta Tiwari
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2000s
File:Rupali Ganguly in 2023 (cropped).jpg
File:DivyankaTripathi.jpg
File:Jennifer Winget snapped promoting her web series Code M.jpg
File:Hina Khan snapped promoting her film 'Hacked' (2).jpg
(left to right) Rupali Ganguly, Divyanka Tripathi, Jennifer Winget and Hina Khan
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2010–2020s
File:Mouni Roy graces the Star Screen Awards 2018 (10) (cropped).jpg
File:Drashti Dhami snapped promoting her show 'The Empire'(9).jpg
File:Sanaya Irani in 2019.jpg
File:Nia at ITA Awards.jpg
(left to right) Mouni Roy, Drashti Dhami, Sanaya Irani and Nia Sharma
File:Sriti Jha zt Zee-Rishtey-Awards 2018 (cropped 1).jpg
File:Rubina Dilaik snapped at Filmcity (8).jpg
File:Shivangi Joshi snapped attending a calendar launch (cropped).jpg
File:Surbhi Jyoti in 2022.jpg
(left to right) Sriti Jha, Rubina Dilaik, Shivangi Joshi and Surbhi Jyoti
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The following is a list of notable actresses who have appeared in Hindi-language television, encompassing daily soaps, serials, reality shows, and streaming-based dramas primarily produced in Mumbai, India. Hindi television, often referred to as the “small screen,” has been a crucial part of Indian broadcasting since the 1980s, providing a platform for numerous actresses to achieve widespread popularity and shape popular culture.[1]Template:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn
During the early years of Doordarshan, India’s public broadcaster, series such as Hum Log (1984), Buniyaad (1986), and Udaan (1989) introduced some of the first prominent women on Hindi television, including Seema Pahwa, Anita Kanwal, and Kavita Chaudhary, who were praised for portraying middle-class women with realism and social relevance.[2]
In the 1990s, the liberalization of Indian media and the rise of private satellite channels like Zee TV, Sony TV and Star Plus revolutionized the medium. Actresses such as Renuka Shahane (Surabhi), Mandira Bedi (Shanti), and Roopa Ganguly became household names for their roles in strong, independent female-led narratives. This era also marked the early stardom of actresses like Smriti Irani and Sakshi Tanwar, who emerged as faces of the daily soap boom at the turn of the millennium.[3]
The early 2000s were defined by the dominance of Ekta Kapoor’s serials under Balaji Telefilms, which created a generation of iconic characters and long-running family dramas such as Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii and Kasautii Zindagii Kay. Actresses like Irani, Tanwar, Shweta Tiwari, Urvashi Dholakia and Gauri Pradhan Tejwani became some of the most recognized faces on Indian television, achieving film-level fame and national awards.[4] The 2010s saw the rise of a new wave of leading ladies such as Hina Khan, Divyanka Tripathi Dahiya, Jennifer Winget, Drashti Dhami, Sanaya Irani, Sriti Jha, Rubina Dilaik, Shivangi Joshi and Surbhi Jyoti, who not only headlined top-rated shows like Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Beyhadh, and Shakti — Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki, but also gained recognition through reality formats such as Bigg Boss and Khatron Ke Khiladi.[5]
Hindi television has also served as a launchpad for many crossover stars who later achieved success in film or digital media, including Yami Gautam, Prachi Desai, Mrunal Thakur, and Mouni Roy. As the medium continues to evolve, Hindi television actresses remain at the forefront of entertainment, shaping narratives that reach millions of homes daily.[6] The following list highlights some of the most prominent Hindi television actresses and the decades during which they were most active or influential.[7][8]
Television actresses
See also
Bibliography
Notes
- ↑ Evolution of Indian Television(15 January 2022). Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ The women who defined Indian TV’s early years. Firstpost(12 August 2023). Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ The rise of women-centric television in India(5 January 2023). Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ How Ekta Kapoor changed the face of Indian TV. India Today(7 September 2019). Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ Television divas who ruled the 2010s(31 December 2019). Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ From TV to Bollywood: Actresses who made a successful crossover(10 February 2024). Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ Most Popular TV Actresses of All Time(3 March 2024). Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ Top actresses who shaped Indian television(4 March 2022). Retrieved 21 October 2025.
References
- Top 5 Highest Paid Indian Television Actresses. ABP News(October 14, 2015). Retrieved 22 June 2017. Template:Free access
- Express, The Indian:'{{#if:|, {{{last}}}} Template:OCLC.
- From Kapil Sharma to Sriti Jha, Here's What TV's Top Stars Earn(1 December 2016). Retrieved 17 December 2019. Template:Free access
- 11 Television Stars Who Earn More than Bollywood Actors per Month!. The Indian Express(18 September 2016). Retrieved 22 June 2017. Template:Free access
- ''The Times Group:''{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}
- Times of India{{#if:|, {{{last}}}} Template:ISSN; Template:OCLC.
- Top Actress by The Times of India(February 19, 2017). Retrieved 22 June 2017. Template:Free access
- These TV Actresses Are More Popular Than Our Bollywood Heroines(5 April 2017). Retrieved 22 June 2017. Template:Free access
- Jennifer Winget to Hina Khan: TV's Highest Paid Actors(14 July 2017). Retrieved 10 February 2018. Template:Free access
- MensXP{{#if:|, {{{last}}}} Template:OCLC.
- List of Top 35 Hottest TV Actresses in India(11 September 2014). Retrieved 22 June 2017. Template:Free access