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Bengali cinema is one of the most popular and acclaimed film industries in the world. With talented actors and actresses, Bengali movies have a way of touching people’s hearts regardless of their language or location. Here are ten of the best Bengali actresses who have won national awards.
Rima Ghosh
Rima Ghosh, an accomplished actress who has won several national awards for her work in films and television, is one of the most prominent Bengali actresses in the country. She started her career in theater before making her film debut in 1993 with Bishwajit Ray’s Tanu Weds Manu. Ghosh went on to appear in a number of critically acclaimed films including Satyajit Ray’s Charulata (1996), Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake (2003), and Rituparno Ghosh’s Sa Majhbu (2009). Her portrayal of a struggling middle-class woman in Tanu Weds Manu earned her critical acclaim and led to her being nominated for the Filmfare Best Actress Award. Her subsequent acting roles have won her further accolades, including the National Award for Best Supporting Actress for Satyajit Ray’s Charulata and the National Film Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake. Ghosh has also starred in several successful television series, including Ramayan (2002–2004) and Rang Mahal (2005–2007).
Soumitra Chatterjee
Soumitra Chatterjee is a noted Bengali actor and director. He has won several national awards, including the prestigious National Award for Best Actor. Chatterjee is well known for his roles in films such as Agnisakshi, Tumi Neelkantha and Tarun Tejpal. He has also directed several acclaimed films, most notably Sonar Kella and Kalighat.
Tanushree Dutta
1. Tanushree Dutta
Tanushree Dutta is an Indian actress who has worked in Hindi, Bengali and Telugu cinema. She won the National Film Award for Best Female Actor for her performance in the 2004 Tamil-language film Nenu Meelai. She also received acclaim for her work in the 2008 Telugu film Seetamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu and the 2010 Hindi film Housefull.
Mamata Banerjee
Banerjee is an Indian political leader and the current Chief Minister of West Bengal. She has been a Member of Parliament from Bangaon since 1991, and has been the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha since May 2014. Banerjee is also a member of several state committees. Born to a peasant family in Tipperah district in the North Eastern State of Assam, Banerjee started her political career as an activist with the Students Federation of India (SFI). In 1981, she joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and has been an MP for Bangaon ever since. As Chief Minister, Banerjee is credited with turning around West Bengal’s fortunes by creating jobs, boosting infrastructure development, and reviving public sector enterprises. She has also been praised for her efforts to uplift women’s rights and create social welfare programs targeted at the poor. Banerjee was honoured with Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration in 2006, Padma Vibhushan in 2013, and Bharat Ratna in 2016.
Aishwarya Rai
Aishwarya Rai, also popularly known as Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, is an Indian actress who has won the National Awards for Best Actress four times. She has acted in over 150 films in her career. Rai was born on 14 October 1966 and raised in Delhi. After appearing in a number of commercials, she made her acting debut with the Hindi film Dil To Pagal Hai (1993). Her breakthrough role came with the English-language film Sarabhai vs Sarabhai (1995), which established her as one of the leading actresses of Hindi cinema. She received critical acclaim for her portrayal of twins and won the National Film Award for Best Female Actor. After starring in successful films such as Dil Se..(1998), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (2003) and Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (2007), Rai appeared in a variety of roles including that of a terrorist in Om Shanti Om (2009). In 2011, she starred alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone in Raees. The following year, she portrayed Mata Amritanandamayi Devi in Gurugram: A Love Story. Rai has since appeared in several other films including Simran (2018), Geet Maxi (2019) and Tara Road (2020).
Priyanka Chopra
A reputed actress, model and singer, Priyanka Chopra has won several awards in India and internationally. Her work in the Bollywood film industry has seen her receive critical acclaim and win numerous awards, including a National Award for Best Actress for her role in the movie “Fashion”. In 2013, she was honoured with the Padma Bhushan award, India’s third-highest civilian honour.
Kangana Ranaut
1. Kangana Ranaut
Kangana Ranaut is an Indian film actress who has appeared in Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada language films. She made her screen debut in 2007 with the Bollywood film “Tere Bina”. Her most successful films include the romance drama “Queen” (2016), the action thriller “Dilwale” (2015), and the romantic comedy-drama “Kahaani” (2012). She has received several accolades, including a Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut in 2007, a Rajat Kamal Award for Best Actress for her performance in the 2012 film “Queen”, and an International Women’s Film Festival Award for Best Actress for her performance in “Kahaani”.
Vidya Balan
1. Vidya Balan is an Indian actress who has won several national awards, including the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – South.
2. She made her acting debut in the 2004 Hindi film Rang De Basanti and later starred in critically acclaimed films like Khamoshiyan (2005), Vaastav (2007) and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2012).
3. In 2013, she starred in the Bollywood fantasy-thriller Mirzapur and received praise for her turn as a Manipuri woman caught between two cultures.
4. Vidya Balan was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2014, and her performance in Kaabil earned her a nomination for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Motion Picture.
5. She currently stars in the Netflix original series Kuch Kuch Hota Hai opposite Karan Johar.
Payal Rohatgi
Payal Rohatgi is a Bengali actress who has won several national awards. She started her career in the early 2000s and has since appeared in a number of critically acclaimed films. Rohatgi is known for her emotive performances and is highly respected within the film industry. She has been nominated for several prestigious awards, including the Filmfare Best Actress Award, and won the National Award for Best Actress in 2011.
Conclusion
Bengali actresses are often credited with bringing a new level of glamour and sensuality to Indian cinema. And it’s not hard to see why- after all, they possess some of the most beautiful faces in the country. This list celebrates 10 of the best Bengali actresses who have won national awards for their acting chops. So whether you’re looking for inspiration or just want to learn a little more about some of India’s most celebrated female actors, be sure to check out this list!