Powerpuff girls: How Alia Bhatt, Shraddha Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Kangana Ranaut, Vidya Balan and Anushka Sharma showed they don't need superstars

The lack of an A-list hero in female-centric films has ensured a lot of these films were either shelved or kept on the backburner. But that has changed. The top heroes may still be shying away from playing second fiddle in heroine-driven films, but that is no longer a deterrent.

Filmmakers are going ahead with their women-oriented projects as there is no dearth of talented, albeit lesser known actors, to choose from.

In fact, these actors who are waiting for that big push are only too happy to get on board with an A-list actress. Conversely, actresses, too, are not picky about who their co-star is as long as they get the meaty part. It is, indeed, a win-win situation for all.

Be it Kangana Ranaut-Rajkummar Rao in Queen, Priyanka Chopra-Darshan Kumar in Mary Kom or Anushka Sharma-Neil Bhoopalam in NH 10, we have seen several such unusual jodis and their chemistry becoming the talk-of-the-town. And now, even the Gen Next actresses are pairing up with relatively new, but competent actors in their next. Here’s a low-down...

Alia Bhatt-Vicky Kaushal

In her next film, Raazi, an espionage-thriller, Alia Bhatt is paired with Vicky Kaushal, best known for his role in the critically-acclaimed Masaan, Zubaan and Raman Raghav. Raazi with Alia will be his big outing. He admits, “Getting a chance to work with Alia Bhatt, inarguably one of the finest actresses in our industry at the moment, is a big deal for me.” The film is based on Harinder Sikka’s novel Calling Sehmat and revolves around a Kashmiri girl married to an army officer across the border, who provides the Indian Intelligence with invaluable information.

Shraddha Kapoor-Ankur Bhatia

She is playing the titular role in the biopic Haseena Parkar and her husband is being played by the lesser known New York-based actor Ankur Bhatia. He made his debut in Mira Nair’s Grant St Shaving Co. He was last seen as Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s husband in Sarbjit. While he was in “awe of Aishwarya” he is “super-excited” to work with Shraddha.

Kareena Kapoor Khan-Sumeet Vyas

Kareena Kapoor Khan has only worked with known names. She has always nixed offers with lesser-known heroes. But now, Bebo is all set to share screen space with Sumeet Vyas, popular for his role in the web series Permanent Roommates. He has been roped in to play her romantic interest in her comeback film Veerey Di Wedding post motherhood. Though Sumeet has played quirky roles in films like English Vinglish and Parched, working with Kareena is a big deal.

Vidya Balan-Manav Kaul

He is an acclaimed theatre actor-director and playwright, and has done several films like Wazir, Jai Gangajal, Kai Po Che and Jolly LLB 2. However, when Manav landed the role of Vidya Balan’s husband in Tumhari Sulu it grabbed attention. Director Suresh Triveni said that they needed a solid actor opposite Vidya and Manav fit the bill.

PS. This is not the first time Vidya has worked with a lesser known actor. She had paired up with the then relatively new and much younger Ali Fazal in Bobby Jasoos.

Anushka Sharma-Parambrata Chatterjee

For her third production, Pari, Anushka has roped in Bengali actor Parambrata who got recognition in Bollywood for his turn in Kahaani. For Pari, the actor said he was impressed with the script and loved the idea of working with Anushka. Interestingly, in her first two productions, too, the actress stayed away from A-listers and chose to cast actors like Diljit Dosanjh (Phillauri) — popular in Punjab, but relatively new to B-Town — and Neil Bhoopalam (NH 10).

Kangana Ranaut-Sohum Shah

In her upcoming film Simran, that revolves around her character, Kangana is romantically paired with Sohum Shah of Ship Of Theseus and Talvar fame. But, he has no fears of being sidelined in the film. “I never have these kind of apprehensions. In Simran too, there is enough meat in my role,” he said in an earlier interview. He finds Kangana helpful and easy-going. “She doesn’t have any attitude because she is a big star — if we have to go for one more take, she is cool about it,” says Sohum for whom this is a big film.

As for Kangana, earlier she did Queen with the then relatively unknown Rajkummar Rao, who got lauded for his small but pivotal role.

Other actresses who have made films without A-list heroes

Sonakshi Sinha-Purab Kohli

For Noor based on a novel, Karachi, You’re Killing Me, that had Sonakshi as the protagonist, the makers cast Purab as one of the guys she is attracted to.

Priyanka Chopra-Darshan Kumar

Priyanka played the title role in the biopic on boxing champion Mary Kom and her husband Onler Kom was essayed by newbie Darshan. His performance as the supportive husband won a lot of appreciation.