F E AT U R E
Crossover success
These 5 actresses have made it big in Bollywood despite being foreignnationals
A
fresh face in Bollywood is always welcome. So much
so that the industry attracts talent from abroad as
well! And with just the right mentors and guidance, few
foreign talents have been able to make a space for themselves. Check out some of the popular actresses who do
not belong to India, but have made it big in Bollywood.
Nargis Fakhri
Born to multi- cultural parents in New York, Nagris started off as an American model and appeared in two backto-back editions of America’s Next Top Model. Nargis
chose to move to India when she was offered her debut
in Rockstar opposite Ranbir Kapoor. Her portrayal of
Heer Kaur and her ethereal beauty earned her instant
popularity across the country. Since then, she has been
a part of films like Madras Cafe and Main Tera Hero and
has been making successful appearances in item numbers. Add to that, she's a quirky fashionista too!
Katrina Kaif
The Barbie doll of Bollywood, Katrina was a British
model who made her first appearance in the Amitabh
Bachchan starrer, Boom (2003). Though the film did not
make a mark, Katrina went on to bag a number of roles
opposite leading actors like Akshay Kumar and Salman
Khan. Her big turnaround came with Namastey London
where she played a British girl of Indian origin and won
praise for her carefree performance. Since then, Katrina
has become one of the top actresses of the country and
has worked with some of the biggest banners in the industry. We simply salute her!
Sunny Leone
This Canadian born 'Baby Doll' has certainly captivated
the audiences ever since her first film, Jism 2 (2012).
Already a part of the entertainment industry abroad and
oozing sex appeal, she has since then worked her magic in the Hindi film industry. Though she gained her initial
popularity for a different reason, she has now managed
to make a prominent space in Bollywood through item
songs and her movies.
Jacqueline Fernandez
The Miss Sri Lanka Universe, who debuted with Aladin
(2009) continues to wow the audiences with her performances in films like Housefull 2, Race 2 and Kick. An
absolute treat on screen, she came to the country with
a modeling contract and landed up in Bollywood, only to
become one of the most popular faces of the industry.
And with her free-spirited dance numbers like Lat Lag
Gayi and Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan, she proves that she's
definitely here to stay!
Helen
It's a little known fact that the dance legend, Helen actually belongs to Burma. Having escaped her country
of origin due to the Japanese occupation, she quit her
schooling at the age of 19 to support her family. The
dancing queen got her first break in the song Mera Naam
Chin Chin Chu, which she is remembered for even today. She continued to give hit performances in various
movies through her dancing and acting. She is regarded
as one of the best dancers to grace the screen.
17 | BOOM