How actresses like How Nayanthara, Alia Bhatt & Sargun Mehta are redrawing the economics of stardom – Firstpost

India does not entertain itself only through Bollywood, there is also a solid, healthy stream of content coming from the South, the Punjabi industry, the Bengali film industry, and many more. Some films are purely artistic in nature, while others serve the purpose of bringing in numbers with their commercial appeal. For years, these box office figures were seen as the sole responsibility of male actors, whose stardom traditionally pulled audiences to theatres. While this remains the norm in many ways, the past decade has witnessed a welcome change.

The Indian film industry has, if not entirely then at least partially, shifted that responsibility onto actresses, who now enjoy a solid fan base for their work and not just their glamour.

In conversations around the Indian box office today, three actresses are fixtures in any serious analysis: Nayanthara, Alia Bhatt and Sargun Mehta. Spread across different industries, each has shown remarkable consistency in delivering hits and shaping the way audiences engage with mainstream cinema.

Nayanthara, known as the Lady Superstar, has long been one of the most dependable names in Tamil and Telugu cinema. She continues to headline big projects, often ensuring strong openings in markets traditionally driven by male stars. Her Hindi debut in Jawan (2023) only reinforced her commercial weight, with the film entering the record books as one of the highest-grossing Indian films ever. That success underscored her ability to transcend regions and draw crowds on a truly national scale.

Alia Bhatt has established herself as Bollywood’s most reliable performer in the last five years. She has been central to some of Hindi cinema’s biggest recent earners, from Brahmāstra to Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. With Gangubai Kathiawadi posting a ₹10 crore opening, she also delivered a rare milestone: the biggest day-one for a film fronted by a female star in Hindi cinema, proving that her strength at the ticket window is not dependent on a co-star.

Sargun Mehta has steadily built Punjabi cinema’s most bankable track record. In 2025, she delivered the year’s biggest grossers with Saunkan Saunkne 2 and Sarbala Ji. Beyond acting, she has made a direct contribution to the industry’s growth. As a producer with Dreamiyata Entertainment, she was the first to launch Punjabi TV content, generating more opportunities for technicians, actors, and crew, and helping to build a sustainable ecosystem.