Screen-Time No Bar! 10 Underrated Actresses Who Have Nailed Every Role That They've Starred In

'Mumbai dreams' are never as colorful as a scene from a Zoya Akhtar film. For aspiring women actors, there is a higher probability of getting offered to play a 'Bua Ji' in their 20's. To some, the disappointment of not getting a movie role could also make them trade their Bollywood dreams with TV soaps, after all, TV at least offers them recurring income.

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Even with disappointment that could lie at every corner of their journey, some resilient women decide to never give up on their dreams. They keep making a mark in some way or the other. They choose to accept every opportunity that comes their way so that they can prove their calibre to the world.

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We recognized 10 performers who have kept striving harder in the industry every year in the hope of making a sustainable career.

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While many did manage to get a few substantial roles, a few are still hoping to get one 'call' that could maybe, change their lives.

These women we have been working hard for years just to be seen on TV, web-series, and films and there are high chances that you may have never recognized them with their names. Here are 10 consistently good performers who have owned every role they played.

1. Sheeba Chaddha

A still from Badhaai Ho/Junglee Pictures

I remember noticing Sheeba Chadha for the first time in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Over the years, Sheeba who started her career in films as Shah Rukh Khan's mother has played several roles.

One of her most memorable and hilarious appearances remains to be Dum Laga Ke Haisha in which she played Nain Tara, who keeps poking the new 'Bahu', taking subtle digs at her weight. There hasn't been a single role that she hasn't nailed. In two decades of her career, she starred in over 30 films and always managed to leave a striking impact. While she can play a nosy rural woman in Dum Laga Ke Haishaa, she also switched into an 'urban-know it all' mother mode for Badhaai Ho.

Some of her most memorable films are- Delhi 6, Luck By Chance, Raees, What Will people say, Badhaai Ho, Zero, Gully Boy and Jabariya Jodi.

2. Ayesha Raza

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Ayesha's mother Salima Raza was the founding member of Yatrik, one of Delhi¡¯s oldest theatre groups. Stalwarts including late Joy Michael, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Sushma Seth, and Roshan Seth were regular visitors at Ayesha's house while growing up.

She started her career as a voice dubber. She came to Mumbai in the early 2000s. She made her acting debut with a horror TV show by Tigmanshu Dhulia, in which actor Irrfan Khan had directed one episode. At 26, she played a Punjabi aunty. Later on, she grabbed another short role in a TV show with Dilip Kumar and Saira Bano and she played a buaji.

Her performance in Zoya Akhtar multi-starrer Dil Dhadakne Do to finally got noticed and YRF signed her for Bang Baaja Baarat. She proved her mettle with each and every opportunity. Her most recent memorable roles include films- Madaari, Befikre, Toilet A Love Story, Love Per Square Foot, Sonu Ke Teetu Ki Sweety, Veere Di Wedding, Made in Heaven, and SOTY 2. She has also starred in several short films that are now available on YouTube. There has been no looking back for Ayesha!

3. Seema Pahwa

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Do you ever remember watching an average performance by Seema Pahwa? The answer is a clear no. She is so good at what she does that you may have just spotted her in every Ayushmann or Rajkummar Rao film these days & we are not exaggerating. She started her career with Doordarshan's Hum log. She stuck to television for a while. She also played Mazhar's mother in Hip Hip Hurray! Her versatility and chameleon trait to ace every role makes her every filmmaker's top choice.

She has starred in several films including Ferrari Ki Sawaari, Dum Laga Ke Haisha, Wazir, Bareilly Ki Barfi, Shubh Mangal Saavdhaan, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, Arjun Patiala, and Bala. She made her directorial debut with Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi.

4. Simone Singh

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In 1995, Simone ruled the television industry as Heena. Show's popularity sky-rocketed and made Simone a popular face among the Indian audience. She did a few notable cameos in films like Karan Johar's Kabhi Khushi Gham (Come on! She was the Banno Ki Saheli Rukhsar, who had an entire song dedicated to her). She was also re-cast in KJo's Kal Ho Naa Ho, where she played Camila (How can you forget her?).

Apart from acting, Simone is also the first Indian TV actress to present at the International Emmy Awards in NYC. She also served on the jury of the first International Emmy Awards which were held in India in 2005.

She recently played a notable role in web-series 4 more shots Please! as Siddhi's mother. Her recent notable films include Laal Kaptaan and Imtiaz Ali's Love Aaj Kal (She played Sara's mother). Till today, Simone's grace and charm on the big screen remain intact! We wish we get to see her in bigger and meatier roles.

5. Rasika Duggal

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An LSR and FTII pass out, Rasika began her acting career with character roles in films Anwar, No Smoking, and Hijack, Rasika Duggal bowled over everyone with her spectacular performance in Qissa, in which she starred along with Tisca Chopra and Irrfan Khan. It won't be wrong to say that Bollywood understands the superiority of a good actor pretty late. Nandita Das roped in Rasika for Manto and she was also seen in Netflix' Once Again.

Rasika's masterstroke was Hamid for which she won the Best Actor Award for her role at Rajasthan International Film Festival. Rasika is currently owning the web-series world with her back to back power-packed performances in shows like- Mirzapur, Made in Heaven, and Delhi Crime.

Dr. Meera Kapoor in Hotstar's Out of love remains of her most underrated performances. The show also co-stars Purab Kohli. It won't be a bad idea to utilize the lockdown time to binge-watch some of Rasika's shows because each and every show is a gem in its own way! Her next project is Mira Nair and BBC's A Suitable Boy.

6. Tilotama Shome

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Tilotama's acting career in India began as Alice in Mira Nair's Monsoon Wedding. She also played Deepa in Shadows of Time (Schatten der Zeit), directed by Florian Gallenberger.

She kept treading her path as an actor and tested different waters including bagging a part in an Australian film, The Waiting City by Claire McCarthy, where she played a nun. She won praises for her role in Qissa that co-starred Irrfan and Tisca Chopra and also won her the best actress title in the New Horizons Competition of the seventh Abu Dhabi Film Festival (ADFF), a title that she happily shared with Norwegian actress Julia Wildschutt.

Tilotama's choices have been off-beat but brilliant. You can easily gauge her love for her craft in films like- Shanghai, Budhia Singh-Born to run, Hindi Medium (she reprised the role of a college counselor in Angrezi Medium), A Death In The Gunj, The song of the scorpions. She was also seen in Zee5's latest web-series Mentalhood.

7. Deepika Amin

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As an actor, Deepika's first break was Lekh Tandon's and Gul Anand's serial Farmaan where she played the lead opposite Kanwaljit. She stuck to television and did shows like Tashan-e-Ishq and 9 Malabar Hill on Zee TV, Junoon on Doordarshan, Siyasat on Epic ( She earned praises for playing Empress Ruqaiya Sultan Begum in the critically acclaimed series). Amin also starred in Shyam Benegal's serial Amravati Ki Kathayein and his 10 part historic series Samvidhaan.

Deepika has recently starred in a lot of Bollywood films and never failed to leave her mark. Her notable performances can be seen in movies including- Well Done Abba, Raanjhana, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya, Fan, Sonu Ke Teetu Ki Sweety, Gone Kesh and Ghoomketu. She did a notable and praiseworthy cameo in Rani Mukerji's Mardaani 2, where she was seen as a doctor who shares details of the brutality of a rape case with a senior inspector (played by Rani).

8. Alka Kaushal

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Alka gained popularity with her Television appearances. She did popular TV sows like Kumkum ¨C Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan and Qubool Hai. In all these years, she has played supportive roles in numerous Hindi TV serials. She mostly played negative characters (vamps) in most of her TV Shows.

Alka later switched to films and she finally got her due credit. She starred in some of the most successful Bollywood films including Queen, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Veere Di Wedding (Santosh Aunty who would keep poking her nose and meddling in everyone's business. Remember?) and Badhaai Ho. She also played Taapsee Pannu's mother in Soorma.

9. Meghna Malik

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Can anyone ever forget how brilliant Meghna was as Ammaji of Colors TV's popular show Na Aana Is Des Laado. As an antagonist, Meghna headlined the show which focused on female infanticide and other atrocities against women. A product of NSD, Meghna's acting caliber can't be questioned. She did cameos in films like Shah Rukh Khan's Chalte Chalte, Aamir Khan's Taare Zameen Par, and Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas.

She was last seen as a principal in Irrfan Khan's Angrezi Medium and even in a brief role, she does manage to shine and do full justice with her role. We wish Bollywood recognizes her talent and ropes her in meatier and substantial roles.

10. Neelu Kohli

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After ruling the Indian Television for years, Neelu starred in several Bollywood films. Even in her cameos, Neelu adds her magic and gives a distinct touch to each and every role. In Manmarziyaan, Neelu played Abhishek Bachchan's on-screen mother who is on a mission to get her NRI son married. Even in a cameo, Neelu has this sheer talent of leaving a mark.

Neelu's comic timing is her biggest strength. Neelu was also seen in films like Break Ke Baad, Patiala House, Housefull 2, Luck By Chance (where she plays Farhan Akhtar's nagging Mohini Maasi), and Gori Tere Pyaar Mein. Can Bollywood please give her a role that could utilise her potential already?