10 Bollywood stars who made it big in Hollywood: from Alia Bhatt, Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, to Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra Jonas – how did these actors crack Tinseltown?

Jan 4 , 2024

Freida Pinto, Anil Kapoor and Alia Bhatt are among the Bollywood stars to have found the greatest success in Hollywood. Photos: @freidapinto, @anilskapoor, @aliabhatt/Instagram

These Bollywood stars are helping to diversify Hollywood, from Alia Bhatt’s turn in Heart of Stone with Gal Gadot, to Amitabh Bachchan in Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby with Leonardo DiCaprio

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been in five Hollywood movies, Deepika Padukone played Vin Diesel’s love interest, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas portrayed an antagonist in the film version of Baywatch

The success of the Telugu-language film RRR (2022), helmed by S.S. Rajamouli and starring N.T. Rama Rao Jr and Ram Charan, during the Hollywood awards season in 2022-2023, put a global spotlight on the Indian film industry, which produces films in multiple languages each year.

While Indian stars have been making a mark in the West for decades, and have been seamlessly transitioning between industries, they also have been breaking stereotypes and expanding the global influence of Indian cinema. Not limited to film, Indian voices are increasingly prominent in TV shows, streaming projects and various creative endeavours, leaving an indelible mark in the global entertainment space with their diverse roles.

Read on to get to know 10 Indian stars who have seamlessly transitioned to the West.

1. Priyanka Chopra Jonas

Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas on their wedding day in 2018. Photo: Handout

Referred to as “desi girl” (a South Asian woman who embraces her culture), Priyanka Chopra Jonas has successfully bridged a career between Bollywood and Hollywood. Acclaimed for her remarkable performances in Indian films, she pursued a career in the West through music before gaining widespread fame for her role as Alex Parrish in the American crime drama series Quantico (2015-18). In Hollywood, the actress portrayed the role of an antagonist in the 2017 film Baywatch, and later starred in A Kid Like Jake (2018) alongside Claire Danes and Jim Parsons.

Following a supporting role in the 2019 romantic comedy Isn’t It Romantic, she joined the cast of The Matrix Resurrections (2021), led by Keanu Reeves. Her recent endeavours include starring roles in the Russo Brothers spy thriller series Citadel (2023 onwards) alongside Richard Madden, and the romantic comedy Love Again (2023) with Sam Heughan. Chopra Jonas continues her reign in Hollywood, with upcoming projects such as Heads of State, also starring Idris Elba and John Cena, and Ending Things with Anthony Mackie.

2. Deepika Padukone

Deepika Padukone at the Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Invision/AP

Deepika Padukone made her stunning debut in the Hindi film industry in 2008 with Om Shanti Om, starring opposite Indian superstar Shah Rukh Khan. With an impressive 17-year career, she is one of the most popular leading stars in India.

In 2017, the actress stepped into Hollywood with a leading role in Vin Diesel’s xXx: Return of Xander Cage. The third instalment in the xXx franchise, directed by D.J. Caruso, the film features an ensemble cast, including Donnie Yen, Ruby Rose, Tony Jaa, Nina Dobrev, Toni Collette and Samuel L. Jackson. Although she hasn’t announced any new Hollywood projects, Padukone remains a prominent figure at international events and on red carpets, and is a favourite with global brands.

3. Alia Bhatt

Alia Bhatt attends the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in December 2023. Photo: AFP

In just 11 years, Alia Bhatt has become one of the top female stars in India, captivating audiences with her versatility and critically acclaimed performances. She has gained recognition for her emotionally charged roles in films like Highway (2014), Udta Punjab (2016), Dear Zindagi (2016), Gully Boy (2019), Darlings (2022) and Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022).