From Kartik Aaryan to Tripti Dimri, the spotlights shine bright on these stars

This is one world where reality and fantasy have always played hide-and-seek. But more and more, with OTT influences, reality is winning! Truth, as they say, is stranger and certainly gaining more traction than good ole boy-meets-girl stories. HELLO! presents new talent on the ever-shifting platforms of entertainment

1. Kartik Aaryan

Actor, “Rooh Baba” and millennial heartthrob.

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A director’s actor, audiences marvelled at Kartik Aaryan’s portrayal of a paraplegic athlete in Chandu Champion. He had to work on not just physical transformation, but also embody his character’s arc, going from victimhood to a heroic mentality in mind, body and spirit. Kartik’s other watershed performance had him in the horrorcomedy franchise Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 as faux exorcist Rooh Baba. The film not only got him acclaim as a versatile actor, but it also hit the box office jackpot, achieving a lifetime collection of Rs 336 crore across all languages!

QUOTABLE QUOTE

“I don’t have my uncle, or my dad, or my sister, or my girlfriend spreading positivity about me in articles or in the industry,” Kartik has quipped in a leading film magazine.

FUTURE TENSE

Kartik and Sreeleela are currently shooting their upcoming romantic drama in Gangtok and Darjeeling. The untitled film, directed by Anurag Basu, could be titled Aashiqui 3. He reportedly also has Tu Meri Main Tera, Main Tera Tu Meri coming up next year with Ananya Panday, besides potential projects with Sandeep Modi and Kabir Khan.

INFLUENCE QUOTIENT

Popular particularly among millennials and Gen Z, Kartik is the poster boy for young men with a Bollywood dream—evident from his numerous brand endorsements, box office successes and near 45 million followers.

2. Triptii Dimri

Actor and “qala-kaar”.

INFLUENCE QUOTIENT

Triptii Dimri’s roles have been richly varied, and her performances in films like Bulbbul, Laila Majnu, Qala and Animal—a total blockbuster— have put her on par with many senior actors, pitching her as the next big thing.

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The actor’s enthralling, starmaking performance in the Anushka Sharma produced Bulbbul skyrocketed her popularity since its release in 2020, although it’s her supporting role in Animal that really drew the spotlight on her. Cut to 2024, when she had a string of releases—from Bad Newz and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 to Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video—that kept her in entertainment headlines.

FUTURE TENSE

Triptii is said to be currently costarring in an action-thriller with Shahid Kapoor, directed by Vishal Bhardwaj. There are reports that she’s in talks for a film titled Vvan starring Sidharth Malhotra. She’ll also be seen in Dhadak 2 with Siddhant Chaturvedi.

3. Zahan Kapoor

The Kapoor legacy notwithstanding, Zahaan is a true ‘gen why’ multi-hyphenate who questions a singular focus. For him, acting is but one part of the wheel of expressions, spanning surfing, writing, theatre, sketching, skateboarding and also playing the tabla!

Zahan, when an artiste comes from a blue-chip legacy like you do, it can work both for and against. Would you agree?

Haha, I haven’t heard it called a blue-chip legacy before! I think there’s always a mix of things, irrespective of where you are in life. My advantage is having a support system that understands this industry. My parents made it clear my hard work would be the biggest currency of all. There may be opportunities, but there are expectations that sometimes feel heavy. So I’m devoted to learning everything and developing a self-confidence I can claim as my own. I also realise that the trappings of fame aren’t the things to chase; those are defaults of hard work. This mix-of-bothworlds approach keeps me grounded.

What have you learned from your family? Especially Sanjana Kapoor, who held the reins at Prithvi Theatre in Mumbai for years…

In some ways, my bua (Shashi Kapoor’s daughter) was the catalyst for me in my acting journey. I was 18-19 years old when she recommended that I assist theatre director Sunil Shanbag to get a hands-on insight into the actor’s craft. At the time, I worked in film production houses and was mainly keen on being a maker, but that stint with Sunil opened me up to the world of performance. As far as my superstar cousins are concerned, they’ve been quite honest, ready to offer a friendly ear whenever I need. The most enjoyable feeling was sharing my work with them recently; I’m earning my seat at the table! 

Did you attend acting school? Like Ranbir put himself through acting school in NYC and was a big believer in method acting.

I chose theatre as my path. I learnt about cinema by working on ad films and being an assistant at production companies. As Tarantino says, “I didn’t go to film school; I went to films.” Though I did spend a short stint in London doing theatre and film courses as an actor. My time at the National Youth Theatre of England helped me believe that I, too, had something to offer this world. I continue to read books on the craft and observe other performers keenly. I don’t know about the “method,” but I find that having many tools in the toolbox helps.

Why did you choose to debut with Hansal Mehta’s action-centric Faraaz in 2023, given the limited scope the movie offered to explore more nuanced emotions?

While signing Faraaz, there wasn’t a script! It developed along the way, and Hansal sir generously invited me to explore that journey with him... I trusted his sensibilities and complex characters and jumped into the deep end! I think the film is honest and a first for many young actors and technicians.

You also recently starred in Black Warrant (2024), a Netflix crime-drama. What did you learn from this experience?

I got to be a part of Vikram sir’s (Vikramaditya Motwane’s) process and witness how diligent and dedicated he is when he tells a story. All the other incredible people who came together made the experience fruitful. I did a lot of research—I first read the book Black Warrant and then went over every article and interview I could find on the subject, including the various ones recorded with the real Sunil Gupta ji.

Zahan, tell us about Bandwale, your upcoming Amazon Prime release.

Bandwale revolves around an unlikely trio of misfits who come together to try and win a series of talent contests online in search of identity and freedom. It’s a fun, heartfelt story with lots of characters and emotional anchors, filled with music, poetry and life!

We see you’re quite the multihyphenate! Tell us about your other passions.

I’m quite versatile in my interests. I’ve drawn, doodled and illustrated since I was a child and continue to do so. I love the ocean and enjoy snorkelling, scuba diving and surfing. I’ve been riding horses since I was 10 and continued to play polo at a professional level before filmmaking and acting took over. I enjoy writing, dancing and music (I learnt to play the tabla as a child, as well as guitar and bass guitar for my school band). I then taught myself how to play the ukulele through YouTube tutorials. More recently, I learned how to skateboard. I enjoy functional training in calisthenics and using kettlebells. I do yoga and deeply value pranayama breath work. I’m also involved in various capacities at Prithvi Theatre, from logistics and creating designs for posters and décor, to figuring out audio-visual flows. And I love to cook! Making food, to me, is much like filmmaking—a bunch of things come together to create a whole new thing, which you then share with people.

Tell us about your love of surfing. What has the sea taught you?

A short film we shot in 2022 might be released this year. It’s called Samudra, directed by Karan Kapadia. It’s about two young adults on a journey of self-discovery while on a surfing trip. Surfing has taught me so much! A surfer understands that waves come and go, that one must learn to be patient… A surfer knows about the balance of effort and surrender, and most of all, presence. It’s a beautiful metaphor for life itself. We tried to capture that in our film. I’m thrilled to say that I’ve also surfed on screen with SRK! A rare feat I can boast about, so I’ve played a surfer twice already!

4. Shalini Passi

OTT sensation and art collector.

INFLUENCE QUOTIENT

Her myriad mantras to live by made her one of the biggest OTT favourites of 2024, following her standout persona in Fabulous Lives Vs Bollywood Wives.

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Loved for her unapologetic epicureanism and eccentricities on the show Fabulous Lives Vs Bollywood Wives, Shalini Passi is a widely respected philanthropist and art patron as well as a collector of and commissioner of art from new talent. After innumerable magazine covers and awards, the founder of M.A.S.H—a digital platform that explores the intersection of architecture, art, craft, design and fashion—and the Shalini Passi Art Foundation has also sponsored the painting of the façade of the India Art Fair venue, featuring Ayesha Singh’s work. Shalini has stated that she donates all her earnings from her reality show and other ventures to charity, including supporting a village in Bihar through UNICEF.

QUOTABLE QUOTES

A number of Shalini’s quotes from the show have become anthems across the web, including, “The only reason I don’t hold grudges against other people is that it affects my skin!” “When you change your outfit, you change your energy,” and “I don’t like people; I like things because they don’t talk back!”

FUTURE TENSE 

Following the grand success of Fabulous Lives Vs Bollywood Wives, Shalini is ready with a fresh set of ‘mantras’ for life for the next season of the Netflix hit. She’s supposedly also in talks to sign a Bollywood movie, not to mention the various brand endorsements coming her way.

5. Vedang Raina

Actor, model, musician and the latest Gen Z ‘jigra’

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Vedang Raina’s 2024 release, Jigra, had a much looked-forward-to release. The movie came with great expectations, as it was also produced by a host of powerhouses, including Alia Bhatt, Karan Johar and Apoorva Mehta. While the film didn’t ring any box office bells, his portrayal of Alia’s younger brother up for a death sentence earned him accolades aplenty. Vedang has also sung four of his film songs. We may see a following of 760K on Instagram, but interestingly, as a musician/ singer, he enjoys a healthy 15.1K followers on his YouTube channel!

INFLUENCE QUOTIENT

He was first noted for his self-absorbed swag as Reggie Mantle in The Archies. Soon after, he bagged a major role with Alia Bhatt in Jigra. Watch out for him in Karan Johar’s next.

FUTURE TENSE

We can look out for Vedang on the silver screen again, as he’s reportedly set to star in Imtiaz Ali’s next film alongside Ananya Panday. He’s also rumoured to play the lead in an untitled film by Karan Johar. While these are upcoming projects, he has expressed interest in pursuing his passion for music and potentially releasing his own album in future.

6. Sanya Malhotra

Actor, dancer and ‘Mrs’ OTT favourite

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Although she has no nepo-connect to the highly nepotistic film industry, this young actor has garnered over 500 million watch minutes for her February 2025 release, Mrs. Prior to this, she has featured in two blockbuster capers, Dangal and Jawan, which rank among the highest-grossing Indian films. Sanya’s other commercially successful films were the comedy Badhaai Ho and biopic Sam Bahadur. She’s also noted for films like Pagglait and Kathal – A Jackfruit Mystery. Her movies aside, Sanya enthralls fans on Instagram with her sinuous dancing, and few know that she choreographed Amir Khan’s moves in Secret Superstar.

QUOTABLE QUOTES

“In today’s time, you’re truly successful if a meme is based on you!” she has said. Her other passion is sustainable living, on which she has said, “I try buying from sustainable brands or look for homegrown options. These are all changes that are being incorporated gradually into my daily lifestyle.”

FUTURE TENSE

The young actor will be seen in a Dharma production, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, directed by Shashank Khaitan, alongside Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Dhawan. She also has an untitled film with Anurag Kashyap and Thug Life, a Tamil film, in the works.

7. Rishabh Rikhiram Sharma

Sitar maestro, music producer and founder of Sitar for Mental Health.

INFLUENCE QUOTIENT

For a classical music artist to have a 3 million following on the ’Gram clearly shows a ‘new order’ of influence. Rishab blends classical sitar with contemporary influences, creating a therapeutic journey. Because he has yoked his mastery to the idea of supporting mental health, his shows are pitched as healing experiences.

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All of 26 years old, Rishab stands as the youngest disciple of the late Pandit Ravi Shankar, who was the first sitar maestro to take his instrument to Western audiences. In 2024, he became the first musician to collaborate with the United Nations for mental health awareness. His initiative, Sitar for Mental Health, became an international movement promoting music therapy. Not since The Beatles introduced sitar into their iconic songs, reflecting the 60s’ quest to find soul and sanity in India after World War II, have we seen such a movement. Rishab has famously shared, “I’ve been very true to ambassadoring music in the right manner. I even said ‘no’ to the White House because they didn’t have a proper stage for me to perform. This was the first ever Diwali at the White House. Initially, I said no, but I finally ended up performing there. That’s not how our music is presented; I even tried to explain it to them.”

FUTURE TENSE

Rishab is currently on the biggest classical music tour ever across India for Sitar for Mental Health, covering cities from Delhi to Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad to Indore. His last show is on May 18 in Kolkata.

8.  Karan Singh Aujla

Punjabi rapper, singer and songwriter.

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Karan Aujla’s Tauba Tauba fame aside, many may be unaware that the 28-year-old multi-dance hit wonder is famed for his ability to dream up and execute catchy songs at an astonishing pace. Case in point: Diljit Dosanjh’s 2020 track G.O.A.T that took him 10 minutes to write (as he revealed on a show). Not only has he maintained a quick turnaround of popular releases, he has also had successful collaborations with artists like Nora Fatehi, Honey Singh, Bohemia, KR$NA and Badshah. He’s also worked with American rapper YG and actor Disha Patani. A few notable collaborations include Ek Din with Bohemia, The Game and J. Hind, and Tell Me with Ryan Tedder and Disha Patani. His lyrics and beats explore themes of Punjabi culture, relationships and daily life, making his music almost emblematic of his generation and its preoccupations.

FUTURE TENSE

Fans can keep their ears open for a new single titled Admirin’ You, set to be released soon. Additionally, Karan is also preparing for his concerts in India, with performances scheduled in Gurugram, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad.

INFLUENCE QUOTIENT

With 9.8 million followers on Instagram and nearly 16 million monthly listeners on Spotify, this rapper-singer became a global sensation with the smash Bollywood track, Tauba Tauba. Besides topping various Asian charts, he’s been listed as the ‘Most Popular Artist’ in the Punjabi music industry.

Photgraphs by Bandeep Singh from the India Today Group for Triptii Dimri and Vedang Raina 

This piece originally appeared in the April-May’25 print edition of HELLO! India