Hindi film industry Bollywood is not just a world of glitz and glamour. The industry is a platform where art and artists are expressed in dynamic dimensions. Celebrities have dedicated themselves to their passion for acting and entertainment and have earned degrees. Every actor has mastered the art of bringing it to life on the big screen. Often seen by Celebrities who became Journalists as glamorous and exciting. The role allows them to play smart, articulate, and passionate characters who are committed to making a change in the world. Because of this, there is a trend of employing actors as news reporters in Bollywood films.
Although the media, or paparazzi as they are popularly known, play an important role in the lives of these stars. Some ‘tinsel town’ stars have discovered the role of on-screen journalists.
Here are some Bollywood Celebrities who became Journalists in films:
Shahrukh Khan and Juhi Chawla in “Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani”
Starring Aziz Mirza, Shah Rukh Khan, and Juhi Chawla in the lead, Peer Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani tells a heart-touching story. Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla’s characters managed to grab attention, even if the film failed to do so. Both actors played journalists covering a media war in an Indian newsroom.
Rani Mukerji in “No One Killed Jessica”
Rani Mukherjee’s “Meera Gayati” is one of the best roles played by Rani to date. It portrays the role of a committed journalist fighting for justice for a young woman, Jessica Lal, who is shot dead by a socialite in a bar.
She was a no-nonsense television journalist who broke the biggest stories. From Meera’s perspective, one can understand how journalists forget about food, sleep, and normal life in the race to get stories. During the promotion of the film, she said that in this matter media will be looked at from a different perspective and if it is used properly, its power can bring a big change. She also said that as a journalist you have to be active and fearless. With her bubbly nature and determined eagerness to embrace the character, Rani looked like a ‘real’ magazine star on screen!
Kareena Kapoor Khan in “Satyagraha”
Kareena Kapoor Khan is also one of those celebrities who became journalists and plays the role of a reporter in the multi-starrer ‘Satyagraha’, which is about a social movement against corruption. Her character “Yasmin” was serious and passionate about her work. Kareena admits that the role helped her understand the pressure of a reporter’s job. She reportedly said: “Our film shows that when she (reporter) is on the ground during the revolution, no matter what the situation, she (reporter) remains true to her work. I understand that the media has to do their job, their job is to report and have constant stories to report all the time, no matter where and how.”
Katrina Kaif in “Jagga Jasoos”
Katrina Kaif played the role of a journalist for the first time on screen. Her character name was “Shruti”, a crime reporter. It was very interesting for Bollywood’s “Sheela” to play such a character. She reportedly not only interacted with well-known journalists but learned about their working styles. Katrina also watched 100 hours of news footage about journalists and their lifestyles.
Sonakshi Sinha in “Noor”
In the 2017 Bollywood comedy-drama Noor, “Karachi, You’re Killing Me!” Based on the novel. Saba Imtiaz writes about the life and adventures of a young journalist named Noor Roy Chowdhury, played by Sonakshi Sinha. “Noor” highlights the daily concerns and hardships of a Mumbai-based journalist. Sona’s ads are in great trend. Sonakshi’s character in ‘Noor’ is one of the few journalistic roles celebrities play on screen.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui in “Bajrangi Bhaijaan”
Nawazuddin Siddiqui as “Chand Nawab” is one of his most famous characters played on screen. Quirky, intense, funny, and straightforward – you name it, he’s got it. Nawazuddin’s character was a mix of different qualities, yet he prevented the audience from dissociating from him. His character is based on a real-life journalist from Pakistan whose video went viral. His character as a journalist is tremendous.
Konkana Sen Sharma in “Page 3”
Playing ‘Madhvi’, a journalist in Madhur Bhandarkar’s National Award-winning ‘Page 3’, Konkana Sen Sharma stunned everyone with her extraordinary performance. She portrayed the role of Tara, a young journalist who landed a job covering celebrity entertainment for a newspaper. Someone rightly said that in a large ensemble cast that included Boman Irani, Sandhya Mridul, and Atul Kulkarni, Konkona was the actual heart of the film.
Preity Zinta in “Lakshya”
Preity Zinta plays Anjali Sharma, a war correspondent who falls in love with an Indian army officer. Lakshya is one of the most appreciated movies of all time. According to critics, ‘Had it not been for a stubborn, cut-throat journalist in that film; it might never have been the same’. It was not just a coming-of-age tale but in some sense a game changer too. For all the girls who wanted to join the media frenzy, Preity’s character as ‘Romila Dutta’ was just the perfect inspiration. It has been Preity’s one of the best performances.
Nargis Fakhri in “Madras Cafe”
Nargis Fakhri is one of the celebrities who became journalists and plays the role of Suchitra Pillai, who is an Indian journalist who investigates the activities of a Pakistani spy ring in India in Shoojit Sircar’s ‘Madras Café’ starring John Abraham. As per critics, Nargis Fakhri managed to leave a mark on the audience with her flawless performance as a foreign war correspondent from Britain. Reputed and senior reviewer Subash K Jha reportedly said, “Nargis Fakhri nails her war correspondent’s part with her radiant presence.” Another senior reviewer Taran Adarsh said, “Nargis Fakhri gets yet another stellar role (of a war correspondent) and I must add, she takes rapid strides as an actor”
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Aditi Rao Hydari in “Rockstar”
The bold, fierce, and enthusiastic journalist is how one would describe Adit Rao Hydari’s character in Ranbir Kapoor’s ‘Rockstar’. She played Sheena, a journalist who interviews a young musician about his rise to fame The movie also featured Nargis Fakhri in the lead. Aditi Rao’s role was impactful. However, after the release, Aditi commented that her role was chopped. Yet, Aditi’s performance as a journalist was appreciated.
These are just a few examples of Bollywood Celebrities who became Journalists and played the role of news reporters in films. Many other actors have also done this, and the trend seems to be growing. This is perhaps because the role of a journalist is often seen as glamorous and exciting, and it gives actors a chance to play characters who are intelligent, articulate, and passionate about making a difference in the world.
