2021 Round Up : The Supporting Actors We Just LOVED!

Actors are actors for me. Supporting or in the lead. We have had many excellent roles in the recent past where the presence of supporting actors have left an everlasting imprint in the minds of audience. Who does not remember Lisa's Vijaylakshmi character from Queen or Dia Mirza's character as Amrita in Thappad? They are characters that just stuck with us and for good reason.

We look upon the list of female supporting actors who made a contribution to the screen with spectacular performance in 2021.

10 Best Supporting Actors from 2021

1. Amruta Subhash as Ankita Malaskar in Dhamaka-

Amruta Shubhash plays the role of Ankita, news channel producer and Kartik Aryan's boss in the movie Dhamaka. Her presence on the screen creates magic with the way she enters the scene in the greyish black cotton saree and portrays herself as an uptight boss ready to cash in the news of the hour for her channel. Amruta started off her career with Oscar nominated Indian movie named Shwaas. She has earlier won National Awards for Best Supporting Actress for the movie Gully Boy and Astu as well.

2. Tanvi Azmi as Nayantara Apte in Tribhanga-

The social drama Tribhanga revolves around a dancer daughter Anu resenting her mother Nayantara for making "too liberal choices" in her life. Nayantara's character is a bold, courageous and a pathbreaker. She is shown to be much ahead of her times when she chooses her career over daily tantrums of her in-laws.

Nayantara decides to raise her children all by herself in a world where her girls are made fun of for carrying the mother's last name. Tanvi won National Award for Best Supporting Actress for the movie Bajirao Mastani in 2015. 

3. Bhagyashree as Sandhya in Thalaivii-

Though Bhagyashree has not been doing many roles these years, but her short and impactful role in Thalaivii as Jayalalitha's mother garnered much appreciation. The Maine Pyaar Kiya actress plays a role of making Ranaut realise the turning point in the character Thalaivii's life.

Her constant reminder to a daughter to perform better in life with her performances and humbleness in movie industry is every other mom. She is shown supporting her daughter in during the high and lows of her career. Even though the screen presence of Bhagyashree is not for too long, it leaves a print in the mind of audience.

4. Sai Tamhankar as Shama in Mimi-

Sai's role of Shama is shown to be Mimi's best friend in the movie who moves like her reflection wherever she goes. Even in the tough times of Mimi, when everybody abandons  her and she feels lost, Shama acts like her guardian angel and provides her the comfort of a sister. She is shown to be living life on her own terms and keeps voicing her opinion through her experiences.

Sai has been always into doing "new" roles that gives her a challenge to work and grow as an actor. Being vocal against discrimination against regional actors in Hindi cinema, Sai feels things have changed and actors should be seen as actors.

5. Huma Qureshi as Adeela Rehman in Bell Bottom-

Huma plays the role of a spy posted with airport operations team in Dubai airport. Her intense and powerful role is much loved by the fans who feel she is the perfect pick for the role. Her fighting sequence and prompt acting throughout the life of her character in the movie provides audience with many gripping scenes.

Her recent performance in Maharani -the political drama which was aired on SonyLiv was applauded by the critics as well for bringing the right attitude to a serious yet homely character of Rani Bharti. Huma has previously won Breakthrough Supporting Performance by Stardust Awards for her role in Dedh Ishqiya.

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6. Meghna Malik as Usha Rani Nehwal in Saina-

Meghna's character of Usha, mother of world badminton champion and player of India Saina Nehwal was totally energetic and  packed. The untiring mother who is ready to go any height to see her daughter succeed is a role the actor performance brilliantly. She is literally every inspiring mom we all want. The way Meghna delves into the character of  Saina's mother getting the perfect Haryanvi accent and habits to her character is simply amazing.

Meghna is well noted for her remarkable role of Ammaji in Naa Ana Is Des Laado (story of female infanticide). Meghna said in one of her interviews, "I am not interested in playing simple linear roles but more complicated roles interest me". Her choice of roles totally justifies her words.

7. Kirti Kulhari as Dalbir Kaur Bagga in The Girl on the Train-

Kirti plays an interesting role of a turbaned cop who investigates the murder of a girl in London. Her character turns out to be the pivotal one as one gets to the end of the movie. Kirti's role in thriller action movie starring Parineeti Chopra and Aditi Rao Hydari, is full of energy and serious intense timings.

Kirti recently came out on Instagram with her social media posts just after the separation with her husband. She is known for many acclaimed characters in female centric shows and movies like Four More Shots Please, Pink, Mission Mangal, Indu Sarkar to name a few.

8. Ileana D'Cruz as Meera Rao in Big Bull-

Ileana plays the role of financial journalist in Abhishek Bachchan starrer(based on character of Sucheta Dalal) with ease and calmness. Meera takes upon the task of exposing the financial irregularities in the bank and scam by the stockbroker-millionaire Hemant Shah. Ileana's role as Meera has been described as a "shrewd, feisty and gutsy".

(Pic Credit: NDTV Movies)

Ileana made her mark in Bollywood with her debut movie "Barfi!" in 2013 which brought many awards to her kitty like Filmfare, Star Guilds, Times of India- Best Female Debut. She is known for her works in Rustom, Baadshaho, Raid and many others.

9. Sayani Gupta as Akansha Roy in Pagglait

Sayani is known to get into the skin of character she plays. In the Sanya Malhotra's Pagglait, Sayani may not be the main character of the story, but her simple character of Akanksha brought her to everyone's notice. She plays the role of ex of Sandhya's deceased husband Astik, who could not get married to him due to family pressure and later confronting questions of Sandhya with regards her doubt.

Her role as Khanum in Margarita with a Straw as a blind Pakistani Bangladeshi lesbian activist was phenomenal. Her other roles in Four More Shots Please, Article 15, Jolly LLB 2,Fan, Posham Pa were equally noteworthy. Just like all other roles, playing dark and serious character is like a piece of cake to Sayani.

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10. Neena Gupta as Sardar Kaur Singh in Sardar ka Grandson-

Neena played the role of Sardar in the movie who left her original home in Pakistan after partition and wished to see the house before she died. The bubbly and extrovert character of Sardar Kaur brings happiness factor in the otherwise dull movie. Sardar is shown to have raised all her kids when she settled in India, but still jostling between her time travels to her ancestral home in Lahore where her husband dies.

Credits: Last Color

Neena Gupta is known for portrayals which bring a reality to the character she plays. In one of her recent movie inspired from real life event, The Last Color, Neena plays the role of widow in this story of liberation from the discriminatory practices in towns of India. She won Best Actor Female (Critics) for her role of pregnant mid-aged mother in Badhai Ho in many award functions.

Watch this interview with Neena Gupta on ">SheThePeople