Salva Mubarak Senior Features Writer

With the lines between conventional and new-age media slowly blurring into oblivion, we’ve seen the crossover of many OTT stars into Bollywood and vice versa over the past few months. With OTT favourite Jitendra Kumar carving a space for himself in movies as well as web series and big Bollywood stars like Anil Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan making their web series debut, it’s clear that we’re in an exciting space now and there’s space for new talent to grow and make it big.

We decided to take a look at the recent web series releases and spot the actors who are slowly and steadily making their presence known through their talent.

Here are the next-gen OTT superstars to look out for…

Rohit Saraf

Despite starring alongside some of the biggest actors in the country, Rohit Saraf has made a big impact with his performances in movies like Dear Zindagi, The Sky Is Pink, and Ludo. In the OTT space, he became a household name with shows like Mismatched and Feels Like Ishq.

Kusha Kapila

After establishing Internet supremacy as one of the top Indian Internet celebrities, Kusha Kapila is on her way to becoming a memorable actor too. Aside from movies like Ghost Stories and Plan A Plan B, Kapila was a big part of the second season of Masaba Masaba and has a pivotal role in Lionsgate Play’s web series Minus One: New Chapter.

Prajakta Koli

One of the biggest Indian YouTubers, Prajakta Koli’s infectious charm and charisma translated really well on to the screen as she made her debut as an actress with Netflix’s Mismatched, opposite Saraf, and went on to bag a role in the star-studded Jugjugg Jeeyo, alongside Varun Dhawan, Kiara Advani, Anil Kapoor, and Neetu Kapoor.

Barkha Singh

Barkha Singh is not a stranger to acting. From starring as a child actor in Mujhse Dosti Karoge to being a part of fan-favourite web series, the actress has a varied filmography. But it was her role in the second season of Masaba Masaba as the misunderstood Bridezilla that made people sit up and take notice.

Cwaayal Singh

One of the many breakout stars that Netflix’s Class gave the world, meet Cwaayal Singh. The actor’s performance left an indelible mark on the audience and it was a surprise to know that this was his debut performance onscreen, barring a few commercials.

Anjali Sivaraman

Another Class cast member, Anjali Sivaraman’s portrayal of the poor little rich girl Suhani was critically appreciated across the board. She was previously seen in movies like Cobalt Blue and web series Chakravyuh: An Inspector Virkar Crime Thriller.

Madhyama Segal

You cannot tell from Madhyama Segal’s performance, as the hijab-wearing, Muslim scholarship student Saba Manzoor, that this was her first credited role. The actress portrayed the definace and vulnerability of the role perfectly.

Tanya Maniktala

This young actress made people sit up and take note of her with her performance in the mini series A Suitable Boy, which also starred Ishaan Khatter and Tabu. She has been a part of Netflix’s anthology series Feels Like Ishq and has a lot more in store for us.