Meet the pan-India actors who have bridged the gap between the North and South

Bollywood’s younger generation is blurring regional boundaries, building careers that span multiple film industries. These rising stars are not just limited to Hindi cinema — they’re earning recognition in South Indian films and beyond, carving a niche as pan-India actor.

These actors represent a new era where boundaries between regional cinemas are fading. By working across industries, they’re not only expanding their artistic horizons but also creating stories that connect with audiences nationwide. As the term pan-India actor gains popularity, these rising stars are leading the way toward a more unified cinematic future. Here’s a look at some of the most promising names leading this exciting shift...

Adarsh Gourav

From playing a young Shah Rukh Khan in My Name Is Khan to becoming an internationally acclaimed actor, Adarsh has shown unmatched versatility. His powerful performances in Rukh, Mom, Leila, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, Superboys of Malegaon and Netflix’s Guns and Gulaabs made him a standout. His breakthrough role in The White Tiger led to global projects like Extrapolations and Alien Earth. Later this year, he makes his Telugu debut in a psychological drama and is currently shooting Anand L Rai’s Tu Ya Main opposite Shanaya Kapoor.

Wamiqa Gabbi

The blue-eyed beauty has explored nearly every major Indian film industry. Her impressive performances in Grahan, Modern Love: Mumbai, Jubilee, and Charlie Chopra and The Mystery of Solang Valley cemented her as a versatile star. She’s now set to appear in Goodachari 2, followed by Tamil films Iravaakaalam and Genie.

Rohit Saraf

Known for his boy-next-door charm, Rohit Saraf debuted in Dear Zindagi and went on to shine in Hichki, The Sky Is Pink, Ludo and Vikram Vedha. He earned praise for his performances in web series like Mismatched and Feels Like Ishq. Rohit made his Tamil debut with Kamali From Nadukkaveri and appeared in the pan-India film Thug Life. His next big release is Dharma Productions’ Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumar.

Sreeleela

A popular name in Telugu and Kannada cinema, Sreeleela is ready to step into Bollywood with Kartik Aaryan in Anurag Basu’s Tu Meri Zindagi Hai (earlier titled Aashiqui 3). Rumors also suggest that she has projects lined up opposite Varun Dhawan and Ibrahim Ali Khan. Her entry into Hindi films makes her a talent to watch across industries.

Sara Arjun

Sara, daughter of actor Raj Arjun, began as a child actress in Hindi and Tamil films. Her notable role in Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan: Part I and Part II earned her praise. She’s now stepping up as a lead actress opposite Ranveer Singh in Durandhar (Hindi) and will soon make her Telugu debut with Euphoria, followed by the pan-India project Quotation Gang: Part 1.

Saiee Manjrekar

The daughter of veteran actor-filmmaker MaheshManjrekar, Saiee debuted in Hindi cinema opposite Salman Khan in Dabangg 3. She quickly expanded her horizons with Telugu sports drama Ghani and the pan-India hit, Major. Saiee followed up with Skanda (Telugu) alongside Ram Pothineni, and in Hindi films like Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha and Kuch Khatta Ho Jaye. This year, she headlined the Telugu film Arjun S/O Vyjayanthi and is now filming The India House, Ram Charan’s maiden production.

Shanaya Kapoor

Bollywood’s new face Shanaya Kapoor began her journey with Aankhon Ki Ghustakhiyaan opposite Vikrant Massey. She’s now stepping into Malayalam cinema with Vrussabhha, co-starring Mohanlal, followed by Bedhadak and Tu Ya Main. Her expanding filmography hints at a promising pan-India appeal.