A new wave of Telugu cinema is giving actresses more room to carry stories, with Nidhhi Agerwal, Anupama Parameswaran and Kamakshi Bhaskarla taking on prominent female-led projects.
Telugu cinema has increasingly been making space for stories in which women are not simply supporting characters but the central force driving the narrative.
While established stars such as Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Rashmika Mandanna have demonstrated the commercial possibilities of female-led projects, a younger group of performers is also choosing scripts built around stronger, more layered characters.
Among them are Nidhhi Agerwal, Anupama Parameswaran and Kamakshi Bhaskarla, who are exploring different genres while placing their characters at the heart of their respective stories.
Nidhhi Agerwal Set to Headline a Mythological Thriller
Nidhhi Agerwal is set to headline an upcoming female-centric mythological thriller in Telugu.
The film was recently launched under the direction of Srinivas Gopisetty and does not yet have a publicly announced title.
The project is particularly significant for Nidhhi because it marks a move into a Telugu film where she occupies the central position in the narrative.
The actress has previously appeared in several star-driven Telugu productions. Her new project, however, is expected to give her considerably more space to explore a character-led story.
The combination of mythology and thriller elements also places the film in a genre that can offer an actress a dramatically different screen presence.
Anupama Parameswaran Continues to Choose Character-Driven Roles
Anupama Parameswaran has built a career across multiple South Indian film industries, steadily expanding her audience through Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu cinema.
Her recent female-led project Paradha placed her at the centre of the story.
In the film, Anupama plays Subbalakshmi, a woman from a secluded village whose journey takes her towards the Himalayas.
The role offered the actress an opportunity to move away from a conventional romantic-lead template and anchor a narrative through her character’s emotional and personal journey.
Her ability to work across languages has also helped her establish a wider audience in South Indian cinema.
Kamakshi Bhaskarla Builds a Niche With Intense Roles
Kamakshi Bhaskarla has taken a different route, building recognition through performances that emphasise intensity and realism.
She attracted attention through her role as Lachimi in the Polimera franchise, where her performance helped establish her as an actress capable of handling emotionally demanding material.
She subsequently headlined the supernatural thriller Agadha, directed by MS Raju.
The project further strengthened her association with unconventional, genre-driven stories.
Kamakshi’s involvement in cinema extends beyond acting as well. She has also contributed to writing and direction, giving her a broader creative role within filmmaking.
A Shift Away From Conventional Female Roles
The growing presence of these projects reflects a gradual shift in the way female characters are being written in Telugu cinema.
For years, many mainstream films positioned actresses primarily around the hero’s storyline.
That model has not disappeared, but filmmakers are increasingly experimenting with narratives in which a woman’s choices, conflicts and transformation form the central dramatic arc.
Female-led thrillers, supernatural stories, dramas and socially relevant narratives have consequently created additional opportunities for actresses who want to explore more demanding roles.
Why Female-Centric Films Matter
A female-centric film does not necessarily have to be built around a social issue.
Women-led stories can work across genres, including:
- Mythological thrillers
- Supernatural dramas
- Crime stories
- Family dramas
- Survival films
- Historical narratives
- Romantic dramas
- Social thrillers
This wider genre approach allows actresses to move beyond the traditional definition of a “female-oriented” movie.
The projects involving Nidhhi, Anupama and Kamakshi demonstrate three different approaches to putting female characters at the centre of a Telugu film.
Nidhhi, Anupama and Kamakshi Represent Different Paths
The three actresses are at different stages of their careers and have followed different routes.
Nidhhi Agerwal has appeared in major commercial projects and is now taking on a film designed around her character.
Anupama Parameswaran has built a multilingual career and increasingly embraced roles that demand more from her as a performer.
Kamakshi Bhaskarla has developed recognition through intense and unconventional characters, particularly in thrillers and supernatural stories.
Their choices reflect a broader willingness among performers to look beyond conventional commercial formulas.
The Bigger Trend in Telugu Cinema
The rise of female-led projects is part of a wider change across Indian cinema.
Streaming platforms have helped audiences discover stories that may not follow traditional star-driven structures, while theatrical filmmakers have also demonstrated that compelling characters can attract audiences when supported by strong writing and effective filmmaking.
For actresses, this creates an opportunity to headline projects without necessarily being defined by their association with a male superstar.
The challenge remains the same for every film: a strong lead character must be supported by an equally strong script.
What’s Next?
Nidhhi Agerwal’s upcoming mythological thriller, Anupama Parameswaran’s continued movement towards character-focused projects and Kamakshi Bhaskarla’s work in supernatural and intense narratives all point towards an expanding space for women-led storytelling in Telugu cinema.
Whether these films become commercial successes will depend on their scripts, execution, audience reception and release strategy.
But the creative direction is already notable.
Instead of treating actresses only as supporting elements within star vehicles, filmmakers are increasingly trusting them to carry the story themselves.
That could prove to be one of the more interesting developments in the next phase of Telugu cinema.
