Actress Adah Sharma started her film career 15 years ago with 1920 (2008). Over the years, she may have been a part of popular films like Hasee Toh Phasee (2014) and Commando 2 (2017), but it was the recently released film The Kerala Story, which propelled her to unmatched fame and success. The story of Kerala revolves around a Hindu woman from Kerala who is converted to Islam and trafficked to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The film has not only roared at the box office but has also proved to be a game-changer for Adah Sharma, whose popularity has grown manifold since the film’s release.
The Kerala Story made an opening of more than Rs 8 crore on the first day. Even before its second weekend, it crossed the Rs 100 crore mark and recorded the highest single day collection on its second Sunday, beating Salman Khan’s Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan. The success of The Kerala Story has made Adah Sharma the highest-grossing Bollywood actress for a female lead film, surpassing Alia Bhatt, whose Gangubai Kathiawadi previously held the record.
While many believe that the staggering numbers clocked by the film could have had a profound impact on her career, Sharma, who made her a much sought-after actor, exclusively told News18 that she felt otherwise. Are. She says, “I never dreamed [achieving] This much. I never dreamed anything like this. I don’t know if any of this is in my hands or not. I’ll keep doing what I do, what I’ve been doing anyway. How did the Kerala story happen? I never did any planning for such a film. So just like that, if anything else has to happen, it will happen.” But happy to finally be able to showcase her acting prowess, she says, “I never got such an opportunity to do a role like this. It’s great when someone trusts you for a role like this.”
Interestingly, his follower count on Instagram has also increased manifold. The Kerala Story hit the big screens on 5th May and has garnered over 250K netizens a following this month so far. This, coupled with the attention he has garnered for his stellar performance in the film, has the potential to turn him into a top pick for filmmakers.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh is confident that the popularity he has gained because of The Kerala Story will spread to his career and help him land plum projects in the coming months. “A hit would definitely revive her career and it would make Adah more confident about her craft. Many filmmakers will look up to The Kerala Story and her performance and it is definitely going to help her land some projects.
However, producer and film business expert Girish Johar feels that the sole success of The Kerala Story, which he has headlined, will not guarantee it going forward and the idea is to be consistent by picking the right kind of subjects that resonate with Are. Large audience. “If she chooses the right subjects and scripts, it will definitely help her. A female lead was sought in The Kerala Story but if there is another film which has a male counterpart opposite her, it will also add value. If another film demands a single female lead and she is capable of portraying the part and it is a well-made film backed by a good director, then it will help. Filmmaking is a team effort. It is not just a particular face that is the driving force behind a film. She may be the face of The Kerala Story, but it was a team work.
But Johar also added that Adah had proved her mettle before The Kerala Story and this has only contributed to strengthening the industry’s faith in her craft. “Adah is a wonderful actor and extremely talented. She has earlier done hit films like Commando. He is an established and recognized talent. But as a solo lead, it is a big film for him,” he says.
Atul Mohan, another trade analyst, points out that Sharma is already pretty much the next big thing and the makers of her next film, The Kerala Story, are taking advantage. In fact, the team of Chameleon has strategically changed the campaign and pitch of the film so that they can cater to the huge audience flocking to Kerala Story.
Talking about it, he explains, “Despite being in the business for many years now, Adah was not a well-known face or received the recognition that she should have got till now. With The Kerala Story, he is getting the needed boost in his career. There was a film called Chameleon which was announced about three to four months back. It stars Shreyas Talpade and Adah Sharma. After the success of The Kerala Story, he revived the PR campaign of the film and now it is centered around him. They are saying that after The Kerala Story, she will be seen in the role of a cop in Chameleon. That’s why it is said that one Friday can change the fortunes of an actor.
Echoing Johar’s sentiments, he says, “You can’t make a Kerala story every time. She has now got recognition as the lead actress of the film, which will help her for some more time. Until she gives three to four more hits, she will be known as ‘Kerala Story fame Adah Sharma’. He will now have to work really hard and choose movies wisely and plan to have a long career.
Trade analyst and critic Komal Nahta agrees with Mohan and says, “Such sleeper hits don’t really help unless the actor signs his next film which is really high on content. So, Adah to Really one has to keep an eye on what she is going to do next.
Johar praised Sharma’s courage for approving a sensitive and bold script like The Kerala Story and believes it will go a long way in changing people’s perception about him. “She was brave enough to choose a film like The Kerala Story. He had probably chosen the film a year ago. She took a step at that point which is now reaping benefits and it is a bold step and if any talent does that, congrats to them! I wish them the best of luck.’
How her career shapes up in the coming months after the popularity of The Kerala Story remains to be seen. Meanwhile, the Adah Sharma starrer is now inching closer to the unprecedented Rs 150 crore mark, which is a rarity at the moment.