Taapsee Pannu, Radhika Apte to Ahsaas Channa: Rise of Female Protagonists on OTT

TL;DR: Indian OTT is no longer about women as side characters. From Taapsee Pannu to Radhika Apte, Ahsaas Channa to Mithila Palkar, female leads are powering entire franchises, connecting deeply with audiences, and redefining stardom.

Key Facts

Actress	Breakout OTT Work	Genre Focus	Impact
Ahsaas Channa	Girls Hostel, Kota Factory	Youth dramas	Strong Gen-Z connect
Prajakta Koli	Mismatched	Rom-com, drama	YouTube-to-OTT success
Taapsee Pannu	Haseen Dillruba franchise	Thriller, romance	Box-office + OTT queen
Mithila Palkar	Little Things	Slice-of-life	Popular across age groups
Radhika Apte	Sacred Games	Crime, political drama	Face of Netflix India

What happened?

Indian OTT has created space for women to be central protagonists, not just decorative characters. Today, actors like Ahsaas Channa, Prajakta Koli, Mithila Palkar, Taapsee Pannu, and Radhika Apte are headlining shows and franchises that rely on their charisma and range.

Why it matters?

Earlier, female characters were often boxed into supporting arcs. Now, they drive plots, franchises, and even platforms. These women aren’t just acting—they’re shaping OTT culture by:

• Leading youth-focused franchises (Mismatched, Kota Factory)

• Owning thriller/dark narratives (Haseen Dillruba, Sacred Games)

• Delivering slice-of-life authenticity (Little Things)
  

Numbers / Context

• Ahsaas Channa’s shows (Kota Factory) trend in Top 10 on Netflix India consistently.

• Prajakta Koli leveraged 7M+ YouTube fans into OTT stardom.

• Taapsee Pannu’s Haseen Dillruba franchise ranked among Netflix’s most-watched thrillers.

• Mithila Palkar’s Little Things ran for 4 successful seasons, a rare feat.

• Radhika Apte became so synonymous with Netflix that fans coined the meme “Netflix = Radhika Apte.”
  

Expert Take / Fan Buzz

Critics hail this shift as long overdue, while fans celebrate relatability. Ahsaas and Prajakta resonate with Gen-Z, Taapsee brings commercial weight, Mithila adds warmth, and Radhika represents range. Together, they prove OTT is not male-dominated anymore.

What’s next?

• Taapsee continues with thrillers, eyeing OTT-film hybrids.

• Prajakta may expand into cinema after Mismatched’s OTT stardom.

• Ahsaas is tipped as the “next Mithila” with youth-driven franchises.

• Radhika is experimenting globally with indie projects.
  

FAQ

Q1. Who is called the “Netflix Queen of India”? Radhika Apte, due to her repeated central roles across Netflix originals.

Q2. Which OTT show made Mithila Palkar famous? Little Things on Dice Media/Netflix.

Q3. Is Prajakta Koli only a YouTuber? No, she successfully transitioned from YouTube (MostlySane) to OTT acting (Mismatched).

Q4. What franchise is Taapsee Pannu leading on OTT?T he Haseen Dillruba thrillers.

Q5. Why is Ahsaas Channa popular with Gen-Z? Her relatable roles in Girls Hostel, Kota Factory, Half CA reflect real student life struggles.