Black Widows Webseries Actress And Actor Black Widows is an Indian web series from Zee5.…
Bombay Begums Web series Actress And Actor
Bombay Begums Web series Cast, Review, Wiki, Actors, Story, Trailer & Release date
Bombay Begums is an Indian web series, written and directed by Alankrita Shrivastava. Starring Pooja Bhatt, Shahana Goswami, Amruta Subhash and Aadhya Anand in the lead roles, the series will be release on 8 March 2021 on Netflix. The series is made under the Endemol Shine India production house.
Cast
The complete cast of web series Bombay Begums :
Pooja Bhatt
As : Rani
Shahana Goswami
As : Fatima
Amruta Subhash
As : Lily
Aadhya Anand
As : Shai
Plabita Borthakur
As : Ayesha
Rahul Bose
As : Mahesh Rao
Danish Husain
Vivek Gomber
Manish Chaudhari
Release
Bombay Begums is going to be release on Netflix and will be available to streaming from 8 March 2021. This season has total 6 episodes. Other details related to the show is given below.
| Available On | Netflix |
| Running Time | Not Available |
| Total Episode | 6 Episodes |
| Released Date | 8 March 2021 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Subtitle | English |
| Country | India |
Trailer
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The Queens of the Concrete Jungle: A Deep Dive into the Brilliant Cast of ‘Bombay Begums’
The Netflix original series, Bombay Begums, is more than just a boardroom drama; it’s a powerful, unfiltered exploration of female ambition, desire, and survival across five different generations and social strata in modern Mumbai. Created, written, and directed by Alankrita Shrivastava—known for her uncompromising female gaze in films like Lipstick Under My Burkha—the series is defined by the extraordinary performances of its ensemble cast.
The show, released on International Women’s Day in 2021, instantly sparked conversation for its raw portrayal of issues like menopause, sexual harassment, and corporate politics. The brilliance of Bombay Begums lies in its casting, bringing together Bollywood legends, arthouse cinema veterans, and exciting new talent, all anchored by a script that presents women as messy, flawed, yet formidable forces.
This article celebrates the actresses and actors who brought this complex tapestry of city life, ambition, and moral ambiguity to screen, detailing the accomplished careers that made their roles unforgettable.
The Matriarchal Core: The Five Begums
The heart of the series lies in its five female protagonists, each a ‘Begum’ fighting for her throne in the concrete jungle of Mumbai. Their stories intersect through ambition, circumstance, and an underlying battle against systemic patriarchy.
1. Pooja Bhatt as Rani Singh Irani
The Corporate Queen and The Comeback
Pooja Bhatt’s role as Rani Singh Irani, the powerful and conflicted CEO of the Royal Bank of Bombay, marked a significant milestone in her career: a triumphant return to a leading acting role after a hiatus of over two decades. Her performance captured the nuanced struggle of a self-made woman navigating a male-dominated corporate world while grappling with personal crises, including her stepchildren’s antagonism and the physical and emotional challenges of menopause.
- The Comeback: A renowned star of the 1990s known for films like Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin and Sadak, Bhatt had primarily focused on direction and production from the early 2000s, producing movies like Paap and Jism 2. Her decision to accept Bombay Begums was pivotal, as she was drawn to playing a character who was her actual age and possessed a genuine complexity, a departure from the “arm-candy” roles she had previously avoided. Her performance was widely praised for its poise and emotional depth, highlighting the vulnerability beneath her corporate armour.
2. Shahana Goswami as Fatima Warsi
The Ambitious Deputy and The Motherhood Crisis
Shahana Goswami portrays Fatima Warsi, a fiercely ambitious second-in-command at the bank who must choose between accepting a high-stakes promotion and fulfilling her husband’s desire for her to focus on having a child. Goswami’s portrayal is a masterclass in controlled volatility, showcasing a woman caught in the suffocating cultural pressure to balance professional success with conventional domesticity.
- Notable Career: Goswami is a critically acclaimed actress whose career is highlighted by her Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress for the musical drama Rock On!! (2008). She is celebrated for her work in parallel cinema and international projects, including Firaaq, Salman Rushdie’s film adaptation of Midnight’s Children, and Mira Nair’s BBC mini-series A Suitable Boy. Post-Bombay Begums, she continued to receive accolades for lead roles in independent films like Nandita Das’s Zwigato (2023), proving her consistent talent for complex, character-driven narratives.
3. Amruta Subhash as Lakshmi “Lily” Gondhali
The Survivor and The Fierce Mother
Amruta Subhash delivers one of the most powerful and heart-wrenching performances as Lily, a former bar dancer and sex worker striving to secure a dignified life for her son. Her character arc, driven by a desperate fight for survival, introduces the series’ strongest themes of class struggle and the moral compromises made at the margins of society. Critics widely hailed Subhash’s ability to embody Lily’s steely strength and vulnerability.
- Critically Acclaimed Talent: Subhash is a National School of Drama alumna with a deep background in Marathi theatre and cinema. She won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for the Marathi film Astu (2015) and a Filmfare Award for her role in the Hindi film Gully Boy (2019). Her transition to OTT was marked by her acclaimed role as the R&AW officer in the second season of Sacred Games, firmly establishing her as one of India’s most versatile actors.
4. Plabita Borthakur as Ayesha Agarwal
The Small-Town Girl and The Journey of Self-Discovery
Plabita Borthakur plays Ayesha Agarwal, a young, ambitious new recruit in the corporate world from Indore who is grappling with her bisexuality and navigating the treacherous waters of workplace sexual harassment. Borthakur brings a compelling blend of youthful idealism and naive foolishness that slowly transforms into resilience. Her character is central to the show’s discussion of sexual identity and the prevalence of gender-based workplace exploitation.
- Career Highlights: Borthakur gained significant recognition for her powerful lead performance in Alankrita Shrivastava’s earlier breakout film, Lipstick Under My Burkha (2016), where she played a rebellious Muslim college girl. She also has notable roles in web series like Breathe: Into the Shadows, establishing her as a prominent young face in the OTT space.
5. Aadhya Anand as Shai Irani
The Observer and The Narrator
Aadhya Anand, the youngest of the Begums, plays Shai Irani, Rani’s 13-year-old stepdaughter, who also serves as the series’ insightful narrator. Shai’s voice-over frames the adult women’s struggles through the lens of a teenager’s innocent yet perceptive quest to understand womanhood, sexuality, and the rules of the world.
- Rising Young Star: Based in Singapore for a significant part of her childhood, Aadhya began her career as a child model and actor in Singaporean TV shows and films. Bombay Begums marked her major Indian web series debut, followed by a leading role in the popular Amazon miniTV series Crushed.
The Men Who Shape the World: Key Actors
While the series intentionally focuses on the women, the male actors deliver pivotal performances, often embodying the patriarchal structures and emotional complexities that define the Begums’ struggles.
Vivek Gomber as Arijay Sinha (Fatima’s Husband)
Vivek Gomber plays Arijay, Fatima’s husband, a man who expects his wife to prioritize motherhood and family life despite her corporate ambitions. Gomber, an actor and award-winning producer, is known for his work in independent and arthouse cinema.
- Acclaimed Work: Gomber gained international recognition as the lead actor and producer of the National Award-winning legal drama Court (2014) and later produced The Disciple (2020), which competed at the Venice Film Festival. He also previously co-starred with Shahana Goswami in the period drama A Suitable Boy.
Danish Husain as Naushad Irani (Rani’s Husband)
Danish Husain plays Naushad Irani, Rani’s husband, whose aloofness and inability to connect with his wife’s ambition add a layer of personal complication to Rani’s demanding life.
- A Multifaceted Artist: Husain is a distinguished theatre director, poet, and storyteller celebrated for his efforts to revive the ancient Urdu art of storytelling, Dastangoi. Before his acting career took off, he was a banker. His filmography includes notable performances in critically acclaimed films like Newton and Dhobi Ghat, making him a respected figure in the world of independent cinema.
Manish Choudhary as Deepak Sanghvi
Manish Choudhary plays Deepak Sanghvi, the manipulative boardroom rival who constantly threatens Rani’s position at the bank, representing the traditional male power structure.
- The Go-To Corporate Villain: Choudhary is a veteran actor known for his memorable supporting and antagonistic roles in mainstream films like Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year and Uri: The Surgical Strike, as well as high-profile web series like Aarya.
Rahul Bose as Mahesh Rao
Rahul Bose appears as Mahesh Rao, an enigmatic figure from Rani’s past who introduces a different kind of male presence into her life.
- Arthouse Legend and Activist: Widely celebrated as “the superstar of Indian arthouse cinema” by Time magazine, Bose is an actor, director, and screenwriter. Beyond cinema, he is a former international rugby player and a prominent social activist, founding the NGO ‘The Foundation,’ which is committed to social justice and welfare, particularly aiding children in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands post-Tsunami.
The Audacious Themes That Sparked Debate
Bombay Begums is best remembered for confronting topics often considered taboo in mainstream Indian media, creating a powerful commentary on the female experience.
- The Female Gaze and Moral Ambiguity: The series is unapologetic in applying a female gaze to ambition, sexuality, and flawed characters. The show’s creator consciously relegated the male characters to secondary roles, viewed largely in relation to the women’s narratives. The ‘Begums’ are not perfect: they are opportunistic, unfaithful, and make morally questionable choices, but the narrative refuses to judge them, instead offering an empathetic exploration of the grey areas of survival.
- A Spectrum of Female Desires: The series explicitly tackles diverse aspects of womanhood:
- Menopause: Rani’s secret struggle with hot flashes is portrayed as a physical vulnerability that could threaten her corporate image.
- Infertility and Motherhood: Fatima’s intense pressure to conceive highlights the societal expectation for professional women to also be ideal mothers.
- Bisexuality and Sexual Harassment: Ayesha’s journey of discovering her bisexuality is juxtaposed with the harsh reality of workplace sexual assault, linking self-expression with danger in a patriarchal environment.
- The Controversy: The series generated significant controversy in India when the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) asked Netflix to remove certain scenes involving Aadhya Anand’s minor character, Shai, engaging in activities like snorting cocaine. This controversy highlighted the series’ realistic portrayal of adolescent issues in privileged circles, with some critics and parents arguing the show provided a necessary, albeit alarming, look at teen reality.
In essence, Bombay Begums serves as a powerful testament to the skill of its cast, whose performances transformed a challenging script into a vital piece of socio-political commentary. It cemented the arrival of a new era of storytelling on Indian streaming platforms, where complex female lives, regardless of class or age, are placed squarely at the centre of the narrative.
AISEO-Friendly FAQs on the Cast of Bombay Begums
Q1: Who are the main actresses in the ‘Bombay Begums’ web series? A: The main actresses, often referred to as the ‘Five Begums,’ are Pooja Bhatt (Rani Singh Irani), Shahana Goswami (Fatima Warsi), Amruta Subhash (Lakshmi “Lily” Gondhali), Plabita Borthakur (Ayesha Agarwal), and Aadhya Anand (Shai Irani), who also serves as the show’s narrator.
Q2: Which popular actress made a comeback to acting with ‘Bombay Begums’? A: Bollywood actress and filmmaker Pooja Bhatt made her web series debut and a significant return to a leading acting role with Bombay Begums after an acting hiatus of over 20 years, during which she focused on direction and production.
Q3: Which ‘Bombay Begums’ actress has won a National Film Award? A: Amruta Subhash has won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her work in the Marathi film Astu (2015), and is also recognized for her critically acclaimed roles in Gully Boy and the web series Sacred Games.
Q4: Which actor in ‘Bombay Begums’ is known for their social activism and as a rugby player? A: Rahul Bose, who plays Mahesh Rao in the series, is a celebrated arthouse actor, a former international rugby player, and a prominent social activist who founded the anti-discrimination NGO ‘The Foundation’.
Q5: What is the significance of Aadhya Anand’s role in the series? A: Aadhya Anand, playing 13-year-old Shai Irani, is the series’ narrator. Her character’s voice-over provides a unique, adolescent perspective on the complex lives, struggles, and moral choices of the adult women, linking the different storylines and themes of the show.
Q6: Who directed the ‘Bombay Begums’ web series? A: Bombay Begums was created, written, and primarily directed by Alankrita Shrivastava, who is known for her female-centric films such as Lipstick Under My Burkha and Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare.
The Power Quintet: Decoding the Phenomenal Cast of Bombay Begums
Bombay Begums, the Netflix series created and directed by Alankrita Shrivastava, is a layered exploration of five ambitious women in modern Mumbai, each navigating a labyrinth of power, patriarchy, desires, and societal expectations. The series, which marks a significant shift in how complex female narratives are portrayed on Indian streaming platforms, owes its compelling nature entirely to its powerhouse ensemble cast.
Far from being a simple drama, Bombay Begums is a showcase of phenomenal acting talent, blending the gravitas of a Bollywood veteran’s comeback with the raw energy of celebrated character artists and the promise of a young debutante. Here is a deep dive into the illustrious actresses and actors who brought the world of the “Begums” to vivid life.
The Royal Bank of Bombay and Beyond: The Five Begums
The heart of the series lies with its five central female characters, affectionately called the ‘Begums’—women from different walks of life whose fates are intertwined in the city of dreams. Critics overwhelmingly praised the “top-notch” and “spirited performances” of the leading ladies, whose conviction helped smooth out the narrative’s creases.
1. Pooja Bhatt as Rani Singh Irani (The CEO)
The series is particularly notable as it marks the official comeback of actress, director, and producer Pooja Bhatt to a leading acting role after nearly two decades.
- The Character: Rani Singh Irani is the new CEO of the Royal Bank of Bombay, a powerful, self-made woman who relocated from Kanpur to achieve corporate stardom. Her life is a tightrope walk as she battles a male-dominated board, struggles to connect with her estranged husband, and grapples with the complexities of being a stepmother to a teenage girl, Shai.
- The Actor’s Legacy: Pooja Bhatt is a celebrated figure from 1990s Hindi cinema, known for seminal films like Daddy (her debut, for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut), Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin, and Sadak. After transitioning to direction and production in the early 2000s, with works like Paap and Jism 2, her performance in Bombay Begums was lauded for the “confidence” she exuded as the ambitious and sometimes shrewd Rani.
2. Shahana Goswami as Fatima Warsi (The Executive)
Shahana Goswami, an actress with a history of critical acclaim, takes on the role of Fatima, a high-flying banker who becomes Rani’s chosen successor.
- The Character: Fatima Warsi is a driven, hotshot banker who appears to have it all: a successful career and a seemingly supportive husband. However, she secretly grapples with the immense pressure to conform to societal and marital expectations of motherhood, which strains her personal life and challenges her professional ambitions. Her story is a poignant depiction of an urban woman’s struggle with infertility and career sacrifice.
- The Actor’s Legacy: Goswami became widely known for her breakout role as Debbie in the musical drama Rock On!! (2008), which earned her the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress. She is also recognized for her roles in films like Firaaq and her subsequent work in international projects and other web series, including Deepa Mehta’s Midnight’s Children and Mira Nair’s BBC series A Suitable Boy, where she also starred opposite her Bombay Begums co-star, Vivek Gomber. Critics noted that Goswami played the complex Fatima with “striking acuity,” balancing gentility and assertiveness with equal flair.
3. Amruta Subhash as Lakshmi “Lily” Gondhali (The Outsider)
Amruta Subhash, a National Award-winning Marathi and Hindi cinema stalwart, delivers a performance that critics singled out as a highlight of the series.
- The Character: Lily is the ‘outsider’ among the five women—an ex-bar dancer and a street-smart survivor. Her plotline focuses on her relentless effort to secure a better, respectable life for herself and her son, which often pushes her into morally grey areas. Her resilience and desire for acceptance and dignity, despite her marginal status, echo the core struggles of the other women.
- The Actor’s Legacy: Subhash is a graduate of the National School of Drama (NSD) and has an impressive body of work spanning Marathi theatre and cinema. She gained widespread recognition in the Hindi space for her roles in Gully Boy and as the RAW agent in Netflix’s Sacred Games 2. Her portrayal in Bombay Begums was lauded as “splendidly uninhibited” and a “consummate scene-stealer,” as she effortlessly slipped into the skin of her character.
4. Plabita Borthakur as Ayesha Agarwal (The Millennial)
Plabita Borthakur represents the struggles of the younger, queer generation navigating the corporate world in Mumbai.
- The Character: Ayesha is a young bisexual woman from a small town who comes to Mumbai with aspirations of a successful career. Her arc deals with themes of workplace harassment, exploring her sexuality, and trying to find her footing and identity in the big city. Her journey brings the series’ core theme of sexual harassment to the forefront.
- The Actor’s Legacy: Borthakur gained prominence for her critically acclaimed role as Rehana Abidi in Alankrita Shrivastava’s previous film, Lipstick Under My Burkha. Her work as a singer and musician, in addition to acting in web series like Breathe: Into the Shadows, showcases her multifaceted artistic profile. Her performance in Bombay Begums was praised for its sincerity and the ease with which she portrayed her character.
5. Aadhya Anand as Shai Irani (The Narrator)
The youngest Begum, Shai, acts as the series’ conscience and lens.
- The Character: Shai Irani is Rani’s artistic-minded, prepubescent stepdaughter, who is on the cusp of embracing womanhood. She is the series’ narrator, providing a running commentary on the emotional turmoil and experiences of the older Begums.
- The Actor’s Legacy: Aadhya Anand made her official web series debut in Bombay Begums, though she had previously worked as a child artist and model, including in the Singapore-based film A Yellow Bird, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. While her performance was generally praised as confident, some critics found the use of a teenage narrator for complex adult themes “contrived” or “unnecessary.”
The Supporting Pillars: Key Male Actors
While the series is centered on the women, the male actors play essential roles as partners, rivals, and antagonists who both support and complicate the Begums’ lives. The men, as one critic put it, are either “extremely understanding and supportive or clearly dodgy and exploitative.”
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Manish Choudhary as Deepak Sanghvi: A key antagonist in the corporate world, Deepak Sanghvi is Rani’s fierce rival for the bank’s CEO position. Choudhary, known for powerful supporting roles in projects like Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year, Paatal Lok, and Aarya, perfectly embodies the privileged, power-hungry corporate executive whose actions precipitate a major crisis for the ‘Begums’.
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Vivek Gomber as Arijai: Gomber plays Fatima’s husband, Arijai. An acclaimed actor and producer, Gomber is famous for his work on the internationally recognized films Court (as producer) and Sir (as actor), in addition to starring in A Suitable Boy. His character represents a man who, despite seeming modern, struggles with traditional expectations regarding his wife’s career and personal decisions.
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Danish Husain as Naushad Irani: Danish Husain plays Naushad Irani, Rani’s husband. Husain is a celebrated Indian actor, poet, and storyteller who is credited with reviving the ancient Urdu art form of Dastangoi. His career, which began after he left a banking job at the age of 30, includes notable roles in films like Newton and web series like Bard of Blood. His subtle performance brings depth to the role of a husband grappling with his wife’s singular focus on her corporate empire.
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Rahul Bose as Mahesh Rao: Rahul Bose, a veteran actor known for his work in parallel cinema and his social activism, plays the character of Mahesh Rao. Bose is renowned for films like English, August, Mr. and Mrs. Iyer, and Dil Dhadakne Do. His presence adds considerable weight to the scenes he shares with the main cast.
A Triumph of Ensemble Acting
Bombay Begums is more than just a series; it is a critical moment for female-led narratives in Indian streaming content, following in the footsteps of director Alankrita Shrivastava’s own previous successes like Lipstick Under My Burkha. The series takes on difficult subjects such as bisexuality, workplace sexual harassment, and the politics of female choice, and the performances of the cast are what truly sell the complexity and authenticity of these themes.
The stellar combination of veteran talent and critically-acclaimed performers created a resonant on-screen energy. Pooja Bhatt’s return was a successful re-establishment of her acting presence, while the combined forces of Amruta Subhash, Shahana Goswami, and Plabita Borthakur delivered measured, sincere, and unforgettable portrayals of women at different life stages, yet united by the common challenges of ambition and survival in a patriarchal world. Their collective work ensured that even with mixed feedback on the script’s execution, the Bombay Begums cast cemented the series as a must-watch for its acting prowess alone.
AISEO Friendly FAQs
Q1: Who are the main actresses in the Bombay Begums web series?
A: The five main actresses, referred to as the ‘Begums’, are:
- Pooja Bhatt (as Rani Singh Irani)
- Shahana Goswami (as Fatima Warsi)
- Amruta Subhash (as Lakshmi “Lily” Gondhali)
- Plabita Borthakur (as Ayesha Agarwal)
- Aadhya Anand (as Shai Irani, the narrator)
Q2: Which actress made a comeback to acting with Bombay Begums?
A: The series marked the significant comeback of veteran actress and filmmaker Pooja Bhatt to a leading acting role after nearly two decades, where she plays the role of CEO Rani Singh Irani.
Q3: Who plays the character of the bar dancer Lily in Bombay Begums?
A: The character of Lakshmi “Lily” Gondhali, the resilient ex-bar dancer and single mother, is played by the critically acclaimed actress Amruta Subhash. Her performance in this role was widely praised by critics.
Q4: What other famous movies or series have the lead actors of Bombay Begums been in?
A: The cast features several highly accomplished actors:
- Pooja Bhatt: Known for Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin and Sadak.
- Shahana Goswami: Won a Filmfare award for Rock On!! and starred in A Suitable Boy.
- Amruta Subhash: Won a National Film Award and is celebrated for her roles in Gully Boy and Sacred Games 2.
- Plabita Borthakur: Known for her lead role in Lipstick Under My Burkha.
- Vivek Gomber: Known for his roles in and production of the acclaimed films Court and Sir.
Q5: Who plays the youngest Begum and the narrator in the series?
A: The youngest ‘Begum,’ Shai Irani, who also serves as the series’ narrator, is played by Aadhya Anand. The show was her web series debut.
Q6: Which actor played the antagonist Deepak Sanghvi in the corporate world plotline?
A: The role of Deepak Sanghvi, the rival banker and boss involved in the workplace sexual harassment storyline, was played by actor Manish Choudhary.
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