#BazaarWomenInFocus: 'Spotlight Actor' Pratibha Ranta represents the new face of Indian cinema

It was a moment filled with quiet magic when Pratibha Ranta took the stage at Harper’s Bazaar Women of the Year Awards 2025, held in Mumbai on October 25, to accept her Spotlight Actor award. Dressed in a metallic corset, she carried the quiet confidence of someone who knows she is only at the beginning of something extraordinary.

In just a short span of time, Ranta has become one of Hindi cinema’s most exciting new names—a performer whose talent feels instinctive and unforced. Her breakout role in Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies captured hearts across the country. As Pushpa, a young bride who accidentally gets separated from her husband and begins to discover her sense of self, Ranta delivered a performance that was both tender and fierce. She didn’t just play the part—she lived it, bringing an authenticity that made the story feel heartbreakingly real.

The film’s success not only brought her into the national spotlight but also announced the arrival of a new kind of actor—one who prizes emotion over artifice, truth over theatrics. Critics hailed her as a revelation, praising the way she communicated the inner worlds with just a glance or a pause. It’s a rare gift, the kind that can’t be taught, only felt.

Born and raised in Shimla, Ranta's story reads like a modern cinematic fairytale, rooted in small-town dreams and unshakable determination. After moving to Mumbai to study acting, she began her career in television, where her screen presence and expressive energy quickly caught attention. But Ranta always had her eyes on stories that said something deeper, which eventually led to her transition to films.

Since Laapataa Ladies, she has been selective with her projects, taking time to find roles that resonate with her worldview. She has time and again spoken about wanting to play complex, layered women who feel real, flawed, and alive. Her upcoming work, she has hinted, continues in that same direction—stories that challenge her, excite her, and allow her to grow as an artist.

When she accepted her award, her speech was simple yet heartfelt. “Growing up, my grandmother taught me one thing: that always do what your heart desires the most, and tonight, standing here amongst so many incredible women who have been redefining terms and shaping narratives and to be receiving this award, well, my grandmother would think it’s really incredible. Thank you, Harper’s Bazaar, for this incredible honour," she gushed.

The words struck a chord because behind the rising star is a young woman who remembers where she came from and who she’s doing it for.

With just one film so far, Ranta has already proved that she represents more than just promise. She represents a shift in the kind of talent Bollywood is finally celebrating: raw, fearless, and refreshingly real. At Harper’s Bazaar Women of the Year 2025, Ranta wasn’t just a winner, but a reminder that the future of Indian cinema is bright, diverse, and beautifully human.
 

Also read: Harper’s Bazaar Women of the Year Awards 2025: The game-changing winners you need to know

Also read: Kalli Purie’s Heartfelt words on strength, love, and serendipity at Bazaar’s Women of the Year 2025