The South invasion of Bollywood

These Bollywood first-timers are no strangers to fame. They are big stars in Tamil and Telugu cinema and are now set to bridge the North-South divide. Introducing the brigade of old but new faces – Dhanush, Ram Charan, Ileana and gang.

<b>Dhanush:</b> Rajinikanth's son-in-law is a superstar down South. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor and Filmfare Award for Best Actor ? Tamil for his performance in 2011 film <I>Aadukalam</I>. Dhanush first made inroads into Bollywood after his song <I>Kolaveri di</I> became an anthem of sorts in 2011. Dhanush will be making his Bollywood debut opposite Sonam Kapoor in Anand L Rai's <I>Raanjhanaa</I>, which is set to release on June 21.

Dhanush: Rajinikanth's son-in-law is a superstar down South. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor and Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil for his performance in 2011 film Aadukalam. Dhanush first made inroads into Bollywood after his song Kolaveri di became an anthem of sorts in 2011. Dhanush will be making his Bollywood debut opposite Sonam Kapoor in Anand L Rai's Raanjhanaa, which is set to release on June 21.

<b>Ram Charan Teja:</b> Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi's son debuted with 2007 film <I>Chirutha</I>, which fetched him the CineMAA Award for Best Male Debut, the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut ? South and the Nandi Special Jury Award for Best Actor. His next film was the blockbuster <I>Magadheera</I> in 2009, the highest-earning Telugu film of all time. Ram Charan will make his Bollywood debut in the remake of Amitabh Bachchan's 1973 hit <I>Zanjeer</i>, opposite Priyanka Chopra and Sanjay Dutt.

Ram Charan Teja: Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi's son debuted with 2007 film Chirutha, which fetched him the CineMAA Award for Best Male Debut, the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut – South and the Nandi Special Jury Award for Best Actor. His next film was the blockbuster Magadheera in 2009, the highest-earning Telugu film of all time. Ram Charan will make his Bollywood debut in the remake of Amitabh Bachchan's 1973 hit Zanjeer, opposite Priyanka Chopra and Sanjay Dutt.

<b>Ileana D'Cruz:</b> Southern siren Ileana was most wanted in the Telugu industry after films like 2006's <I>Devadasu</I>, for which she won Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut ? South, <I>Pokiri</I> (2006), <I>Jalsa</I> (2008), <I>Kick</I> (2009), to her credit. She then made an acclaimed Bollywood debut in 2012's award winning film <I>Barfi!</I>, which also featured Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra. Ileana's performance was praised by the critics and it fetched her Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.

Ileana D'Cruz: Southern siren Ileana was most wanted in the Telugu industry after films like 2006's Devadasu, for which she won Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut – South, Pokiri (2006), Jalsa (2008), Kick (2009), to her credit. She then made an acclaimed Bollywood debut in 2012's award winning film Barfi!, which also featured Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra. Ileana's performance was praised by the critics and it fetched her Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.

<b>Mahesh Babu:</b> This Telugu superstar began as a child artiste aged four in 1979's <I>Needa</I>. He is now all set to make his Bollywood debut in director duo Krishna DK-Raj Nidumoru's untitled action-comedy. He is a huge name down South with critically acclaimed films like 2003's blockbuster <I>Okkadu</I>, <I>Murari (2001), Athadu (2005), Pokiri (2006), Dookudu (2011)</i> and <I>Business Man (2012)</i>.

Mahesh Babu: This Telugu superstar began as a child artiste aged four in 1979's Needa. He is now all set to make his Bollywood debut in director duo Krishna DK-Raj Nidumoru's untitled action-comedy. He is a huge name down South with critically acclaimed films like 2003's blockbuster Okkadu, Murari (2001), Athadu (2005), Pokiri (2006), Dookudu (2011) and Business Man (2012).

<b>Taapsee Pannu:</b> Bright young thing Taapsee made her Bollywood debut in the remake of classic ?80s hit <I>Chashme Baddoor</I> in 2013. Her first film down South was 2010's Telugu film <I>Jhummandi Naadam</I>. Taapsee earned rave reviews for her 2011 Tamil film <I>Aadukalam</I>.

Taapsee Pannu: Bright young thing Taapsee made her Bollywood debut in the remake of classic ‘80s hit Chashme Baddoor in 2013. Her first film down South was 2010's Telugu film Jhummandi Naadam. Taapsee earned rave reviews for her 2011 Tamil film Aadukalam.

<b>Tamannaah:</b> In 2005, she went unnoticed in the obscure <I>Chand Sa Roshan Chehra</I> but Tamannaah had more success with her second Bollywood innings - Sajid Khan's <I>Himmatwala</I> opposite Ajay Devgn. In the seven years in between, she made her presence felt down South with films like <I>Kalloori</I> (2007), <I>Konchem Ishtam Konchem Kashtam</I> (2009), <I>Kanden Kadhalai</I> (2009) and <I>Paiyaa</I> (2010).

Tamannaah: In 2005, she went unnoticed in the obscure Chand Sa Roshan Chehra but Tamannaah had more success with her second Bollywood innings - Sajid Khan's Himmatwala opposite Ajay Devgn. In the seven years in between, she made her presence felt down South with films like Kalloori (2007), Konchem Ishtam Konchem Kashtam (2009), Kanden Kadhalai (2009) and Paiyaa (2010).

<b>Kajal Aggarwal:</b> Like Taapsee, this is another second-try actress. Kajal appeared in 2004 film <I>Kyun! Ho Gaya Na...</I> starring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, but found fame and recognition down South. She earned critical acclaim for regional films like 2009's <I>Magadheera</I>, 2010's <I>Darling</I> and <I>Brindaavanam</I>. For all these films, she was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress ? Telugu. She blasted into Bollywood with 2011's <I>Singham</I> opposite Ajay Devgn, which also fetched her a nomination for Filmfare's Best Female Debut. This year, Kajal appeared opposite Akshay Kumar in <I>Special 26</I>.

Kajal Aggarwal: Like Taapsee, this is another second-try actress. Kajal appeared in 2004 film Kyun! Ho Gaya Na... starring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, but found fame and recognition down South. She earned critical acclaim for regional films like 2009's Magadheera, 2010's Darling and Brindaavanam. For all these films, she was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu. She blasted into Bollywood with 2011's Singham opposite Ajay Devgn, which also fetched her a nomination for Filmfare's Best Female Debut. This year, Kajal appeared opposite Akshay Kumar in Special 26.

<b>Prithviraj Sukumaran:</b> Malayalam star Prithiviraj, beloved for films like <I>Stop Violence, Ananthabhadram, Classmates, Vaasthavam, Thirakkatha, Urumi, Indian Rupee, Ayalum Njanum Thammil</I> and <I>Celluloid</I>, made his Hindi-language debut in 2012's <I>Aiyyaa</I< opposite Rani Mukherji. His latest Bollywood film, <I>Aurangzeb</I>, earned him rave reviews. His next Bollywood project is Farah Khan's <I>Happy New Year</I> co-starring Shah Rukh Khan.

Prithviraj Sukumaran: Malayalam star Prithiviraj, beloved for films like Stop Violence, Ananthabhadram, Classmates, Vaasthavam, Thirakkatha, Urumi, Indian Rupee, Ayalum Njanum Thammil and Celluloid, made his Hindi-language debut in 2012's AiyyaaAurangzeb, earned him rave reviews. His next Bollywood project is Farah Khan's Happy New Year co-starring Shah Rukh Khan.

<b>Vikram:</b> This Tamil actor was known for films like <I>Sethu (1999), Kasi (2001), Pithamagan (2003), Saamy (2003), Anniyan (2005), Raavanan (2010)</i>, for which he won the Filmfare Best Actor award. His first Bollywood film was 2010's <I>Raavan</I>, the ill-fated Hindi version of Raavanan co-starring Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan. Vikram, who played superintendent of police Dev Pratap Sharma, was singled out for praise by critics. He was last seen in <I>David</I>.

Vikram: This Tamil actor was known for films like Sethu (1999), Kasi (2001), Pithamagan (2003), Saamy (2003), Anniyan (2005), Raavanan (2010), for which he won the Filmfare Best Actor award. His first Bollywood film was 2010's Raavan, the ill-fated Hindi version of Raavanan co-starring Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan. Vikram, who played superintendent of police Dev Pratap Sharma, was singled out for praise by critics. He was last seen in David.

<b>Prakash Raj:</b> He was a popular actor in both Tamil and Kannada film industry before he made his first Bollywood appearance in 2002 film <I>Shakti ? The Power</I>, where he had a small role. But his breakthrough role was the villainous Gani Bhai in 2009 Salman Khan film <I>Wanted</I>. Prakash Raj is now one of Bollywood's most-wanted screen baddies, appearing in Ajay Devgn's 2011 film <I>Singham</I>, Salman's 2012 movie <I>Dabangg 2</I> and 2013's <I>Mumbai Mirror</I>.

Prakash Raj: He was a popular actor in both Tamil and Kannada film industry before he made his first Bollywood appearance in 2002 film Shakti – The Power, where he had a small role. But his breakthrough role was the villainous Gani Bhai in 2009 Salman Khan film Wanted. Prakash Raj is now one of Bollywood's most-wanted screen baddies, appearing in Ajay Devgn's 2011 film Singham, Salman's 2012 movie Dabangg 2 and 2013's Mumbai Mirror.