'Mrs.' phenomenon: Sanya Malhotra's older films trend on Netflix
What's the story
Sanya Malhotra's new film, Mrs. on ZEE5, has triggered a wave of viewership for her previous projects on the streaming giant Netflix.
Ever since Mrs. premiered on February 7, fans have been returning to Malhotra's older films like Pagglait and Meenakshi Sundareshwar.
The films now reportedly hold the fourth and fifth spots respectively under the 'Top 10 movies in India Today' category on Netflix's homepage.
Praise and recognition
'Mrs.' director and fans celebrated Malhotra's success
Arati Kadav, the director of Mrs., took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her joy over this unusual trend.
She tweeted, "This is so rare. Our film Mrs is impacting Netflix's ranking as people are watching other films of Sanya Malhotra. Deeply grateful and feeling truly blessed."
Fans also joined in the celebration with comments like "Truly well deserved" and "Sanya is the next superstar."
Film synopsis and accolades
'Mrs.' and Malhotra's performance received widespread acclaim
In Mrs., Malhotra plays Richa, an aspiring dancer who gets into an arranged marriage and finds herself struggling with traditional domestic duties. The film is hailed as a successful adaptation of Jeo Baby's The Great Indian Kitchen.
Kadav praised Malhotra's performance in a recent interview, saying there was "no false note in her performance." She added that by the end of the film, she could see the emotional toll it was taking on her.
Awards and recognition
Malhotra's performance in 'Mrs.' earned her multiple awards
Malhotra's portrayal of Richa in Mrs. has won her a standing ovation and the Best Actress award at film festivals. The film also ignited conversations on social media about its representation of gender roles in Indian society.
It also starred Kanwaljit Singh and Nishant Dahiya.
It had its premiere at the 2023 Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and Kadav was nominated for Best Director at the New York Indian Film Festival for this film.
Upcoming ventures
Malhotra's future projects and career progression
Meanwhile, Malhotra will next be seen in Dharma Production's Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, where she will be seen in a new avatar.
There are also rumors of her working with Anurag Kashyap and Bobby Deol in upcoming projects.
Her previous performances in Meenakshi Sundareshwar as a newlywed in a long-distance marriage, and Pagglait as a young widow dealing with grief, still resonate with audiences.