Last year, two Hindi films, Khufiya and Kark Singh, were released on Indian OTT platforms Netflix and Zee5, featuring Bangladeshi actresses Azmeri Haque Badhan and Jaya Ahsan alongside other prominent artists. Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj and Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, these films attracted attention, but unfortunately, neither Badhan nor Jaya received nominations at the Filmfare OTT Awards, despite recognition for their co-stars.
Khufiya earned nominations in three categories at the 2023 Filmfare OTT Awards, yet Badhan, who played the role of a spy named Octopus (Hena Rahman), was not acknowledged. While Tabu received a nomination for Best Actress in a Web Film for her performance in Khufiya, and Ali Fazal and Wamiqa Gabbi were recognized for their supporting roles, Badhan’s contribution went unnoticed. Her character, though pivotal, stirred controversy due to its portrayal as a homosexual figure, a move that received mixed reactions.
On the other hand, Jaya Ahsan, who made her Bollywood debut in Kark Singh directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, also faced a similar fate at the Filmfare OTT Awards, where her performance went unrecognized despite the film’s 11 nominations in various categories, including Best Director, Actor, and Screenplay.
Released in December, Kark Singh featured a talented cast, including the renowned Pankaj Tripathi, Sanjana Sanghi, and Malayalam actress Parvathy. Though Jaya did not receive a nomination for her role, she proudly shared the film’s 11 nominations on social media, expressing her pride for the Kark Singh team. Despite the absence of formal recognition at the Filmfare OTT Awards, both actresses have been acclaimed by Indian media outlets such as Hindustan Times and Film Companion for their performances.
