Janhvi Kapoor Actress – Movies and TV shows – Selective Ranks

In 2018, Janhvi Kapoor stepped into the world of acting with her debut in the romance film “Dhadak,” directed by Shashank Khaitan, alongside Ishaan Khatter. The film, a Hindi adaptation of the Marathi movie “Sairat” from 2016, portrayed her as a young girl from an affluent background whose life takes a tragic turn after she elopes with a boy from a lower social stratum (portrayed by Khatter). While “Dhadak” faced mostly negative reviews, it garnered a global box office collection of ₹1.1 billion, establishing itself as a commercial success.

Rajeev Masand criticized the film for its removal of caste-based references, comparing it unfavorably to the original, but praised Kapoor’s performance for its vulnerability and captivating presence on screen. Conversely, Anna M. M. Vetticad of Firstpost found Kapoor’s performance lacking in personality and depth. Despite the mixed critical reception, Kapoor clinched the Zee Cine Award for Best Female Debut.

In 2021, Janhvi Kapoorshowcased her versatility by taking on a dual role opposite Rajkummar Rao in the comedy-horror flick “Roohi,” which faced several delays in its theatrical release due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both the film and Kapoor’s performance received negative reviews from critics, and it struggled at the box office. The subsequent year, she starred in “Good Luck Jerry,” a remake of the Tamil film “Kolamaavu Kokila” (2018), produced by Aanand L. Rai, which premiered on Disney+ Hotstar. Following that, in “Mili,” a remake of the Malayalam film “Helen,” Kapoor portrayed a young woman trapped in a freezer, a role originally played by Anna Ben.

While Anupama Chopra appreciated Janhvi Kapoor sincerity in the role, she noted it fell short compared to Ben’s portrayal. Unfortunately, “Mili” failed to perform well at the box office. Kapoor received another nomination for Best Actress at Filmfare for her performance. In 2023, Kapoor starred opposite Varun Dhawan in Nitesh Tiwari’s “Bawaal,” a romantic drama that unfolds against the backdrop of a feuding couple’s journey across Europe, digitally released on Amazon Prime Video. The film drew criticism for its trivialization of the Holocaust and faced backlash.

Beatrice Loayza of The New York Times criticized Kapoor’s chemistry with Dhawan and described her as lacking charisma, while Leaf Arbuthnot of The Guardian criticized their chemistry but praised Kapoor’s composed and mature performance. Janhvi Kapoor talents have earned her recognition, landing her in Rediff.com’s “Best Actresses” list for 2020 and 2022. Additionally, she serves as an endorser for various brands such as Nykaa, Drools, and Aldo. She has also been a consistent presence in the Times Of India’s list of most desirable women, ranking 28th in 2018, 24th in 2019, and 18th in 2020.