Lights, Camera, Debut! Instagram Influencers Skipped the Queue to Tollywood Stardom

Making it into feature films isn’t always a cakewalk, for many artists and models, it is a journey made by hard work, dedication, and sometimes years of struggle, yet still fail. But these five passionate women you’ll learn about now, turned their social media presence into stepping stones, transitioning from Instagram influencers to rising Tollywood heroines.

Sakshi Vaidya: Doctor turned Actor

Sakshi Vaidya was born on June 19, 2000, in Thane, Maharashtra, and initially aspired to be a doctor. Yep, that’s right! She holds a degree in Medical Science from Dr Vithalrao Vikhe Patil Foundation’s Medical College. However, during the lockdown, she discovered her love for social media and began posting fun fashion and lip-sync videos, those caught the attention of Tollywood’s director Surender Reddy, he spotted her talent and roped her in for his film Agent, where she starred alongside Akhil Akkineni. After that, she shared screen space with Varun Konidela in Gandheevadhari Arjuna.

But wait, there’s more! This stylish girl is all set to shine as the lead in Haal, a romantic entertainer releasing in four languages Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada. Off-screen, she’s a typical Maharashtrian girl who adores baasundi (yum!). Even with a packed schedule, she never misses celebrating Ganapathi Puja with her family. Sakshi loves to spend her time cooking. It’s more than just a hobby for her, according to her it unwinds and expresses creativity. She enjoys reading bizarre facts, is obsessed with psychedelic art and enjoys watching thug life videos of sigma politicians.

Instagram Stats: 811k followers, 194 posts, and she follows only 142 lucky accounts!

Krithi Shetty: The Graceful Performer and Social Media Darling

Krithi was born on September 21, 2003, into a Tulu-speaking Bunt family. Her dad’s a businessman and her mom is a fashion designer, so it’s no surprise that she had a flair for modelling from a young age. With a degree in Psychology, Krithi is not just beautiful but also quite brainy! She’s trained in classical dance and posted her performances irregularly on Instagram which she later deleted. Krithi tried a few opportunities in commercials before making a grand debut in Uppena, which became a massive blockbuster with over 100 crores in profit!

Since then, she’s been unstoppable, starring in over seven movies. Her Instagram feed is a mix of graceful pictures, occasionally showing off her bubbly, down-to-earth personality. Not only is she a talented actress, but she’s also a giver, she actively participates in charity events and makes sure to help those in need and doesn’t even brag about it or advertise herself. She is a regular blood donor and conducts various charity programs with the support of her strong fan organisation that runs and looks after her. Krithi is a hardcore “no sugar” girl! Though she loves ice creams, she’s strict about her healthy diet. That’s dedication!

Instagram Stats: 248 posts, 8.6 Million, 411 following

Vaishnavi Chaitanya: The Internet Sensation Turned Movie Star

Vaishnavi is no stranger to the camera! Known for her cover songs, dance moves, and short love scenes on Instagram and TikTok, she got over 20 million views. But it was her role in the Telugu film Baby that turned her into an overnight sensation. Despite some trolling for the character she played, she won hearts and even snagged a Filmfare Award for her debut!

Now, she’s busy with two more films, ready to wow audiences again. What’s her secret to success? Probably “The Girl Next Door” feeling she retains amongst the public, her fun reels and her engaging posts that keep fans and families hooked! She’s a natural at connecting with people, and that shines through in her work. Despite her fame, Vaishnavi remains down-to-earth and still values dancing for Instagram whether she’s shooting or not. Vaishnavi is a big-time foodie! But she keeps it healthy by opting for salads over junk food when she’s busy on set, yet fancy going around like you and me to relish street foods now and then.

Instagram Stats: 222 posts, 1.4 million followers, 236 following

More than 20 million total views on her reels, with some clips racking up 3 million views alone. Talk about viral!

Yukti Thareja: The Capricious Charmer from Haryana

Born on January 5, 2000, in Kaithal, Haryana, Yukti Thareja has faced her share of ups and downs. After completing her B.Com from Delhi, she risked getting into modelling. Although she faced her fair share of rejections, she didn’t give up. She even ignored her final exams to participate in MTV’s Super Model of the Year, but luck wasn’t on her side. Nonetheless, she continued to rock the modelling and Instagram feed with her chic looks and killer confidence. Yukti was offered a film titled Rangabali in Tollywood. The film had Naga Shaurya as the main lead but sadly failed at the box office and left Yukti disappointed again. Now, Yukti has signed her second Telugu film and her first Malayalam film hoping one would fetch her the fame she dreams of.

Her favourites? Pizza, garlic bread, and all things in white! She’s a huge fan of Ranbir Kapoor & Deepika Padukone and dreams of travelling to Paris as often as she can. Yukthi says “Just as her star sign Capricorn, she’s determined and ambitious.” Did you know she’s a pool game fanatic? She’s shared that she wants to challenge Ranbir to a game and win against him.

Instagram Stats: 875K Followers, 142 Posts and 285 Following

Maanasa Choudhary: Simple Homely Girl Who Made It Big

Maanasa Choudhary might have been born in Puttur, Andhra Pradesh a small town, but she’s been making waves across the industry. Raised in Chennai, she started with photoshoots to post on her Instagram, caught the attention of a few people in the audience with a YouTube music video, and even acted in a Tamil web series. But it was her role in the movie BubbleGum that brought her fame.

She is a star at B and C Centre crowds and an Instagram sensation right from the day the movie trailer was released. Now, with four more Tollywood films in the pipeline, Maansa is all set to become Tollywood’s next big thing. Off-screen, she’s a traveller at heart. She’d rather explore new places than hit the mall for shopping sprees. Maansa prefers quick weekend getaways over long vacations. Her dream destination? Japan during cherry blossom season!

Instagram Stats: 259 posts, 337,783 followers, 384 following.

These five talents in the Tollywood film industry are not just pretty faces; they’ve got passion, determination, and a dash of fun that makes them relatable and oh-so-lovable!