Small-Town Soul: How Wamiqa Gabbi, Priyanka Chopra, Kriti Sanon, and Tripti Dimri Brought Authenticity to Their Small-Town Roles

This article explores how actresses Wamiqa Gabbi, Priyanka Chopra, Kriti Sanon, and Tripti Dimri have brought authenticity and emotional depth to their portrayals of small-town girls in various films.

By Saivya Singh 02 Jun 2025 in Bollywood

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Small-Town Soul: How Wamiqa Gabbi, Priyanka Chopra, Kriti Sanon, and Tripti Dimri Brought Authenticity to Their Small-Town Roles

Bollywood continues to find its richest stories in India’s heartlands—towns where tradition meets transformation. Actresses like Wamiqa Gabbi, Priyanka Chopra, Kriti Sanon, and Tripti Dimri have breathed life into small-town characters with raw emotion and believable detail, elevating these roles beyond stereotypes.

Wamiqa Gabbi has carved a niche with her ability to portray rooted, emotionally complex characters. In Khufiya (2023), she played Lajjo, a housewife entangled in espionage, blending vulnerability and courage with striking realism. Her performance in Modern Love Chennai also showcased a local woman grappling with love and loss in a deeply personal way. More recently, in Bhul Chuk Maaf (2024), she played a spirited Punjabi girl navigating college life and tradition in a small-town setting. Gabbi’s natural dialogue delivery, body language, and attention to regional nuances brought warmth and relatability to her roles. She doesn't act the part—she becomes it.

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Priyanka Chopra, long before her global career, mastered the portrayal of small-town resilience. In Mary Kom (2014), she embodied the Olympic boxer’s journey from rural Manipur to international arenas with physical intensity and emotional sincerity. Earlier, her performance in Barfi! (2012) as Jhilmil, though not a traditional small-town girl, carried the innocence and emotional depth characteristic of small-town narratives. Chopra’s ability to adapt to regional sensibilities added authenticity to her portrayal.

Kriti Sanon delivered a breakout performance in Mimi (2021), portraying a young dancer from a small Rajasthani town who agrees to be a surrogate mother. Her transformation—from carefree to emotionally burdened—was convincing and heartfelt. Her accent, expressions, and mannerisms reflected the cultural backdrop authentically.

Tripti Dimri has quickly established herself as a powerful presence in stories rooted in rural India. In Bulbbul (2020), she portrayed a young girl in Bengal’s feudal society with a quiet, simmering strength. Dimri’s expressive silence and haunting screen presence made her performance memorable and deeply grounded.

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These actresses prove that the essence of small-town India lies not in clichés, but in nuance—and they bring it to screen with honesty and heart.