MUMBAI: Prime Video, India’s most loved entertainment destination, today launched the trailer of its upcoming Original Hindi series, Big Girls Don’t Cry. The sprightly young-adult series features a talented ensemble cast including Avantika Vandanapu (Ludo), Aneet Padda (Roohi), Dalai (Pluggy), Vidushi (Kavya), Lhakyila (JC), Afrah Sayed (Noor), and Akshita Sood (Dia) in the lead, along with Pooja Bhatt, Raima Sen, Zoya Hussain, and Mukul Chadda in pivotal roles. Created by Nitya Mehra, the series is co-directed by Nitya Mehra, Sudhanshu Saria, Karan Kapadia, and Kopal Naithani, as each of them adds a personal touch to the story from their boarding school experiences. Big Girls Don’t Cry is set to premiere exclusively on Prime Video in India and across more than 240 countries and territories worldwide, on March 14. The series is the latest addition to the Prime membership. Prime members in India enjoy savings, convenience, and entertainment, all in a single membership, for just ₹1499/year.
The trailer gives a glimpse into the boarding life at the prestigious Vandana Valley, where a group of seven girls are gearing up for their final year in school with every intention of ruling the campus. An outsider, Kavya Yadav, walks onto the campus, hoping to make friends and ace life. Noor has her eyes set on the school captaincy, while Ludo is chasing down the sports captaincy position. As Roohi and JC push for their beauty-business to succeed, Pluggy has grand plans of her own, and the rebel-poet Dia prepares to jump the boundary of the school wall before the class bell rings.
“I said yes to Big Girls Don’t Cry because I was drawn to the story, the setting, and the characters in it. As a rebellious teenager who never shied away from speaking my mind and questioning authority, it was such a kick to play Anita Verma. What I loved was that within the series, the characters develop a healthy sense of self and strive to overcome gender bias and stereotypes. For me, this was key, as that ensures they become healthy role models for others out there. It is much needed in the times we live in, where focus is more on materialistic and frivolous virtues,” said Pooja Bhatt, who plays the role of the principal of Vandana Valley.
Essaying the character of Ludo in the series, Avantika said, “Being able to play Ludo was truly the opportunity of a lifetime. I’m so deeply grateful whenever I reminisce on the experience of having worked with incredible women like Nitya Mehra and Ashi Dua, but also spending time with my girls on set. To walk away from a show playing pretend best friends - only for it to come true in more ways than one - is absolutely surreal. Ludo challenged me, intimidated me, and in some ways even broke me. But Ludo also built me back up, inspired me, and reassured me. She’s a magical character - and I hope that for audiences she’s able to have even a fraction of the impact she had on me.”
Aneet, who plays Roohi, said, “I’ve always been drawn to coming-of-age stories—the journey of self-discovery and grappling with identity resonates deeply with me. Being part of a show that authentically portrays the complexities of growing up, both the highs and lows, was incredibly fulfilling. I hope Roohi takes the viewers through all the messy feelings that come along with being a teenager, with her wit and sass; her aggressive and sometimes territorial love for her friends, and her cathartic change that happens only when she hits rock bottom. Life imitates art, and I now have a girl gang that says, ‘big girls don’t cry’ while wiping away each other’s tears.”
Playing the role of Pluggy, Dalai said, “Coming of age in a sisterhood is the most mysterious, magical, and fun journey. It was a joy to have relived that experience of being Pluggy, and I couldn’t have wished for a more special girl gang! Big Girls Don’t Cry gave me sisters for life, and I can’t wait for everyone to experience the wild ride with us!”
“What truly moved me from the beginning was the sincerity of the motives behind creating this series. Stepping into Kavya’s shoes has been an immensely rewarding and fulfilling experience. I am confident that you will all connect with the story of this very ordinary girl on a journey to pursue her extraordinary dreams, balancing family expectations, while trying to fit in and prove herself, navigating the advantages of privilege, and ultimately discovering her value just as she is,” said Vidushi, donning the character of Kavya.
Lhakyila, playing JC, said, “Stepping into the character of JC has been a phenomenal experience for me as I’ve developed more personal resilience through her, and sharing this experience with such an amazing girl gang has been wonderful. I hope the audience enjoys it as much as we enjoyed being a part of this process.”
Afrah, playing the role of Noor, said, “I first auditioned for Big Girls Don’t Cry in 2020, and it has been my dream to be a part of this show ever since! Becoming Noor just felt correct, our lives somehow feel intertwined with each other. Noor is smart, focused, and always has a plan! You either know a Noor or you are a Noor. Being from an all girls school myself, a coming of age show about a girls boarding school is something I’d definitely binge watch, and I hope the audience enjoys watching it as much as we enjoyed shooting it! I’m extremely grateful to be a part of this series and to have found such beautiful friendships that I’ll forever cherish!”
Akshita, who plays Dia, added, “Filling Dia’s boots has been a journey in self-discovery. She has taught me to be unapologetically myself, unwavering in the pursuit of my passions, and to relentlessly uphold my beliefs. Heading back to school on the Big Girls Don’t Cry set, I found the most empowering girl squad who I have bonded with for life!”
Creator and director Nitya Mehra said, “Big Girls Don’t Cry is my homage to the best years of my life. It’s an homage to my best friends, to sisterhood, and to the young girls that inspire me every day.”
Executive Producer, writer, and co-director Sudhanshu Saria said, “I was in Kolkata watching my niece navigate the unique and bipolar insanity of being a teenager when Nitya first called me with the idea of Big Girls Don’t Cry. Working on this series, writing these stories became my way of telling my niece she isn’t alone on that journey. Growing up is a messy business indeed, and I hope the show becomes the tightest hug from us to every teenager out there who is figuring themselves out.”
Co-director Karan Kapadia said, “The series is an ode to the best days of our lives when we grew up. To the golden years, to the friends we call family, to the sisterhoods and the brotherhoods, to trials and tribulations, to the great influences that touch your soul, and to eventually recognising who you are!”
Kopal Naithani, co-director of the series, added, “Big Girls Don’t Cry has been an extremely personal and emotional journey. Growing up in an all-girls boarding school myself brought back precious memories of childhood as we all grew up together and entered womanhood with its trials and tribulations. The series is a coming of age story of a group of young girls that celebrates friendship, sisterhood, innocence, and the loss of it.”
“This story is about the reflection of the most impressionable time in life for our girls growing up in a world that wishes them to be the best they can without limiting them to what is a set standard. As they navigate adolescence, holding each other’s hands, fighting, supporting, and ultimately free falling through the vibrancy of youth,” adds Executive Producer Ashi Dua
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