Samantha reclaimed the No. 1 spot on Ormax Media’s list of the most popular actresses for September, and Rashmika Mandanna made the month’s biggest move, climbing three places to fourth. The rankings, reported on October 24, 2026, show the top of the chart shifting in ways fans have been watching closely.

Samantha Keeps Her Grip on the Top Spot

Samantha has held the top position for several months. The report notes that her rank did change at certain points in between, but she returned to first place each time. In September she claimed it again, a result that shows how firmly she has stayed at the front of the list.

The report also credits her availability to fans on social media, alongside her film work, as one factor working in her favor. For a list that measures popularity, that steady connection with audiences clearly counts.

The report’s central finding reads simply:

Samantha once again retained the top spot, while National Crush Rashmika Mandanna climbed three places to reach fourth.

Rashmika’s Leap From Seventh to Fourth

Rashmika was seventh in August. Three places up in September puts her at fourth, the biggest individual jump among the names covered in the report. That is a dramatic move in a single month, and it has fans paying close attention.

She is also busy. Rashmika is currently working on a run of films, including Mysaa and Raka. She is also acting in a movie based on the life story of M.S. Subbulakshmi. The report links her rising position to this steady flow of projects, which keeps audience interest in her high.

At the top, the podium stays familiar. Alia Bhatt holds second place and Deepika Padukone takes third. Samantha’s lead sits between two of Bollywood’s biggest names, and that is a rare position for a South Indian actress to hold in a national popularity ranking.

Sai Pallavi, Nayanthara and the Shifts Below

Sai Pallavi slipped one place to fifth after holding fourth in August. She is currently playing Sita in Ramayanam, and the report says that film will be the next one to bring her in front of audiences. Fans waiting for that release now have a clear reason to track her ranking.

Nayanthara, referred to in the report as the Lady Superstar, took a bigger tumble. She fell from fifth in August to seventh in September, the sharpest drop among the established names in the upper half of the list.

Kajal Aggarwal held her ground. She kept sixth place, the same position she held in August, and showed no movement in the September rankings.

Further down, Kriti Sanon takes eighth place, Trisha ninth and Katrina Kaif tenth. Sreeleela did not make the top 10 this time, a notable absence given how closely her name is followed by fans.

What the September Chart Shows

The list tells two stories at once. One is about endurance. Samantha has stayed on top for months and returned to the peak even after dips along the way. The other is about momentum. Rashmika’s three-place climb shows how quickly a rank can change when a star’s projects and visibility line up.

Many of the names on the chart are South Indian actresses, including Samantha, Rashmika, Sai Pallavi, Nayanthara, Kajal Aggarwal, Trisha and Sreeleela. Their presence across the upper ranks shows how strongly South Indian cinema now competes for popularity at the national level, with the rankings reflecting that reach.

For fans, the September update offers a clear picture. Samantha is still first. Rashmika is now fourth and rising fast. Sai Pallavi, Nayanthara and Kajal have all held their places in the top seven, and the next releases will decide whether those positions shift again.