The Indian film industry has been a male-dominated one for decades. The male actors are treated as the be-all, while the female actors are treated like they are easily dispensable. Even today, on one hand, we have 50-year-old male actors romancing 20-something women on the screen. And on the other hand, a 30-year-old female actor gets the role of mother to the male lead. Even in the field of direction and production, male names are more common than female ones. But there are a few women in Bollywood who have worked hard to break this glass ceiling.
1. Kareena Kapoor Khan
In an industry where women are considered old goods after they get married and have kids, Kareena Kapoor Khan changed the narrative. The actor is confident, knows her value and hasn’t let anymore diminish it. Be it her marriage to Saif Ali Khan or her two pregnancies, she didn’t let either hinder her career. Kareena did not let the industry relegate her to mom roles just because she is a mom IRL. Throughout both her pregnancies, she worked and worked hard. And disregarding the notion that women in cinema need to be thin at all times, Kareena embraced her changing body and never tried to hide it.
2. Zoya Akhtar
Unlike most Bollywood movies where women are mere objects, Zoya Akhtar tells the story of a woman as an individual. Zoya’s female leads are often strong, independent women. They might not be throwing punches to save themselves, but they know how to take a stand. With movies like Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Luck by Chance, and Dil Dhadakne Do under her kitty, you can clearly see her leading ladies as women of grit. There is no objectification of women or mindless sexualisation happening. Akhtar shows women having a larger purpose than being the male lead’s arm candy.
3. Priyanka Chopra
Bollywood or Hollywood, everyone knows Priyanka Chopra. PC is undoubtedly one Indian star who has managed to make a solid mark in Hollywood. Chopra was one of the most desired leading ladies in Bollywood when she went off to Hollywood. She set a record by being the first South Asian to headline an American network drama series. Priyanka Chopra is among the few actors with a production house in India. She has successfully produced multiple regional films, some even garnering National Film Awards. Apart from being an actor and producer, Priyanka Chopra is also a strong advocate of women’s rights and gender equality.
4. Deepika Padukone
It is not every day that you have a leading actor walk up on a public stage to tell the world, “Yes, I am suffering from depression”. Deepika Padukone did exactly that. She knew she had the power to make a difference and she used it for all the right reasons. Deepika, by talking about her mental health openly, gave a legitimate outlet to many others suffering in the dark. Her organisation, The Live Love Laugh Foundation, founded in 2015, works to reduce the stigma around mental illnesses and help those who suffer from them.
5. Anushka Sharma
Making it as a producer in a heavily male-dominated industry is not easy. But Anushka Sharma has created a space for herself as not just an actor, but also as a producer. She has produced diverse films and web series like NH10, Phillauri, Pari, Paatal Lok, and Bulbbul. Sharma has always tried to move away from the stereotypical Bollywood movie and focus on performance-driven films. Through her work, Anushka Sharma has also provided a launchpad for young talents like Tripti Dimri in Bulbbul.
6. Shefali Shah
Shefali Shah is one of the best actors in recent times. Her performances have always wowed the audiences. While Shah has always been appreciated for her performance, she was mostly relegated to mom roles or supporting roles. With her role as DCP Vartika Chaturvedi in Netflix’s Delhi Crime, Shefali Shah showed the world a different side of herself. Since then, she has been owning the OTT space like a boss. With movies and shows like Ajeeb Daastaans, Human and the soon-to-be released Jalsa under her belt, Shah has been taking the OTT world by storm.
7. Taapsee Pannu
Taapsee Pannu has never shied away from stepping out of her comfort zone and choosing roles that many actors might be hesitant to take. Pannu has repeatedly proven that a hero is not just a man’s proprietorship. A female actor can be a hero too. Be it Pink, Thappad, Badla, or Naam Shabana, Taapsee has shown over and over that a woman-led film can be successful as well. She never tried to ride to success on the coattails of superstar actors. Instead, she carved her own space.
8. Dia Mirza
Dia Mirza created waves last year during her wedding. The Miss Asia Pacific International 2000 winner has been a strong advocate of sustainability and social and environmental causes. The actor broke major stereotypes on her wedding day. While Hindu weddings are traditionally conducted by a male priest, Mirza chose to go with a female priest to perform the rituals. Not just that, she chose to leave the kanyadaan and bidaai rituals out of the ceremony, since women are not objects to be donated. Additionally, Dia Mirza’s wedding was also a sustainable one with zero plastic and waste.