Sehmat, Rumi, Simi: Celebrating the women from 2018's best movies

As the world gets together to celebrate Women’s Day on March 8 today, Bollywood’s female filmmakers have been leading the charge of making films that not only hit the jackpot with its content but are also commercially viable. From Reema Kagti’s ‘Gold’ to Meghna Gulzar’s ‘Raazi’ last year to Zoya Akhtar’s ‘Gully Boy’ this year -- women directors of Bollywood now have a following of their own, having carved a niche for themselves.&nbsp;

If you go by the industry figures, their films have an equal pull in comparison to a contemporary male counterpart.&nbsp;

Not just this, even films are increasingly being made keeping a female character as central to the plot, think Sehmat of ‘Raazi’, Rani Padmavati of ‘Padmaavat’, Manikarnika of ‘Manikarnika’, Sweety of ‘Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga’ and many others. These characters not only brought female characters to the fore but quashed the need for any ‘other’ hero, considering they adopted the role themselves. <a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/sehmat-rumi-simi-celebrating-the-women-from-2018s-best-movies-201909">Also see in pics:&nbsp;Sehmat, Rumi, Simi: Celebrating the women from 2018's best movies</a>

On Women’s Day, some female directors and actors of the Hindi entertainment industry discuss how Bollywood fares today in inclusivity, changing face of cinema if at all and what it means to be a woman:

Alankrita Shrivastava, Director

<img alt="bollywood women" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8034a4aa-f052-40fd-8a46-70eee95b4f15" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/New%20%2826%29_3.jpg" />

She said, “I think the parts for women on screen are getting a little bit better. Many female actors are refusing to be just trophies in a male-hero lead film. I find that very heartening. When Alia Bhatt does a Raazi, Deepika Padukone does a Piku or Chhapak, then you know something is shifting.”

She added, “It's great to see female-lead films be it in terms of female cast, female directors and female producers. These are exciting times for women in cinema and storytelling, perhaps the best we've ever seen in India. I hope in the years to come, across formats, more and more space is created for women to tell their stories, the way they want.”

Director of ‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’, Alankrita feels there is still a lot of work as “in terms of cinema, better representation of women behind the camera is needed. Having more female directors, cinematographers, writers, producers.... will result in the quality of films changing. We will start seeing a new narrative, newer points of view. Also the environment for women will become safer and more secure. More women on a set, will enable a far healthier work environment.”

She also spoke of #meToo movement that took the industry by a storm and said: “I also hope that the #metoo movement continues in spirit in terms of making people think twice before assaulting or exploiting somebody. And that women who call out offenders are safe, secure and continue to get work. The sexual offenders should be ostracized, not the ones who have suffered the assault.”

Alankrita’s latest offering is web series ‘Made in Heaven’ with Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti who wrote and created the show, while Akhtar, Nitya Mehra, Alankrita Shrivastava, and Prashant Nair served as directors for the nine-episode series.

Shweta Tripathi Sharma, Actor

<img alt="bollywood women" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e5b3b7a9-2c9d-4f1b-b100-f93a5dc2015c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/New%20%2824%29_4.jpg" />

She said, "Being a woman can be a blessing and a boon. It could be a superpower. Cool. And fun. And all things amazing. But all this won’t happen till the time we don’t change the way we think, not only about ourselves, about also about other women.”

‘Masaan’ actor added, “I am who I want to be. I don’t let my gender define my dreams, my ambitions, my emotions (or even my perfume). This women’s day, let’s put more belief in each one celebrate each other. Smile and conquer :)"

Shweta has two films this year -- ‘Cargo’ and ‘Mehandi Circus’.&nbsp;

Neetu Chandra, Actor

<img alt="bollywood women" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ce9849cb-135a-4ee7-b471-cc051c246187" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/New%20%2825%29_1.jpg" />

She said,"This International Women's Day, I urge all women in the world to never let yourselves be bogged down by anything that life throws at you. Keep pushing yourself to feel recharged, reconnected and inspired from within for a great and bright future and don't ever give up on life.

She added, “I am really proud to be a woman and so should each and every woman in this world should feel about themselves."

Tulsi Kumar, Singer

<img alt="bollywood women" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="66bb0dc2-33bc-4956-8b56-67aa6d3a19ef" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/New%20%2827%29_4.jpg" />

She said, "A lot has changed in the industry for the better in the last few years. Women have broken norms, the mindset towards working married women has become welcoming and best of all, there are women-centric films and scripts being made regularly. In the industry, there are more women-oriented songs being made. It is happening at its pace and I am sure the pace will pick up in the time to come,” and added, “This is the change we have been waiting for.”

Daughter of T-Series honcho, Tulsi also feels that “the notion that a mother can't be an actor has also taken a 360° turn. I was married in 2015 and my career has only gone upward since! In 2017, I became a mother but has not stopped me. I have been travelling, recording and having so many gigs!"

Tulsi has several songs to her credit and continues to playback for films and launches her own music albums.&nbsp;

Paakhi A Tyrewala, Director

<img alt="bollywood women" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="51b1d73c-5eed-41c7-8c93-9275f8081849" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/New%20%2828%29_4.jpg" />

She said, “This women's day let's stand for what feminism truly stands for, Equality for all not just for women, but for who are suppressed, ignored or bullied. We stand together till we bring the change. We keep trying till each one of us is accepted for all who are”. &nbsp;

Paakhi gained directorial success with ‘Pahuna’ as it premiered internationally at Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2017 where it was received with a standing ovation. The film also won the Best Film (Jury Choice) in The International Children’s Film Festival in Germany and won the Best Film Award by the European Jury.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

As the world gets together to celebrate Women’s Day on March 8 today, Bollywood’s female filmmakers have been leading the charge of making films that not only hit the jackpot with its content but are also commercially viable.

As the world gets together to celebrate Women’s Day on March 8 today, Bollywood’s female filmmakers have been leading the charge of making films that not only hit the jackpot with its content but are also commercially viable. From Reema Kagti’s ‘Gold’ to Meghna Gulzar’s ‘Raazi’ last year to Zoya Akhtar’s ‘Gully Boy’ this year -- women directors of Bollywood now have a following of their own, having carved a niche for themselves. If you go by the industry figures, their films have an equal pull in comparison to a contemporary male counterpart. Not just this, even films are increasingly being made keeping a female character as central to the plot, think Sehmat of ‘Raazi’, Rani Padmavati of ‘Padmaavat’, Manikarnika of ‘Manikarnika’, Sweety of ‘Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga’ and many others. These characters not only brought female characters to the fore but quashed the need for any ‘other’ hero, considering they adopted the role themselves. Also see in pics: Sehmat, Rumi, Simi: Celebrating the women from 2018's best movies On Women’s Day, some female directors and actors of the Hindi entertainment industry discuss how Bollywood fares today in inclusivity, changing face of cinema if at all and what it means to be a woman: Alankrita Shrivastava, Director She said, “I think the parts for women on screen are getting a little bit better. Many female actors are refusing to be just trophies in a male-hero lead film. I find that very heartening. When Alia Bhatt does a Raazi, Deepika Padukone does a Piku or Chhapak, then you know something is shifting.” She added, “It's great to see female-lead films be it in terms of female cast, female directors and female producers. These are exciting times for women in cinema and storytelling, perhaps the best we've ever seen in India. I hope in the years to come, across formats, more and more space is created for women to tell their stories, the way they want.” Director of ‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’, Alankrita feels there is still a lot of work as “in terms of cinema, better representation of women behind the camera is needed. Having more female directors, cinematographers, writers, producers.... will result in the quality of films changing. We will start seeing a new narrative, newer points of view. Also the environment for women will become safer and more secure. More women on a set, will enable a far healthier work environment.” She also spoke of #meToo movement that took the industry by a storm and said: “I also hope that the #metoo movement continues in spirit in terms of making people think twice before assaulting or exploiting somebody. And that women who call out offenders are safe, secure and continue to get work. The sexual offenders should be ostracized, not the ones who have suffered the assault.” Alankrita’s latest offering is web series ‘Made in Heaven’ with Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti who wrote and created the show, while Akhtar, Nitya Mehra, Alankrita Shrivastava, and Prashant Nair served as directors for the nine-episode series. Shweta Tripathi Sharma, Actor She said, "Being a woman can be a blessing and a boon. It could be a superpower. Cool. And fun. And all things amazing. But all this won’t happen till the time we don’t change the way we think, not only about ourselves, about also about other women.” ‘Masaan’ actor added, “I am who I want to be. I don’t let my gender define my dreams, my ambitions, my emotions (or even my perfume). This women’s day, let’s put more belief in each one celebrate each other. Smile and conquer :)" Shweta has two films this year -- ‘Cargo’ and ‘Mehandi Circus’. Neetu Chandra, Actor She said,"This International Women's Day, I urge all women in the world to never let yourselves be bogged down by anything that life throws at you. Keep pushing yourself to feel recharged, reconnected and inspired from within for a great and bright future and don't ever give up on life. She added, “I am really proud to be a woman and so should each and every woman in this world should feel about themselves." Tulsi Kumar, Singer She said, "A lot has changed in the industry for the better in the last few years. Women have broken norms, the mindset towards working married women has become welcoming and best of all, there are women-centric films and scripts being made regularly. In the industry, there are more women-oriented songs being made. It is happening at its pace and I am sure the pace will pick up in the time to come,” and added, “This is the change we have been waiting for.” Daughter of T-Series honcho, Tulsi also feels that “the notion that a mother can't be an actor has also taken a 360° turn. I was married in 2015 and my career has only gone upward since! In 2017, I became a mother but has not stopped me. I have been travelling, recording and having so many gigs!" Tulsi has several songs to her credit and continues to playback for films and launches her own music albums. Paakhi A Tyrewala, Director She said, “This women's day let's stand for what feminism truly stands for, Equality for all not just for women, but for who are suppressed, ignored or bullied. We stand together till we bring the change. We keep trying till each one of us is accepted for all who are”. Paakhi gained directorial success with ‘Pahuna’ as it premiered internationally at Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2017 where it was received with a standing ovation. The film also won the Best Film (Jury Choice) in The International Children’s Film Festival in Germany and won the Best Film Award by the European Jury.

Women's Day: Alankrita Shrivastava, Shweta Tripathi, Neetu Chandra discuss what it means to be a woman in Bollywood

There is a surge in women-led stories in Bollywood but while the female gaze has started to get a space, equal representation is still a distant dream, believe filmmakers Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti, Alankrita Shrivastava and Nitya Mehra.

The filmmakers, who worked on Amazon Prime Video's India original 'Made in Heaven', a show created, written and even directed by a team of women with the exception of Prashant Nair, who directed two episodes, believe the there is change but the odds are still stacked against women in the industry.

"There may have been a time when women weren't taken seriously but I haven't experienced that," Zoya, who has been receiving rave reviews for 'Gully Boy', told PTI.

She believes more than the gender of the maker, it's the kind of film one wants to make that matters.&nbsp;

"Notionally, as many people are not buying the tickets for a film with a female protagonist, making that is difficult. But every decade has had films which have been women-led and have broken the ceiling. Right now, every year women filmmakers are coming in, the gaze is changing," she says.

'Lipstick Under My Burkha'&nbsp;director Alankrita, however, says there is a system which isn't "inclusive of women" and statistically, they have only directed about six per cent of the films in the industry.&nbsp;

"Which is why I feel over the decades if you look at the history of popular culture, it is created by men, the point of view is male and even how the audience views it. They have been normalised into watching in a certain way," she says.&nbsp;

This systematic exclusion of women, Reema points out, can be seen even in the armed forces.&nbsp;

"It is a societal thing and it is across the world. It's a major problem but I think we are definitely changing."

Zoya, who has co-written her films with Reema, says the kind of absorption of "women storytellers that's happening in our industry is not happening in America."

"We are better off. I don't think producers today are saying 'Oh, she is a woman', I don't think that's happening," Zoya says.&nbsp;

Alankrita, however, believes it isn't largely true.&nbsp;

"I come from a much smaller cinema space and I think it is really tough. It is obvious that with a lot of women filmmakers, they might want to tell stories which are coming from their lived experiences. Often, women want to make films which are about women."&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Alankrita says things change dramatically for a woman when she's directing a film.&nbsp;

"I feel where there is a lot of money involved, between a man and a woman, the traditional patriarchal set up tends to trust the guy more.

"When you have screening for exhibitors when you are trying to get shows for your film, there is not a single woman there. They don't understand what you are trying to make. I feel when there are fifty per cent filmmakers who are woman, the content is going to change dramatically."

What irks Alankrita is the feeling of being constantly judged by a system that is created by men, for men.&nbsp;

"It is a very macho-hero driven industry. The exhibition system is geared towards that, the star system, marketing of a film is driven by that. You are constantly fighting the odds and it is at every level."

Nitya, who assisted Ang Lee and Mira Nair before helming her debut 'Baar Baar Dekho', says a film set today has more women than before.&nbsp;

"When I was an AD and first came to Mumbai, I remember the number of women on a set, that was only for hair, makeup, wardrobe. That's it. Now when I go on a set, it gives me so much pleasure to see so many women working in various departments."

Reema says the times today reflect more inclusion and diversity for women and it isn't as gloomy as before.&nbsp;

"Today, of course, there are so many more choices. It's a positive sign."&nbsp;

There is a surge in women-led stories in Bollywood but while the female gaze has started to get a space, equal representation is still a distant dream, believe filmmakers Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti, Alankrita Shrivastava and Nitya Mehra.

There is a surge in women-led stories in Bollywood but while the female gaze has started to get a space, equal representation is still a distant dream, believe filmmakers Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti, Alankrita Shrivastava and Nitya Mehra. The filmmakers, who worked on Amazon Prime Video's India original 'Made in Heaven', a show created, written and even directed by a team of women with the exception of Prashant Nair, who directed two episodes, believe the there is change but the odds are still stacked against women in the industry. "There may have been a time when women weren't taken seriously but I haven't experienced that," Zoya, who has been receiving rave reviews for 'Gully Boy', told PTI. She believes more than the gender of the maker, it's the kind of film one wants to make that matters. "Notionally, as many people are not buying the tickets for a film with a female protagonist, making that is difficult. But every decade has had films which have been women-led and have broken the ceiling. Right now, every year women filmmakers are coming in, the gaze is changing," she says. 'Lipstick Under My Burkha' director Alankrita, however, says there is a system which isn't "inclusive of women" and statistically, they have only directed about six per cent of the films in the industry. "Which is why I feel over the decades if you look at the history of popular culture, it is created by men, the point of view is male and even how the audience views it. They have been normalised into watching in a certain way," she says. This systematic exclusion of women, Reema points out, can be seen even in the armed forces. "It is a societal thing and it is across the world. It's a major problem but I think we are definitely changing." Zoya, who has co-written her films with Reema, says the kind of absorption of "women storytellers that's happening in our industry is not happening in America." "We are better off. I don't think producers today are saying 'Oh, she is a woman', I don't think that's happening," Zoya says. Alankrita, however, believes it isn't largely true. "I come from a much smaller cinema space and I think it is really tough. It is obvious that with a lot of women filmmakers, they might want to tell stories which are coming from their lived experiences. Often, women want to make films which are about women." Alankrita says things change dramatically for a woman when she's directing a film. "I feel where there is a lot of money involved, between a man and a woman, the traditional patriarchal set up tends to trust the guy more. "When you have screening for exhibitors when you are trying to get shows for your film, there is not a single woman there. They don't understand what you are trying to make. I feel when there are fifty per cent filmmakers who are woman, the content is going to change dramatically." What irks Alankrita is the feeling of being constantly judged by a system that is created by men, for men. "It is a very macho-hero driven industry. The exhibition system is geared towards that, the star system, marketing of a film is driven by that. You are constantly fighting the odds and it is at every level." Nitya, who assisted Ang Lee and Mira Nair before helming her debut 'Baar Baar Dekho', says a film set today has more women than before. "When I was an AD and first came to Mumbai, I remember the number of women on a set, that was only for hair, makeup, wardrobe. That's it. Now when I go on a set, it gives me so much pleasure to see so many women working in various departments." Reema says the times today reflect more inclusion and diversity for women and it isn't as gloomy as before. "Today, of course, there are so many more choices. It's a positive sign."

Filmmakers Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti, Alankrita Shrivastava and Nitya Mehra discuss if Bollywood is inclusive of women today

Bollywood films have most often been blamed for promoting misogyny through its cinema. For years women characters have just been used as props in the narrative. Sure, there have been films that have had strong women characters, but those have been far and few in between.&nbsp;

While we have celebrated films like Mother India, Aandhi and Mirch Masala in the past, there are certain films that have changed the tide for the better in the recent past with their strong female roles. These characters have not just changed the way we percieve women in Hindi cinema but have also helped in addressing some pertinent issues plaguing our society. 
 
On Women&#39;s Day, here are the 12 path-breaking roles that changed the way we perceive women characters on screen. 
 
English Vinglish:&nbsp;Sridevi&#39;s comeback was highly anticipated and when she finally did with Gauri Shinde&#39;s English Vinglish, we couldn&#39;t get enough of her. Known mostly for her ultra-glamorous roles throughout her career, Sridevi chose to play an underdog in her come back film. A story of a simple house-wife yearning to gain the respect of her family and thus taking up classes in spoken English- Shashi was easily relatable to most of us and our mothers. More importantly, the film highlighted the immense work that our mothers put in at home and outside.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wmGVY4T88dc" width="560"></iframe>

Angry Indian Goddesses:&nbsp;What&#39;s there not to like about Angry Indian Goddesses really? The film celebrates sisterhood in its true sense where a group of seven friends gathers in a quaint villa in Goa for a bachelorette party of one of their own. Their party abruptly comes to an end when one of them goes missing one night. The film perhaps was the first mainstream film to openly talk about homosexuality and raised the importance of acceptance.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dIdxxvph-Vw" width="560"></iframe>

Kahaani:&nbsp;A pregnant Vidya Balan walking around alone in the chaotic city of Kolkata looking for her missing husband made for a very intriguing storyline. With no big male star- the film completely focussed on Vidya Bagchi- the main protagonist, who may on the surface look like a hapless woman in search of her husband, but in reality was a strong-willed woman who came to an unknown land on a mission. And who could have predicted that brilliant climax in the end?

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rsjamVgPoI8" width="560"></iframe>

Queen:&nbsp;How fun can it be to go on a honeymoon alone? Apparently a lot. Kangana Ranaut&#39;s Rani taught each one of us the importance of loving one&#39;s self and putting oneself before everything else. Didn&#39;t we all crave to go on a trip alone after watching Queen? Perhaps the most spirited character of our times, Rani remains one of the most relevant characters in Indian cinema till date.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KGC6vl3lzf0" width="560"></iframe>

Anaarkali of Aarah and Pink 
No means no. Two of the most powerful films, Anaarkali of Aarah and Pink spoke about consent and delivered a very pertinent and a strong message. That a woman can sing provocatively, flirt with you even, and wear revealing clothes, but if she says no to a sexual relationship, she must be respected. The four women in these two films were strong-willed and despite the stark backgrounds they belonged to, all these characters &nbsp;echoed the thoughts of women across the country.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jHFT_PdLh20" width="560"></iframe> 
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AL2TShb6fFs" width="560"></iframe>

Highway:&nbsp;How many mainstream films in Bollywood have talked about child sex abuse the way Veera does in the end? The film highlighted that no money can buy you happiness and that one can find peace and freedom in the most uncanny of places. Alia Bhatt and Randeep Hooda&#39;s powerful performances, coupled with AR Rahman&#39;s soulful music made this Imtiaz Ali film a sublime watch.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LSrDD52bx4A" width="560"></iframe>

Margarita With A Straw and Lipstick Under My Burkha:&nbsp;These films had their flaws but still need to be celebrated for they both spoke about women&#39;s desire. In India, to talk about sex and one&#39;s sexual desire openly is considered a taboo, especially for women. A woman talking about what she wants in bed openly is often frowned upon. But both these films celebrated women who were perhaps comfortable expressing their feelings about sex. Be it Laila, a girl with cerebral palsy, who does not mind swinging both ways in Margarita, With A Straw to a 55-year-old Usha Parmar who reads erotic novels and yearns for her hot swimming coach, these women were unabashed and strong in their own unique way.

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6zy3F0WVDK0" width="560"></iframe> 
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EpHqeHF8NM0" width="560"></iframe>

Piku: Shoojit Sircar&#39;s Piku was a story that most urban, working women could relate to. Deepika Padukone as Piku was financially independent, successful in her career and a parent to her whimsical, hypochondriac father. She had her needs, she wanted to settle down with a man, but more importantly, she gave all her time and energy to her father.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oeiKUlUUNQ8" width="560"></iframe>

Secret Superstar: A spirited, talented young girl not only realizes her own dreams but also helps to free her mother from an abusive marriage. Secret Superstar gave so many of us hope to dream big and more importantly to break free when it becomes ugly. And if a 14year old girl can do it, so can others, no?

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J_yb8HORges" width="560"></iframe>

Nh10: Anushka Sharma starrer NH10 not only was a nail-biting thriller but it was also a film that highlighted a very important point- that a woman can look after and protect herself in terms of crisis. If she is pushed to the wall, she has the strength to fight back and how.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A9icNqWlylw" width="560"></iframe>

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They are spirited, strong, feisty and real

Bollywood films have most often been blamed for promoting misogyny through its cinema. For years women characters have just been used as props in the narrative. Sure, there have been films that have had strong women characters, but those have been far and few in between. While we have celebrated films like Mother India, Aandhi and Mirch Masala in the past, there are certain films that have changed the tide for the better in the recent past with their strong female roles. These characters have not just changed the way we percieve women in Hindi cinema but have also helped in addressing some pertinent issues plaguing our society. On Women's Day, here are the 12 path-breaking roles that changed the way we perceive women characters on screen. English Vinglish: Sridevi's comeback was highly anticipated and when she finally did with Gauri Shinde's English Vinglish, we couldn't get enough of her. Known mostly for her ultra-glamorous roles throughout her career, Sridevi chose to play an underdog in her come back film. A story of a simple house-wife yearning to gain the respect of her family and thus taking up classes in spoken English- Shashi was easily relatable to most of us and our mothers. More importantly, the film highlighted the immense work that our mothers put in at home and outside. Angry Indian Goddesses: What's there not to like about Angry Indian Goddesses really? The film celebrates sisterhood in its true sense where a group of seven friends gathers in a quaint villa in Goa for a bachelorette party of one of their own. Their party abruptly comes to an end when one of them goes missing one night. The film perhaps was the first mainstream film to openly talk about homosexuality and raised the importance of acceptance. Kahaani: A pregnant Vidya Balan walking around alone in the chaotic city of Kolkata looking for her missing husband made for a very intriguing storyline. With no big male star- the film completely focussed on Vidya Bagchi- the main protagonist, who may on the surface look like a hapless woman in search of her husband, but in reality was a strong-willed woman who came to an unknown land on a mission. And who could have predicted that brilliant climax in the end? Queen: How fun can it be to go on a honeymoon alone? Apparently a lot. Kangana Ranaut's Rani taught each one of us the importance of loving one's self and putting oneself before everything else. Didn't we all crave to go on a trip alone after watching Queen? Perhaps the most spirited character of our times, Rani remains one of the most relevant characters in Indian cinema till date. Anaarkali of Aarah and Pink No means no. Two of the most powerful films, Anaarkali of Aarah and Pink spoke about consent and delivered a very pertinent and a strong message. That a woman can sing provocatively, flirt with you even, and wear revealing clothes, but if she says no to a sexual relationship, she must be respected. The four women in these two films were strong-willed and despite the stark backgrounds they belonged to, all these characters echoed the thoughts of women across the country. Highway: How many mainstream films in Bollywood have talked about child sex abuse the way Veera does in the end? The film highlighted that no money can buy you happiness and that one can find peace and freedom in the most uncanny of places. Alia Bhatt and Randeep Hooda's powerful performances, coupled with AR Rahman's soulful music made this Imtiaz Ali film a sublime watch. Margarita With A Straw and Lipstick Under My Burkha: These films had their flaws but still need to be celebrated for they both spoke about women's desire. In India, to talk about sex and one's sexual desire openly is considered a taboo, especially for women. A woman talking about what she wants in bed openly is often frowned upon. But both these films celebrated women who were perhaps comfortable expressing their feelings about sex. Be it Laila, a girl with cerebral palsy, who does not mind swinging both ways in Margarita, With A Straw to a 55-year-old Usha Parmar who reads erotic novels and yearns for her hot swimming coach, these women were unabashed and strong in their own unique way. Piku: Shoojit Sircar's Piku was a story that most urban, working women could relate to. Deepika Padukone as Piku was financially independent, successful in her career and a parent to her whimsical, hypochondriac father. She had her needs, she wanted to settle down with a man, but more importantly, she gave all her time and energy to her father. Secret Superstar: A spirited, talented young girl not only realizes her own dreams but also helps to free her mother from an abusive marriage. Secret Superstar gave so many of us hope to dream big and more importantly to break free when it becomes ugly. And if a 14year old girl can do it, so can others, no? Nh10: Anushka Sharma starrer NH10 not only was a nail-biting thriller but it was also a film that highlighted a very important point- that a woman can look after and protect herself in terms of crisis. If she is pushed to the wall, she has the strength to fight back and how.

12 path-breaking Bollywood roles that celebrate womanhood in its true sense