What is the one common thing between some recent cinematic gems like Laapataa Ladies, Mrs., Darlings, Girls Will Be Girls, and the Oscar-winning The Elephant Whisperers? Well, they are all backed by visionary women, who are rewriting the rules of Indian cinema.
India ranks as the world’s largest film-producing country. However, for the longest time, Bollywood has been a male-dominated industry, consistently using women in only ornamental roles like damsels in distress, glamorous eye-candy, or mere props to elevate the hero's journey.
Barring a few trailblazing women like Aruna Raje, Sai Paranjpye, Aparna Sen, Deepa Mehta, Kalpana Lajmi, Tanuja Chandra, and Meera Nair to name a few, who flouted the gender stereotypes with a flourish and made their mark with powerful narratives—for decades, the female presence in Bollywood remained largely confined to being the hero’s arm-candy.
Now, the last few decades have highlighted the winds of change in Bollywood. Many fearless, visionary women—directors, producers, writers, and cinematographers—are breaking stereotypes and redefining cinema with compelling stories and multi-dimensional female characters projected sans the ‘male gaze.’ They are not just participating in cinema; they are leading it, telling fresh and dynamic stories through a fresh lens.
Zoya Akhtar
When Zoya entered Bollywood, people presumed it was because of her Akhtar lineage. But within no time, Zoya proved her mettle, not just by her storytelling skills but also by breaking the glass ceiling at the box office. Her films Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Gully Boy are classic examples of the fact that women can not only tell engaging stories on screen but also bring in the moolah. Zoya’s films, whether she is producing, directing, or writing, are feisty, entertaining, and refreshingly different. Despite casting big names, Zoya’s films stand apart for their treatment and approach.
Kiran Rao
Very few have the guts to tread on roads less traveled. Kiran certainly is one of them who dared to make her directorial debut with an unconventional film like Dhobi Ghat—an impressive portrait of contemporary Mumbai—and quietly etched her name in the list of filmmakers with substance. Ever since, Kiran, with her human stories, interesting characters, unconventional narratives, and experimental filmmaking style, has made thought-provoking and visually captivating films. Her latest—Laapataa Ladies—was India’s official entry to the Oscar race, making her the eighth Indian female director to achieve this honor.
Guneet Monga
Today, if we all know about the Oscar-winning film The Elephant Whisperers, it’s all thanks to this feisty producer who had the conviction and vision to back this project. Otherwise, like other offbeat films, this film would probably have just stuck to the festival circuit and got lost in oblivion. Guneet’s strength lies in her sharp understanding of the film business. Through her banner Sikhya Entertainment, she has handled several unconventional films like The Lunchbox, Masaan, Shaitan, and Gangs of Wasseypur, proving that smaller films can be commercially viable too.
Alia Bhatt
She may be called a ‘nepo kid,’ but Alia Bhatt has silenced all her naysayers with her acting prowess. Now, the versatile actress is proving her strength behind the scenes. Her debut film as a producer was the well-appreciated black comedy Darlings, and with that, this fiery actress cemented that her production house, Eternal Sunshine Productions, is not here to deliver the usual song-dance sequence. Her second film Jigra failed to create as much buzz, but it reinforced her commitment to nuanced storytelling.
Gauri Shinde
Gauri Shinde marked her debut with the endearing story of a housewife in English Vinglish, followed by another poignant tale of self-discovery—Dear Zindagi. In a medium dominated by commercial formulas, Gauri stands out as a filmmaker who unapologetically celebrates everyday women through her films.
Meghna Gulzar
Gripping and character-driven films with strong female protagonists have always been Meghna Gulzar’s forte. Her films like Talvar, Raazi, and Chhapaak are appreciated for their unbiased storytelling. Meghna’s Raazi proved that a movie with a female protagonist doesn’t need any over-the-top action sequences, song-and-dance numbers or romance; to make an impact, it can thrive on substance alone.
Well, these power girls are not alone. Other filmmakers like Mira Nair, Nandita Das, Konkona Sen Sharma, Reema Kagti, and Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari have consistently dismantled misogyny in the industry through their films. Directors like Alankrita Shrivastava (Lipstick Under My Burkha), Arati Kadav (Mrs.), Shuchi Talati (Girls Will Be Girls), and Jasmeet Reen (Darlings) are sparking crucial conversations about gender and patriarchy in India.
Beyond directing and producing, women's presence is strongly felt in scriptwriting and cinematography as well. Writers like Juhi Chaturvedi (Piku, October), Kanika Dhillon (Haseen Dillruba), and Mrunmayee Lagoo (Thappad) are crafting stories with strong women characters at the center. Cinematographers like Priya Seth (Airlift) and Deepti Gupta (Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.) are bringing a fresh female perspective to visual storytelling and strictly keeping the ‘male gaze’ at bay.
The time of women being mere ornaments in movies is over. The future of Bollywood is no longer just male-driven—it is fiercely and unapologetically female. And it is worth watching!
