In an industry that’s dominated by men and male-driven films, it’s always refreshing to see a movie with a strong female character. Which is why I was especially disappointed when Parineeti Chopra‘s character Zoya from Ishaqzaade turned out to be such a let down despite strong characterization in the beginning. Regardless, that got me thinking about some female characters from recent times who have shown great character development. Want to know my favourites?
1. Aisha from Wake Up Sid (played by Konkona Sen Sharma)
Aisha is one of my favourite characters, mostly because of how realistic she is. She has her strengths and she has her flaws, and everyone can find a little bit of Aisha in themselves. She’s the independent woman with big hopes and dreams of making it on her own, and when Sid (Ranbir Kapoor) gets kicked out of his house, she’s the one who comes to his rescue by allowing him to move in with her.
2. Vidya from Kahaani (played by Vidya Balan)
Vidya Bagchi is one of the most badass female characters in Bollywood. Even though she’s suffered great loss, she’s determined to reach her goal and won’t let anyone stop her. She’s up against countless number of men during the film, but still holds her own, overpowering them all with a glare, sharp comment or just sheer resilience.
3. Geet from Jab We Met (played by Kareena Kapoor)
Geet is a spunky girl who believes one should follow their heart – according to her, even if things turn out badly, it will be okay because you were the one who made the decision, and that’s the entire point. She enjoys life to the fullest, believes that love trumps everything, and solves every issue with a smile (and a little craziness). Even after she suffers an emotional setback, she doesn’t go running back home; instead, she tries to be self-sufficient and learns that every action has consequences.
4. Rhea from Hum Tum (played by Rani Mukherjee)
Rhea’s a feisty girl who stands up for herself. She resists Karan’s (Saif Ali Khan) attempts at flirting, refuses to back down from an argument, and doesn’t hesitate in slapping him when he plants an unwanted kiss on her. Even after she experiences loss, she powers through, running her own business and creating her own little world.
5. Roma from Don & Don 2 (played by Priyanka Chopra)
Roma’s a girl on the warpath – she wants revenge for the death of her brother, and she’s willing to fight the Don to get it. She becomes an Interpol officer and won’t let the men steal the show – when there’s a fight, she jumps into the midst and is willing to battle it out.