THIRDRAFT

For decades, Bollywood’s heroines were stuck in a loop, sing, cry, wait for the hero, repeat. Their biggest achievement? Looking pretty while the male lead conquered the world. But something has changed. They are no longer accessories to a man’s story; they are writing their own.

Take the movie “Mrs.” for example, Sanya Malhotra’s character, Richa, is not on a quest to win a man’s love or mend a broken relationship. Instead, she is navigating the weight of domestic expectations, and questioning what it truly means to be a perfect wife. The movie does not glorify suffering or sacrifice, but instead it highlights how she is taking control of her own story.

This change is something that young audiences are noticing too. Ruhani Narang, a 19-year-old fashion styling student, recalls watching Bollywood cinema growing up, and feeling frustrated by the lack of inspiring leads. “I remember watching stories where women were just there for the sake of romance. It’s refreshing to finally see them in roles where they have actual depth.” She points to the film “Gangubai Kathiawadi” starring Alia Bhatt as a turning point.

Then there is the movie “Lapata Ladies”, a refreshingly different take on self-discovery. The premise is simple – two brides are accidentally swapped on a train. In the past, this might have been a story about their husbands heroically searching for them. But Kiran Rao flips the script. Instead of waiting to be found, they take charge, shaping their own paths with wit, and resilience. They were shown as problem-solvers, not as damsels in distress.

Pulkit Gautam, 24, who works in textile industry, loved the unexpected twist. “If this movie had come out in the 90s, it would’ve been three hours of husbands running around with sad violins playing in the background. Instead, these women took control of their lives in a way that was hilarious, smart, and real.”

Beyond these productions, Bollywood has been making small but significant strides. “Darlings” allowed its female leads to be flawed, complex, and deeply human. Even a mass entertainer like “Jawan” gave Nayanthara a character beyond the usual romantic subplot.

However, not everyone is convinced this change is permanent. Prerna Sharda, 23, an architect from Maharashtra shares ““People say Bollywood needs to change, but we’re the ones buying the tickets. If we keep making ‘female-led’ films successful, studios won’t be able to ignore them. Money speaks louder than progressive Twitter threads.”

Bollywood has certainly made progress, but there’s still a long way to go. At least we’ve moved past the era where a heroine’s biggest achievement was waiting patiently while the hero saved the day.