From Passive to Powerful: How Bollywood is Rewriting the Modern Woman

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“Tadpaoge Tadpaoge” may be topping reels and playlists. But have you paused to listen beyond the beat? Behind its melody hides a familiar trope — a woman grieving in silence, her identity shaped entirely by a man’s absence. This isn’t new. For decades, Bollywood women were shown not as agents of change, but as vessels of longing. Their strength painted in sacrifice, their love defined by silence.

I grew up watching Mother India, where a woman’s strength was measured by how much she could sacrifice without complaint. As a young girl, I absorbed these stories without protest, not realizing how deeply they shaped my view of women in Indian cinema. Today, as a woman who questions stereotypes and creates narratives, I see a shift. Women in Indian cinema are no longer confined to background roles or defined solely by men.

I’m Namita Mahajan — co-founder of TrendVisionz and a passionate womenpreneur on a mission to challenge the status quo. As someone who grew up watching Bollywood, trained as a media professional, and now builds narratives for a living, I’ve seen firsthand how cinema can influence thought and identity. At TrendVisionz, we focus on content that not only entertains but empowers — especially women.

Indian cinema has evolved into both mirror and megaphone — reflecting societal truths while amplifying voices of social change. This article dives into how Bollywood is rewriting the modern woman. Representation isn’t just about screen time; it’s about reclaiming identity, one frame at a time.

Also Read:

• The Rise of Regional Cinema: Data, Trends, and Future of Indian Entertainment
• Lights, Camera, Movie Franchises! Bollywood’s New Era of Blockbusters
• Saiyaara Song’s AI Twist: How Kishore Kumar’s Voice Was Digitally Recreated

Bollywood’s Love for Contrast: Where Women Fit In

For years, Bollywood relied on rigid gender roles that shaped how women were written into stories. The hero ruled the plot, while the heroine was reduced to glamour, quiet surrender, or symbolic sacrifice. These portrayals weren’t just cinematic—they echoed society.

The Passive Protagonist: A Familiar Bollywood Actress Trope

In the golden age of Hindi cinema, the typical Bollywood actress was a vision of obedience, grace, and endurance. Whether she was the devoted lover or the misunderstood daughter, her agency rarely moved the plot.

We saw it in films like:

• Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995): Simran dreams of freedom, but it’s Raj who fights for it.
• Maine Pyar Kiya (1989): Suman, the ideal daughter, falls in love quietly, sacrifices quietly, and waits quietly.
• Veer-Zaara (2004): Zara’s love spans decade, but she remains frozen in time, waiting.

These women weren’t weak—they were underwritten. Their strength lay in silence. Their triumphs came through male validation. This pattern reinforced traditional gender roles in Bollywood: men were the doers, women the dreamers.

What Were Traditional Gender Roles for Women in Bollywood Films?

• Women in classic Bollywood films were often portrayed as ornamental, emotionally dependent, and rarely central
• Love stories often sidelined their voice in favor of male arcs.
• Their strength was emotional, but rarely central to the story.

These stories mirrored what society expected from women — selflessness, restraint, and quiet strength. And for decades, cinema helped normalize that expectation.

But Indian cinema is changing. Audiences are demanding complexity, not perfection. And women characters are finally stepping out of the waiting room.

Because a heroine’s worth isn’t in how well she supports the hero — it’s in how powerfully she tells her own story.

The Rise of Women-Centric Movies in Bollywood

For a long time, women in Bollywood existed on the sidelines of a man’s story. But slowly, a powerful shift began — from silent supporters to solo protagonists. This rise of women-centric movies in Bollywood didn’t just entertain; it redefined what strength looks like on screen.

From Situational Strength to Emotional Agency

Films like Queen (2013), Kahaani (2012), and Piku (2015) did more than showcase strong women — they gave us women with emotional agency. These weren’t warriors or rebels in the traditional sense. They were flawed, real, and resilient. They didn’t fight for love or family approval — they fought to own their choices.

• Queen let Rani find self-worth through a solo honeymoon.
• Kahaani gave us Vidya Bagchi — pregnant, grieving, and dangerous.
• Piku – A quiet defiance expressed through daily choices

Each film told us: strength isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it’s choosing yourself.

What Are Some Women Empowerment Movies in Bollywood?

• Queen – A woman’s journey to independence after heartbreak
• Kahaani – A layered portrayal of grief and quiet revenge
• Piku – The subtle rebellion of everyday decisions
• Thappad – Challenging normalized domestic violence
• Tumhari Sulu – Celebrating ambition in a middle-class homemaker

OTT Platforms Amplified the Shift

The rise of streaming brought new life to empowered women characters. Series like Delhi Crime, Made in Heaven, and Bombay Begums portrayed women in roles rarely seen in traditional cinema — complex, contradictory, and completely human.

On OTT, feminist Bollywood movies aren’t just token titles — they’re entire genres. We’re finally watching stories where women aren’t just reclaiming power — they’re redefining it.

Bengali Women in Films: Feminist Icons or Fiction?

There’s something undeniably fascinating about the Bengali woman on screen. Often cast as sharp, cultured, and self-assured, she’s become a symbol of intellectual elegance in Indian cinema. But is she a feminist icon — or just another refined trope?

The “Bhodromohila” Trope in Bollywood

In the cinematic world, Bengali women in films are rarely shown struggling. Instead, they arrive fully formed — articulate, opinionated, and always draped in quiet confidence. This image is rooted in the idea of the bhodromohila — the soft-spoken, cultured lady from Kolkata who reads Tagore and drinks Darjeeling tea.

We’ve seen her in:

• Piku – Blunt, independent, and attached to her roots, but emotionally stifled
• Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani – Progressive Rani Chatterjee. Rebellion is neatly wrapped in tradition and polish.
• Aap Jaisa Koi – Madhu Bose reclaims space, yet her brilliance feels like background polish

These women represent progress, but within limits — often still bound by family expectations or male-led plotlines. They’re empowered, yes, but rarely raw.

Are These Characters Feminist or Filmy?

Are these characters truly feminist or just filmy facades wrapped in tradition? While many Bollywood women now speak their minds and dress the part, their rebellion often feels curated.

• They wear their modernity like a badge — but don’t break enough rules.
• They’re allowed to speak their minds — but rarely allowed to fail.
• They often mentor or fix others — especially men.

The physical appearance, body image, social norms, and beauty of women have always been portrayed in media falsely and unrealistically.

This points to a deeper issue: the misrepresentation of modern women in films. Feminism is filtered through aesthetics — always composed, never chaotic. It’s a digestible version of liberation that looks good on screen but skips the mess.

Why Are Bengali Women Shown as Bold in Bollywood?

Bengali women in Bollywood are often portrayed as bold, intellectual, and independent. Here’s how their dress and appearance are commonly shown:

• Sarees with a Statement: They often wear crisp cotton or handloom sarees — usually in reds, whites, or deep earthy tones — symbolizing cultural rootedness. The saree is often draped in the classic Bengali style, adding regional authenticity.
• Minimal Makeup, Bold Eyes: Their makeup is usually subtle, with a focus on strong kohl-rimmed eyes, lending an air of depth and intellect.
• Bindi as Identity: A large red bindi or a classic round one is almost always present — acting as both a cultural identifier and a symbol of quiet strength.
• Hair and Accessories: Hair is mostly worn in soft waves or neatly tied buns, often complemented by oxidized earrings or jhumkas that reflect simplicity and elegance.

This visual language projects them as confident, cultured, and assertive — but also keeps them polished and composed, rarely messy or unfiltered.

Beyond the Bindi: Stereotypes Masquerading as Progress

It’s a curious pattern — Bollywood frequently confines Bengali characters to refined, polished roles, glossing over their deeper emotional complexities. Visually, the Bengali woman’s style merges heritage with allure. Think sweetheart necklines, ombré drapes, bustier blouses, and crisp cotton sarees that exude quiet confidence on screen.

• They symbolize intellect, tradition, and soft rebellion
• Bollywood uses them to represent progressive values
• But rarely explores their internal struggles or contradictions

This cultural shortcut reduces layered individuals into cinematic stereotypes. And that’s where stereotypes in Indian cinema become dangerous — they masquerade as evolution.

Until we see Bengali women on screen who are allowed to be flawed, fierce, and free — the icon remains just that: fictional.

Strong Female Leads, But Still in Service of Men?

There’s a new trend in Bollywood — one that seems empowering on the surface, but often reinforces the same old power imbalance underneath. Today’s modern female characters are bold, witty, and self-aware. But look closer, and many are still carrying emotional baggage that isn’t theirs — it belongs to the men they love.

Emotional Labour Disguised as Empowerment

Take Bareilly Ki Barfi. Bitti is rebellious and free-spirited, but she ends up stuck in a love triangle where her worth is validated by which man “gets her.” Kriti Sanon describes Bitti Mishra as a fun, bold and unapologetically authentic small-town tomboy. She says:

“She’s a little chhurrat, bindass, bratty. Bitti doesn’t just marry anyone—“the only problem in Bitti’s life is she isn’t getting married … she wants that one person who loves her the way she is.”

She connects deeply with Bitti’s refusal to follow rules blindly. “Like Bitti, I don’t do things just because I am ‘supposed to’. If it is not backed by logic, Bitti won’t do it, and neither will Kriti.”

Geet: The Feminist Firecracker Who Still Needed Saving

In Jab We Met, Geet teaches Aditya to live again — but in return, she gets lost and must be rescued. Interestingly, when Imtiaz Ali first approached Kareena Kapoor with the script of Jab We Met, she wasn’t immediately on board. But fate had other plans. Eventually, she agreed — and in doing so, gave Bollywood one of its most iconic feminist-yet-filmy characters. As Imtiaz Ali recalled in an interview:

“She wasn’t interested at first… but when she said yes, she gave us Geet — and Geet gave us magic.” – Imtiaz Ali

And in Aap Jaisa Koi, Madhu Bose is fierce, but the emotional climax is still about helping the man confront his trauma.

These are classic empowered women characters¹ — yet their power is used in service of male growth. They challenge patriarchy with one hand, but end up nurturing it with the other. As author Shobhaa De incisively writes:

“She slaughters macho males with vengeance and rattles poisons in her gender with disdain and disregard… One thing she doesn’t stomach is hypocrisy of any kind.”

But in Bollywood, female characters are often scripted to stomach everything — as long as they remain likable. They’re allowed to rebel, but only if they’re relatable. They’re permitted to speak up, but only if it serves a man’s growth arc.

This is where love stories with feminist characters fall short. Because true empowerment doesn’t come from fixing someone else — it comes from choosing not to. As Priyanka Chopra powerfully said:

“You can be an absolute woman and also be smart and tough and not lose your femininity. Don’t try to squeeze into a glass slipper. Instead, shatter the glass ceiling- Priyanka Chopra

That’s the kind of heroine we need — not rewritten to be acceptable, but rewritten to be real. Empowerment isn’t education duty — it’s freedom to just be.

Until that freedom is normalized on screen, we’re not watching liberation — we’re watching emotional labor with lipstick.

When Lyrics Speak Louder Than Dialogue: Women in Bollywood Songs

Bollywood songs don’t just entertain — they echo how women are perceived. From submissive serenades to feminist anthems. Lyrics have long shaped cultural norms about femininity, love, and power, often more than dialogue ever could.

The Doormat Anthem: When Love Meant Erasure

Bollywood’s golden era gave us iconic music — but also a playlist of lyrical submission. These songs idealized sacrifice and silence, romanticizing a woman’s worth through her willingness to wait, pine, or perish.

Songs that reinforced submissive portrayals:

• “Doli Saja Ke Rakhna” – DDLJ: She walks into marriage with no agency, no question.
• “Main Yahan Tu Wahan” – Baghban: Loneliness becomes her silent badge of loyalty.
• “Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai” – Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi: Love as complete self-erasure.
• “Bairi Piya” – Devdas: Her devotion is set to the rhythm of pain and longing.
• “Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai” – Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi: Love portrayed as losing oneself entirely in the other.
• “Bairi Piya” – Devdas: A melody of devotion steeped in suffering, where longing becomes her only language.

These weren’t just songs — they were scripts for gender roles, playing on loop in every wedding, heartbreak, and festival.

The Rise of Feminist Anthems: When Women Reclaim the Mic

Thankfully, new-age Bollywood is rewriting its playlist. Today’s feminist Bollywood songs speak of choice, power, and identity.

Songs that celebrate strength and self-worth:

• “Patakha Guddi” – Highway: A runaway spirit breaking free, riding the winds of rebellion.
• “Jugni” – Queen: Rani’s anthem of self-discovery, stitched with courage and change.
• “Ziddi Dil” – Mary Kom: A fierce pulse of persistence, where grit triumphs over gloss.
• “Bekhauff” – Satyamev Jayate: A call to fearlessness for Indian women.

These lyrical shifts signal progress — but they’re still exceptions, not the rule. For every feminist anthem, dozens still glorify sacrifice. It begs the question: is Bollywood’s idea of gender equality truly empowering — or just beautifully packaged performance?

Gender Equality vs Glamour: What We’re Missing

As someone who works in media and observes patterns of representation closely. I can tell you this: gender equality in Bollywood² often looks flawless on screen — but it’s far from complete. It’s filtered through fashion, privilege, and metro-centric aesthetics.

When Feminism is All Finish, No Foundation

Most films give us the final act of empowerment — the confident woman in the boardroom or courtroom. But where are the messy middles? The hesitation, the doubt, the slow rise through class and caste barriers?

We rarely see the intersection of class and gender in films. Rural women, Dalit voices, working-class strivers — their stories remain untold. And when told, they’re often romanticized or resolved too neatly. This curated version of feminism in Indian films tells us that women are free — as long as they look polished while claiming that freedom.

“In India, people fervently worship goddesses… But, ironically, when it comes to worldly matters and dealings, it has been the male sex, for the longest time, whose deity has been worshipped and obeyed.” – (Sinha, 2023, New Literaria³)

Even the ancient Manusmriti didn’t acknowledge a woman’s existence beyond that of her husband — and somewhere, Bollywood still reflects that shadow. Women’s identity in love stories continues to revolve around relationships, not autonomy.

What’s Missing from Gender Equality in Bollywood?

Gender equality in Bollywood often stops at surface-level representation, ignoring deeper stories of class, caste, and truly independent women.

• Stories from rural, caste-oppressed, and lower-income women
• Honest journeys — not just glamorous destinations
• Flawed female characters who rise without a male savior

This systemic bias isn’t just anecdotal — it’s been studied and documented. In a first-of-its-kind research effort, scholars from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, attempted to quantify just how deeply patriarchy is embedded in Hindi cinema. As Prof. Lakshmi Lingam, the project lead, aptly put it:

“The big bucks are riding on all big men in Bollywood“

Prof Lingam further adds that “filmmakers believe a very strong female character won’t work with the audiences.” This mindset continues to shape casting, storytelling, and the roles women are ‘allowed’ to play — keeping true gender equality behind the lens, and often, off the screen.

Until Bollywood shows women not as products of privilege but as participants in struggle. True equality will remain a subplot — not the story.

OTT to the Rescue? Expanding Representation

For the longest time, Bollywood’s women had to fit a certain mold — graceful, composed, and always camera-ready. But OTT platforms are challenging that narrative, offering space for female representation that’s raw, complex, and beautifully flawed.

The Gender Gap Behind the Camera

Before we celebrate progress too soon, let’s look at who’s telling these stories. The power to reshape female narratives begins behind the scenes — and the numbers are telling:

• In 2021, women made up only 10% of creative roles (directing, writing, editing, cinematography) across films and OTT platforms in India.
• As of 2023, just 12% of Heads of Department (HODs) — including directors, editors, and production designers — were women. Cinematography remains the most male-dominated, with only 5% female representation.
• Between 2019–2020, only 6% of Indian films had women directors, while just 2% had women cinematographers.

Until these numbers change, representation on screen will always be filtered through a skewed lens. Which brings us to the next big question — what can Bollywood actually do better?

Breaking Away from Glamorized Feminism

With the rise of digital content, we’ve seen a powerful shift. OTT platforms and female representation are no longer about perfection — they’re about presence. Series like Bombay Begums, Guilty Minds, and Four More Shots Please bring forth women who are ambitious, conflicted, rebellious, and real. They don’t exist to please — they exist to be.

In these stories, women are CEOs, lawyers, survivors, mothers, lovers — often all at once. Their makeup doesn’t stay intact. Their marriages don’t always work. And most importantly, their strength doesn’t depend on a man completing their arc.

OTT is slowly dismantling the glamor filter that Bollywood has long relied on. Here, women are not ornamented — they are central. As Aishwarya Rai Bachchan once said:

I don’t know why beauty is attached only to women. I don’t believe it’s gender-specific or even species-specific.- Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

This quote resonates strongly in the OTT space, where beauty is no longer a pre-requisite for storytelling. Depth is.

These platforms are giving women something Bollywood rarely did: permission to be layered, loud, and unlikable — and still worth watching. It’s not just better representation. It’s truer.

What Bollywood Can Do Better: A Feminist Storytelling Toolkit

If we want to move beyond curated rebellion and performative progress, Bollywood needs to embrace a deeper, messier truth. Audiences today don’t just want modern female characters — they want real ones. The future of women empowerment movies lies not in perfection, but in vulnerability, contradiction, and courage.

A Feminist Storytelling Toolkit for Indian Cinema

• Show real struggles — not just stylized rebellion with Instagram-ready breakdowns. Portray emotional labor, mental health, financial survival, and intersectional battles.
• Cast lesser-known women — especially from regional, lower-income, and caste-oppressed backgrounds. Their stories matter, and their representation can’t always come from A-list gloss.
• Let women fail — without turning it into a morality tale. Failure, doubt, and messiness should be part of their narrative arc, not a detour.
• Build women-led creative teams — more women directors, writers, cinematographers, and editors. True representation starts behind the lens — not just in front of it.

Until Bollywood makes space for flawed, fearless storytelling, it will continue to decorate its women — not define them. For true progress, storytelling must embrace flaws, not hide behind chiffon.

Also Read:

• Beyond Bollywood: Exploring the Richness of Regional Indian Cinema
• The OTT Platforms Revolution: Transforming India’s Entertainment Landscape

FAQ: Bollywood Women

Conclusion — The Woman on Screen, and the One Watching

Bollywood women have evolved — from passive muses to protagonists with purpose. But even today, women in Indian cinema are selectively empowered, often styled to suit societal comfort. Real change begins when we stop writing women as types and start showing them as truths — flawed, fearless, and free. Representation must go beyond token strength and aesthetic liberation. It must reflect the millions watching — messy, brilliant, and unapologetically human.

“To reflect her reality, Bollywood must first believe she exists beyond the frame.”

Additional Resource:

1. Dr. Aasia Nusrat, Yusra Ashraf, & Rabia Wasif. (2020). Consciousness Raising in the New Woman of Shobhaa De’s novels Starry Nights & Socialite Evenings. Research Journal of Social Sciences and Economics Review, 1(2), 70-78. https://doi.org/10.36902/rjsser-vol1-iss2-2020(70-78) ↩︎
2. Lingam, Lakshmi & Chitrapu, Sunitha. (2023). Lights, Camera and Time for Action: Recasting Gender Equality Compliant Hindi Cinema. 10.13140/RG.2.2.23052.49281. ↩︎
3. An International Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities Volume 4, No. 1, January-February, 2023, PP. 105-113 ISSN: 2582-7375 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.48189/nl.2023.v04i1.015shobha d ↩︎

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Namita Mahajan is a Womenpreneur,
Lifestyle Influencer | Empowering Women Self Reliance

Director: Nuteq Entertainment Pvt Ltd,  and
Co-Founder: Trendvisionz – A Premier Digital Marketing Agency in India

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