In Indian cinema, the hero is made the centre of the world, and it is expected that a 'Hero'-based project will be more profitable and marketable.?Filmmakers find it difficult to use older women as key characters because they believe the public would choose a hero-led movie over heroines.?But is this really the case? Beating all odds, these women have been defying these norms, one role at a time.
These actresses have proven that age is just a number; if an actor can romance at 50, why can't they? Why should boys have all the fun, as the common phrase goes?
Many criminal dramas feature a male lead, but not in this series. Supriya Pathak is the original and most versatile actress; whether on the big screen or the internet platform, she never fails to wow us with her exceptional acting abilities. Cartel is a narrative about mobster families governing Mumbai and their struggle to control the city's underworld economy. It is led by Rani Maai (Supriya), the first family in this industry, and all of the responsibility falls on her three sons. The plot of Cartel is comparable to that of The Godfather and Sarkar. However, we wished to see more of Supriya, as her character was both badass and intriguing.
Watch on it MX Player
Aranyak depicts the life of a working mother and a local police officer Kasturi Doga, who is about to take a sabbatical and is played by Raveena Tandon. After making her debut in 1991 with Pathar Ke Phool and getting the Filmfare award for 'New Face Of The Year,' the actress has come a long way. Raveena made her OTT debut as the lead in Aranyak, defying the stereotype that only male leads have longer shelf lives.
Watch on it Netflix
Tabu and Vishal Bhardwaj are all set to collaborate on this film; the duo is known for working on noteworthy films such as Haider and Maqbool. However, in Khufiya, we shall witness Tabu in a different capacity. Even though she played a cop in Drishyam, her role in Khufiya is more deep and grimmer.
Watch on it Netflix
Shefali's portrayal of DCP Vartika Chaturvedi in Delhi Crime has won the hearts of both critics and audiences. She has proven to be a versatile actress in leading movies such as Delhi Crime, Human, Jalsa, and Darlings, and her co-star from Satya, Manoj Bajpayee, concurs. It's always a pleasure to see her perform. She has left her impression on our hearts in both seasons of Delhi Crime. While everyone enjoyed the series, the main takeaway is her performance.
Watch on it Netflix
Neena Gupta doesn't hesitate to ask for work directly, unlike the majority of actresses. To make it clear that she was residing in Mumbai and was available for work, the National Award-winning actress decided to put a post on Instagram.
Her career saw a resurgence in 2018 with the release of Badhaai Ho, which became a sensation in the harsh world of the Hindi film industry.?Since then, she has appeared in several projects, including web series Masaba Masaba and film Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar. She has also appeared in Panga, Sardar Ka Grandson, and Panchayat. Neena and Masaba Gupta are like a breath of fresh air, and their lives are equally fascinating. Neena Gupta is somewhat fictionalising her role as herself in Masaba's life.
Watch on it Netflix
Sushmita is one of the actors who is ageing gracefully, or more accurately, reversely. Being the winner of Miss Universe in 1994, Sushmita was and is still considered the epitome of beauty and many longed to be like her. Aarya demonstrated her ferocious and evil side in this series. Being a wonderful mother in real life, the emotions of authentic parenthood did translate to the big screen. She plays Aarya, a fierce mother determined to keep her family out of the criminal underbelly.
Watch on it Disney+ Hotstar
Tisca Chopra will play an IAS officer in the paranormal suspense film. In Shilaspura, a remote community known as the Land of the Dead, strange events are depicted in the show. In response to unexplained killings and disappearances, her IAS officer character sets out on a mission to dispel the village's long-standing beliefs.
She is one of those actors who has never stepped back away from taking on unusual or difficult roles, whether it be in Taaree Zamaane Pe as Darsheel Safary's mother or Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji as Anushka Narang, a former Miss India who married a multimillionaire and has an interest in young men and is seen having a romance with Abhay (played by Emraan).
Watch on it Disney+ Hotstar
Karisma Kapoor had taken some time off from acting in films. She last appeared in Dangerous Ishq, a film by Vikram Bhatt that failed to engage audiences. Being a mother of two in real life, she is familiar with the realities of parenthood. Since Karisma Kapoor made her digital debut with Mentalhood, motherhood has experienced a major change in the Indian entertainment industry. The portrayal of moms in movies used to be the epitome of idealism and devotion; nowadays, creators are aiming to show more real aspects of it. Mentalhood, to say the least, is a great start in the right direction.
Watch on it Zee5
With her web series The Broken News, Sonali Bendre made a comeback to acting after more than seven years. Although many have referred to it as her "comeback," the actor herself dislikes the phrase and believes that it's just a new project.?
Sonali portrays Amina Qureshi, a news channel editor, in the show. With Amina, Sonali got the opportunity to portray a woman that has grey shades. However, if we look at the films in the late 90s or early 2000s the leading ladies didn't have such opportunities. They were stereotyped as 'Sanskari' and sophisticated ladies. Intense roles or characters with grey hues were frowned upon by any main female.
Watch on it Zee5
This is one of the few instances when Mimi Mathur, who plays Shefali Malhotra in Mind The Malhotras, decided to act. Mini Mathur is well known for hosting several popular reality Television shows.
"When I joined the industry, the roles I was being offered were almost alike. So, I said no to so many such roles as I always wanted to play bold, dark, or cop kinds of roles which challenged me. Shefali Malhotra in Mind the Malhotras was such a Bold role... basically, it's me and that's what I like to do."
Watch on it Amazon Prime Video
Pooja Bhatt made her movie comeback with "Bombay Begums" after more than 20 years. The actor portrayed a strong-willed private bank's CEO. The series also focuses on the lives of five contemporary women as they make their way through their aspirations, wants, and vulnerabilities in Mumbai.
As reported by Zenger News, Bhatt stated in an Interview, "You are considered past your prime if you’re 30. Women in Indian cinema are the ‘elders’, stripped of any sexuality, desire, or agency."
Watch on it Netflix
Bollywood actress Anamika Anand, played by Madhuri Dixit, vanishes after an awards ceremony in the series, The Fame Game. While portraying a star on-screen, she has in reality captivated the hearts of many people who have been fluttering for the Dhak Dhak girl, and her dancing has enthralled the audience. Dixit is one of the most sought-after actresses, and she is rightfully not listening to anyone who tells her how to act or how to play particular roles.
Watch on it Netflix
(To?read more such stories related to movies and shows released on OTTs, keep reading?Indiatimes BINGE)