Best Of 2021: 12 Shows, Movies Led By Female Actors That Prove They Are Rock-Solid Show Runners

It took the Indian entertainment industry a few decades to realise that women can be the 'hero' of their story without needing an A-list Actor or a Khan. For years, producers wanted to put their money where they were sure of returns. However, it's 2021, and the world around us has changed.

The term 'hero' needs to be a gender-fluid term because be it pulling off stunts on their own or headlining a brave story, and female actors are taking over their male counterparts and proving their worth.

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Just like the last few years when we saw a surge in more female-centric shows and movies, 2021 too was a year of intriguing stories, fresh plots and gripping content.

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Here are 12 shows and films that grabbed eyeballs for their strong-headed protagonists that were majorly played by women, who took over our screens to tell some of the most relevant, essential and hard-hitting stories.

How many have you seen?

1. Sherni (Vidya Balan)

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There is hardly any film where Vidya Balan has disappointed us. Ever since she starred in films like Kahaani and The Dirty Picture, she has proved that women can be the actual hero of a web series or movie. After royally redefining the idea of a hero, Balan managed to make another role impactful. In the film, she fights misogyny and patriarchy to prove that women can ace every part and make it memorable.

2. Mimi (Kriti Sanon and Sai Tamhankar)

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Kriti Sanon is more than a pretty face, and we have enough proof. With Mimi, she established herself as a credible actor. She proved herself by delivering a notable performance. Also, Sai Tamhankar deserves a special mention. After giving power-packed performances before, Sai, who plays Kriti¡¯s friend in Mimi, got into the skin of her character and proved her worth.

3. Pagglait (Sanya Malhotra)

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Dangal girl Sanya picks her project smartly. She led one of the most influential films of the year and asked some relevant and hard-hitting questions. Be it Pagglait or Meenakshi Sundareshwar, Sanya played 'everyday' women and won the audience¡¯s hearts.

4. Haseen Dilruba (Taapsee Panu)

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Taapsee Pannu has never depended on a Khan or an A-lister ¡®star¡¯ to make her film a hit. In an interview with ANI, Taapsee explained her role in the movie as, "It's not just a beautifully written mystery, it has such wonderful characters involved which is like candy in an actor's hands. I am glad I got to experiment with my look with this one. I am not the go-to person for this kind of character conventionally, and we all love to take risks here."

5. Geeli Pucchi- Ajeeb Daastaans (Konkona Sen Sharma and Aditi Rao Hydari)

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Aditi Rao Hydari proved that her true potential needed a story like ¡®Geeli Puchchi to be tapped. All her previous works included her, but none could do justice to the kind of magic she was always capable of spilling. On the other hand, Konkona proved to pull off any multi-dimensional character with utmost ease and finesse. As an actor, Konkona has always surprised the audience with her acting skills. Still, with a complex character like Bharti Mandal, who is seen battling her reality v/s expectations of society, she delivered one of the best performances of 2021.

6. Thalaivii (Kangana Ranaut)

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In the movie, at no point do you feel this. It¡¯s not Jayalalithaa herself. Be it her costume or her body language, Ranaut once again managed to floor the audience.

7. Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi (Supriya Pathak)

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Award-winning actress Supriya Pathak delivered a rock-solid performance in RPKT. Veteran Actress Seema Pahwa directed the film, and the film had several scenes where the audience couldn¡¯t take their eyes off Pathak.

8. Rashmi Rocket (Taapsee Pannu)

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Bollywood¡¯s most dependable leading lady Taapsee has proved to lift the heavyweight of her own film¡¯s hero. She has been a risk-taker all through her career, and Rashmi Rocket was no different. Despite the film receiving a lukewarm response, fans gave an enormous thumbs up to Pannu¡¯s performance.

9. Bombay Begums (Pooja Bhatt, Amruta Subhash, Shahana Goswami)

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One of the reasons why Netflix¡¯s original series Bombayh Begums could rise to popularity is its strong protagonists played by fine actors like Bhatt, Amruta Subhash and Shahana Goswami. The show was like a breath of fresh air amidst shows that male actors mainly led.

10. Maharani (Huma Qureshi)

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Did you know Huma Qureshi's web series, Maharani, is one of the highest-rated Hindi shows from 2021? Qureshi's performance was one of the reasons why the show gained popularity and received applauds from the audience. Despite a weak plot, Huma¡¯s dedication towards the role, including her accent, got noticed by the audience.

11. The Married Woman (Ridhi Dogra and Monica Dogra)

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This has to be one of the most underrated shows of 2021. Led by Rishi Dogra and Monic Dogra, the show was a romantic drama based on Manju Kapur¡¯s book of the same name. It is an important show because it dealt with bisexuality with the courage and realism it deserved. What happens when a woman falls in love outside of an unhappy marriage? The married woman gives you a never-seen-before perspective on conflicts of a woman and how society constantly tries to have unrealistic expectations from them.

12. November Story

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Starring Tamannaah in a substantial and pivotal role, this Tamil crime thriller revolved around the real challenges faced by a person who has Alzheimer¡¯s. The engaging storyline and Tamannaah¡¯s praiseworthy performance are just two out of many reasons to watch the series.

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