Bollywood – the land of larger-than-life stories, dance numbers, and eternal drama. But lately, something feels off. We’ve had our share of bold, powerful female characters who weren’t defined by their love interests or looks but by their strength, flaws, and complexities. Films like Piku and NH10 showed us what female-led stories could look like – rich, multi-layered, and unapologetically human. Yet, as we continue into 2025, it feels like Bollywood’s female characters are losing their edge. The women we once celebrated seem to have disappeared, replaced by tropes that don’t quite hit the mark.

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Piku, NH10, and the bold women we miss

Remember the time when Piku graced our screens? Deepika Padukone wasn’t just playing a woman, she was playing life. Her character was multi-dimensional, juggling the roles of a daughter, a professional, and an emotional anchor, without being reduced to a mere love interest. And let’s not forget NH10, where Anushka Sharma turned the whole ‘damsel in distress’ trope on its head and gave us a woman who fought back with grit, determination, and a fierce will to survive. These characters were bold and real – everything the female audience had wanted out of Bollywood.

Shashi Godbole in English Vinglish was a middle-class housewife underestimated by her family due to her inability to speak English fluently, Shashi’s strength lay in her quiet determination to reclaim her dignity and self-worth. Her journey wasn’t loud or flashy; it was tender, realistic, and universally relatable, making her one of the most endearing and inspiring female leads Bollywood has ever seen.

Yet, in 2025, strong female characters like these are starting to feel like rare gems. Instead of moving ahead, we are going back in time. Why?

The supporting characters syndrome: Where are the leading ladies?

Fast forward to today, and we’re back in the same old narrative spiral. Look at the big-budget films of the past years, and you’ll notice the trend: Women, more often than not, are taking a backseat. These characters are one-dimensional – designed to cheer for the hero, but hardly ever given the room to breathe on their own. Think War, Brahmāstra, Pathaan, and Animal – these films were massive successes, but let’s face it, the women weren’t the driving force behind the story. They were just there for the male characters to have an arc.

In War, we had Vaani Kapoor, who looked stunning but did her character really impact the plot? Not so much. Similarly, in Brahmāstra, Alia Bhatt’s Isha felt more like a tag-along in the larger-than-life world of the film. Deepika Padukone was in a high-octane action role in Pathaan. But did she have the space to shine as brightly as Shah Rukh Khan?

What happened to those female characters who were allowed to have flaws, dreams, struggles, and triumphs? Why is the portrayal of women’s strength and complexity now confined to supporting roles while the hero’s character arc takes centre stage?

Is it the audience? Maybe. But, let’s be honest, the real culprit is the industry itself. Bollywood often sees women as symbols of beauty, charm, and allure – the sidekicks in someone else’s story. The box office still tends to lean towards these tried-and-tested formulae, where the “heroine” is often eye candy, emotional support, or comic relief. In the process, films have forgotten that strong female characters can just be. And that is what makes them relatable, empowering, and unforgettable.

Why do we need to change this narrative?

Because we’re bored. Yes, we’re tired of the same old ‘damsel’ tropes. We’re tired of the woman who doesn’t know what she wants until a man tells her. And we’re tired of seeing the same “love” story that often ends with the woman abandoning her dreams to follow the man.

We’re craving the days of Tumhari Sulu and Queen. We want strong women who drive the story. We want complex, multi-layered, flawed characters who remind us of ourselves and our struggles.

The narrative needs to change and, more importantly, evolve. Strong female characters are not just good for the plot; they are essential. They represent half of the population, yet the stories we’re told about them are still stifling. Let’s make women as central to the plot as the men. Let’s have them be the heroes, the villains, the dreamers, the fighters – and let them have their arcs too.

So, Bollywood, when are we going to stop recycling the past and move forward? The audience is ready for it. We just need you to believe in it too.

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