2016 Arched Bolder Onscreen Roles For Leading Ladies

Swara Bhaskar, Nil Battey Sannata

Directed by Ashwini Iyer Tiwari, the film depicted Swara Bhaskar in the shoes of a high-school dropout maid and single mother of a sullen young girl, Apeksha. The film goes beyond borders and proves that there’s no barrier to dreaming, not even one’s social status. Considering the fact that her role dealt with the stereotypes set for adult education, this one marks an important milestone in women empowerment.

Fatima and Saniya, Dangal

Popularly known as Dangal sisters, the two proved that there’s nothing women can’t do. While the film is centered around Mahavir Phogat’s relentless struggle to make his daughters the best wrestlers in the country, the daughters’ characters create hope for women being treated at par with men, even in rural areas. The film also questions the deep-rooted thinking of Indians to have a son as an heir and takes a significant step in changing the stereotypical notions set against women.