8 Female Characters From Bollywood Who Were So Relatable They Made Us Go ‘Same, Sis’

Written by Saumya Gaur  • 

More often than not, Bollywood has failed to give us substantial female role models. Perhaps, role models are too big an ask, but we haven’t even been given characters which resemble everyday women that we see around us. But the rise in content-driven movies has, in a way, introduced us to female characters who are familiar to us in their own unique ways.

We might have to put up with Sheela ki jawaani every now and then, but these relatable female characters are the real driving force behind Bollywood’s changing face. Are you excited to know which characters we are talking about? Here are those lovely, reel-life characters who had us cheering for them from the edge of our seats:

1. Safeena (Played By Alia Bhatt In Gully Boy)

Image: Instagram @aliabhattfans4eva

Safeena is unapologetically herself. She is headstrong, ambitious, and loyal. You can’t call her a rebel without a cause. She fights for what is rightfully hers. She is constantly fighting battles whether it’s inside the house or outside of it. The slice of life depiction of this character closely mirrors the everyday struggles of millions of girls in our country who might have been given resources and education, but are still denied the right to make decisions for themselves.

2. Rani (Played by Kangana Ranaut In Queen)

Image: Instagram @theofficialb4u

It was a delight to watch Kangana play the part of naïve Rani with such aplomb. The shy, demure Rani, who after being left at the altar decided to go on a honeymoon all by herself to nurse her broken heart. Her entire journey is such a great portrayal of self-discovery. It makes you root for her. And who can forget that mugging scene, right? It’s no coincidence that Kangana established herself as a stellar actress with this performance.

3. Sunita (Played By Ratna Pathak Shah In Kapoor & Sons)

Ratna’s portrayal of a mother marked a stark contrast to the great mothers of Bollywood. She excellently portrayed the nuances of a flawed mother who loves her sons, but has trouble accepting their life choices. Her strained relation with her husband, and her struggle to keep the house afloat – all of it gave us a very relatable character.

4. Piku (Played by Deepika Padukone in Piku)

Image: Instagram

Deepika Padukone’s Piku gave us an everyday model of femininity which was much more relatable than the hyper-feminine version that’s usually doled out by Bollywood. A single woman by choice, she is unflinchingly loyal to her father, and yet she gets stumped by his eccentric behavior every now and then. It’s a relationship every grownup has with their parents. Oh, and we also loved the way her no-strings-attached relationship with her partner was depicted without any guilt and shame!

5. Bitti (Played By Kriti Sanon In Bareilly Ki Barfi)

Image: Instagram @ddnational

Living in a small town, Bitti is shown to be content with her life. The only wish she has for her prospective life partner is to accept her the way she is. But the hiccup is that her interests and hobbies are not particularly feminine. Nonetheless, breakdancing Bitti won our hearts with her flamboyant and earnest self!

6. Ayesha (Played By Priyanka Chopra In Dil Dhadakne Do)

Image: Twitter

Ayesha’s disinterest in conforming to strict gender roles is something most women in our country identify with. Instead of giving in to the expectation of becoming a trophy wife and a homemaker par excellence, Ayesha fights to be a businesswoman. She wants to live her life the way she wants to and not just conform to society’s norms. The moment she realizes that her marriage is over, she decides to walk out of it, much to the dismay of parents. But she takes that decision for herself, and for that, we applaud her!

7. Megha (Played By Kiara Advani In Lust Stories)

Image: Instagram @team___e

Megha’s disappointment in the act of lovemaking and her eventual search for fulfillment was something that a lot of women are familiar with, but don’t really admit to, out in the open. Her refusal to buy the myth that women’s only desire is to have kids, encouraged women to open up about their sexuality. She made it clear that women too have bodily desires, and they too need fulfillment. Her revolutionary stance truly won us over.

8. Sulu (Played By Vidya Balan In Tumhari Sulu)

Image: Instagram @tumharisuluofficial

Sulu’s confidence and her can-do attitude was a fresh take on the life of a homemaker. Generally, relegated to the background, Vidya Balan, brought the frustrations and aspirations of a homemaker to the fore. Her “can-do” spirit reminded us of the power and potential of thousands of homemakers and mothers, whose contributions often go unnoticed.

These were a few female characters which made us sit up in our seats and notice them. We cried with them, we laughed with them. We believed in their struggles. They say art imitates real life, and in the case of these female characters, it was true.
Which female character of Bollywood did you identify with and why? Share your opinions with us in the comments section.

Was this article helpful?
thumbsupthumbsdown
The following two tabs change content below.

    Latest Articles