This decade in the Indian Cinema has observed a major revolution in terms of female-oriented movies taking over and being loved by viewers. Some of these movies do not even need a hero, as our fierce heroines are more than capable of lifting a movie on their 'not-so-delicate' shoulders. With powerful feminine roles, from biopics to fiction stories, we got to watch our stunning heroines breaking stereotypes and venturing out of their comfort zone. Here's a look at 10 of our female actresses who played the only protagonist in a women-centric movie in the past one decade :
Raazi, Alia Bhatt (2018) : One of the best performances of her whole movie career, Alia Bhatt as such a complex character Sehmat portrayed every emotion possible, showcasing the dilemma of choosing between love, herself and her nation, taking Raazi to the peak it very well deserved.
English Vinglish, Sridevi (2012) : The journey of self-discovery of a woman who has lost herself in her roles as a mother and housewife is so intensely played out by the legendary Sridevi that you can't help but root for Shashi all the way. Her struggles in learning English gives Sridevi another chance to bring out the character even more.
Queen, Kangana Ranaut (2013) : Queen is another journey of rediscovery but this time by a woman who has been left by her fiance right before the wedding day. Kangana Ranaut as Rani, makes us believe in courage and takes us through a surprising yet sweet roller coaster ride in this critically acclaimed movie.
Kahaani, Vidya Balan (2012) : Rightfully bagging a Filmfare for Kahaani, Vidya Balan broke the stereotypes by leading a crime-thriller alone on her shoulders. Vidya was highly praised as a pregnant woman searching for her missing husband, meeting plot twists at every point, making the film a commercial success as well.
Neerja, Sonam Kapoor (2016) : In this biopic of inspiring and brave flight attendant, Neerja Bhanot, Sonam takes her acting abilities to another level, proving herself to be more than a fashion Diva. Winning her the Filmfare, Neerja is unarguably the best role ever played by the actress.
Mardaani, Rani Mukerji (2014) : As Senior Inspector Shivani Shivaji Roy, Rani Mukerji brought one of the most powerful female police officers ever on screen. Her character's undeterred conviction and courage dealing with real-life crime issues, stole the show, paving way for a sequel as well.
Mary Kom, Priyanka Chopra (2014) : Based on India's legendary boxer Mary Kom's struggle and rise, the movie features Priyanka Chopra as the boxer in a stellar performance. Also, marking Chopra's playback singing debut, her acting performance won the critics over, apart from garnering commercial success.
NH10, Anushka Sharma (2015) : Apart from playing the female lead in this crime-thriller, Anushka Sharma also made her production debut with NH10. Providing a rare female perspective to such a stereotypical relentless action based experience, Anushka's performance elevated the movie to newer heights.
Margarita With a Straw, Kalki Koechlin (2014) : Already a very unique film dealing with issues of sexuality, inclusion and self-love, Kalki Koechlin as the lead Indian girl dealing with cerebral palsy, steals the show. A defining achievement for Indian cinema, Kalki did an amazing job of portraying the struggles and emotion of the main lead.
Nil Battey Sannata, Swara Bhaskar (2015) : Exploring the theme of dreams and aspirations, the movie features Swara Bhaskar as Chanda Sahay, a single mother trying to motivate her daughter to study and change their lives. In a delicate performance, Bhaskar grabs the nuances of the intricately written character perfectly.
