Agree with it or not, but the Bollywood industry is still working on some deep-rooted stereotypes of society, especially when it comes to women. The timeline of a female character of most of the Bollywood movies goes from being a sanskari bahu to being a selfless mother. But with the modern storylines taking over the industry, stereotypes have become the thing of gone days. We have witnessed a number of female characters wh are not just thrashing the stereotypes off-screen but are also not letting go of a chance to make their on-screen roles come on the front foot. Here we bring you a list of the top 10 actresses who broke the stereotypes for older female actors in Bollywood:
1. Neena Gupta (Badhai Ho): The industry is yet to see an actress bolder than Neena Gupta. From raising a daughter to asking for an equal paycheck, the actress did many right deeds. The same she did in Badhai Ho, in which she played the role of a woman in her 50s who wants to keep her baby without thinking about society.
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2. Supriya Pathak (Ram Leela): In the movie, Supriya not just stepped out of her comfort zone but also tried something most of the buffs wouldn’t have ever thought of. In the movie, she played the role of a leader of a group that took over the male-driven society.
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3. Sridevi (English Vinglish): English Vinglish marks the comeback of Sridevi after a long break. And what a comeback it was. She showed up as a woman who inspired many women to step out and do what they like the most instead of just thinking about their families. Her art of learning and unlearning inspired many.
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4. Ratna Pathak (Lipstick Under My Burkha): It is believed that the sexual desires of a woman die once she steps into her 60s but Ratna Pathak’s role in Lipstick under my burkha is about a woman who is free-spirited, as she wants adventure and newness in life.
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5. Tanvi Azmi (Tribhanga): While the movie revolves around three generations of women who have a blood relationship, Tanvi Azmi plays the role of a feisty, non-conformist writer who learns to embrace herself towards the end of the movie. Though women are expected to be good mothers who leave their careers and ambitions for their kids, Tanvi's character challenged this idea.
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6. Dimple Kapadia (Tandav): Over the years, Dimple has played some of the most versatile roles but her role in Tandav was truly commendable. In the series, she played the role of an ambitious politician who takes on the ruthless way to win over power.
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7. Meryl Streep (Don't Look Up): Meryl Streep has been breaking the norm since her role as a tough boss in The Devil Wears Prada, and she did it again in the film Don't Look Up. The actor portrays the role of a deliciously evil and psychopathic President of the United States, which she does brilliantly, breaking away from the norm of a male antagonist in a sci-fi movie.
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8. Nargis (Mother India): It is hard to believe that the role of Nargis belongs to the time when the only portrayal of a mother Bollywood saw was of a helpless and Balidaani Maa. But in Mother India Nargis played the role of a mother who killed her own son when he chose to take on the wrong path.
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9. Shaban Azmi (Sheer Qorma): Shabana Azmi in the film Sheer Qorma, on LGBTQ+ families plays the role of the matriarch of a family who struggles to accept her non-binary child, their wife and the relationship. Beautifully tackling the relationships that are not heteronormative, the actor had a strong presence in the family dynamics of the family.
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10. Neena Gupta (Khujli): The short film Khujli talks about the sexual desires and passion of a woman at an older age. Neena Gupta plays the role of a middle-class housewife, working to spice up her sex life, with utmost grace. Because sexual desires, and the wish to experiment, are not things determined by age.
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