5 Bollywood Actresses Who Are Making Their Own Rules

Bollywood evidently faces the dominance of male actors. The Khans and the Kapoors rule the industry without a doubt. However, amidst the known discrimination among the actors, we list before you five female actors that have left an indelible mark on the minds and hearts of the audiences. They have emerged out to be victorious in making the presence of female actors more visible to the Indian Cinema, which still lays more emphasis on the demands of the male actors, and give them undue attention.

Vidya Balan:

When it comes to the list of awards that she has received, the count will take time. Having won a National Film Award, five Filmfare Awards and five Screen Awards, she also happens to be a recipient of the Padma Shri. She is among the new generation of actresses who were more inclined towards the unconventional  roles. She is known to be more of a Hero in the movies rather than playing the dainty, pretty looking damsel in distress.  Her role played in the thriller “Kahani” in 2012 , the semi-biopic of Silk Smita in “The Dirty Picture” and the role of Jessica Lal’s sister in “No one killed Jessica”,  helped her to establish her image as a mainstream Bollywood heroine.

Kangana Ranaut :

Known to have a very shrill and quirky voice, no one could imagine her climbing the ladder of success in such fashion. She holds two National Awards to her credit and is considered to be one of the most unconventional leading heroines of the Indian Film Industry. What makes her stand out is the respect attained by her  in this  ruthless Film industry. Where struggle is part of the game, she has seen the worst of situations. From spending unforgettable days having just bread with pickle for her meals to being rejected for her voice quality, she has seen it all.

It’s incredible how she built her own empire from absolutely nothing at all in her pocket. She had zero resources and without any sort of financial aid from her father, she created a stand for herself. Eventually, when he did offer, this young lady chose to survive on her own rather than taking a favour from her own family.

Today, the audience knows her for her roles in movies like Tanu weds Manu, and Queen, which was based on the life of Rani and her path to self discovery after she got dumped by her fiance. She is known to be blunt and honest, as she later confessed to how people used to treat her as a side kick solely  because she was not fluent in English. She not only managed to be a fluent English speaker which is evident through her interviews,  but also is one of the most stylish icons in the country. Brand ambassador of the Marquee collection by Vero Moda, Kangana has nothing to prove to anyone.

Sushmita Sen :

She is an inspiration to all the dusky beauties of India, who lack sufficient inspiration to be a part of Bollywood. She has set a mark by becoming the first Indian woman to win the Miss Universe Crown.  She never believed in the ‘fair and lovely’ notion, and has always encouraged acceptance for other skin complexions.

She adopted a baby girl named Renee in the year 2000. Being a single woman aged 25 years at that time, she had set an example for the judgmental society. She wanted to be a mother but she had her ways.  In 2010, she adopted a three month old girl, and named her Alisah. In a country like India, where female foeticide is a common social crime, she decided to adopt two girls and set an example for parents who openly support the killing of the girl child.

Deepika Padukone:

When it comes to acting, she is definitely the reining queen. Her roles in movies like “Cocktail”, “Ram leela”, “Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani” and the recent “BajiRao Mastani” have made a permanent mark in Bollywood. Apart from her movies, she has been acclaimed for her support towards certain social issues which are not talked about but need to be out there. Also,  her powerful talk on depression was incredibly inspiring for women who shy away from talking about it. She explained how important is it to talk about depression and not be scared to admit it. Just like herself, she motivated people to fight depression with utmost courage.

She is among the few actresses who used the power of media in the most effective manner by spreading the right message to the audience when she was ready to share. By sharing her own personal experience of battling  depression, her message became even more impactful and went on to leave a permanent mark in the minds of the audience.

She has even gone forward by even launching an initiative to help people with their mental health.  Also, her take on feminism is just and appropriate, as she described it once.

 New Feminism isn’t about being aggressive; it’s about reaching the top yet being soft. It’s about being you- feminine, strong and full of power.”

Sonakshi Sinha:

Criticised initially for her hefty look and her influenced entry in the film industry, she has proved to be “aslisona” for all the good reasons. Her  distinctive roles in movies like Dabang and Lootera gave the audience a strong reason to adore her. Her self confidence is like a mirror and her effortless acting skills and the ardent firmness makes her the perfect Bollywood material.  She is not an ardent believer of rigorous dieting just to attain the perfect body. She has been successful in spreading the message of self acceptance and being self confident by propagating the idea that one need not be skinny to be beautiful and appreciated by the public. Having taught a different definition of beauty to her audience, she has helped in evolving a broader mindset among the current generation.