The fact that there needs to be a separate mention of female-centric films that created a buzz at the box office amidst the slew of male-led movies catering to the male gaze is a shame. It’s an even bigger failing that very few movies from a film industry that produces roughly 2,000 films in a year, are led by women. In spite of the discouraging statistics, over the years, several films have proved that the payoff of strong female leads can be huge. And it’s a lesson worth revisiting on Women’s Day.
Here are some great female-led Bollywood movies that took over the box office.
The Dirty Picture (2011)
Vidya Balan’s performance as Silk Smitha in The Dirty Picture will perhaps go down in history as one of her finest roles. The film brought to the big screens a nuanced story about the late star’s personal and professional life. The film’s intriguing subject and Balan’s acting chops got the film 117 crores gross worldwide in box office earnings.
English Vinglish (2012)
Tell us about a more wholesome film about a woman coming into her own on a trip overseas than English Vinglish, we’ll wait. In the film, the late Sridevi’s Shashi plays a homemaker-turned-entrepreneur who decides to learn English. As she embarks on a journey across New York City, she rediscovers herself. Between the strong message and Shashi’s passionate speech, the film is all about empowerment and it resonated with enough viewers to make it a box office hit. It was earned around 66 crores worldwide. It was also a good reminder of Sridevi’s sheer star power. She was known for pulling massive crowds into theatres after all.
Kahaani (2012)
Few films have been as gripping as Kahaani. Starring Vidya Balan, the film told the story of Vidya Bagchi, a heavily pregnant woman who goes looking for her missing husband in Kolkata. Set against the backdrop of Durga Puja festivities, the film unleashed an engaging mystery helmed capably by Balan’s convincing act. The film was a huge hit and earned 80 crores worldwide. While the film released all the way back in 2012, it’s still cited as a great example of box office success.
Queen (2014)
Queen starring Kangana Ranaut is perhaps one of the best films about female joy, friendship and liberation. It sees Rani, a simple Indian woman, who decides to go on a honeymoon solo after her fiance calls off their wedding. As she travels through Europe, she finds her own happiness and some reliable friends. The wholesome story is not only a comfort watch but an endlessly rewatchable film. It also sparked endless meme templates which says something about its universal appeal while being female-centric. The film reportedly raked in an estimated 97 crores in box office earnings.
Mary Kom (2014)
Priyanka Chopra’s Mary Kom packed a punch at the box office. The sports biopic saw PeeCee play the renowned boxing champion. The film isn’t just a rousing watch but a stellar show of Priyanka’s acting chops. On its opening day, the flick earned nearly 30 crores at domestic box offices. The total went up to 91 crores worldwide. And this was in spite of the film’s low production budget.
Tanu Weds Manu Returns (2015)
What makes Tanu Weds Manu Returns a triumph is not just the fact that it was a female-led movie that garnered significant box office buzz but also a sequel. In spite of the risk factor attached to sequels, the film starring Kangana Ranaut and R Madhavan performed well. It’s said to have grossed Rs 255 crores worldwide.
Neerja (2016)
Neerja isn’t just a great Sonam Kapoor performance but also a great couple of weeks at the box office with an estimated earning of 135 crores. The film told the story of the titular Neerja Bhanot, an air hostess who lost her life while saving three kids on a hijacked flight. As it chronicles the harrowing events of the tragedy, the film promised a gripping watch and delivered. Sonam was a revelation as Neerja Bhanot and gave a standout performance that remains an unforgettable part of her filmography. It came as fresh proof that honouring an exceptional woman in an exceptional film headlined by a woman makes for a good time at the movies.
Raazi (2018)
2018 was a good year for Bollywood and Raazi was one of the reasons why. The film was a part of a hot streak for the industry as it joined a slew of female-led films including Padmaavat, Hitchki and Veere Di Wedding that did well at the box office. Directed by Meghna Gulzar, the film starring Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal, Soni Razdan and others revolved around a true story of a young Kashmiri girl who served as an undercover agent in Pakistan. The spy drama earned critical acclaim and had audiences’ attention. It earned an estimated 197 crore at the box office.
Stree (2018)
Stree starring Shraddha Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao, Abhishek Banerjee and others is one of the best horror comedies to come out of Bollywood. Its subtle feminist commentary and comedic elements make it a rare gem that was lauded by both critics and audiences. The film also sparked a horror-comedy universe and the next instalments including Bhediya owe it to Stree which earned an estimated 180 crores.
Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022)
Gangubai Kathiawadi did what nobody thought was possible. It brought back audiences to the theatre post-pandemic. Starring Alia Bhatt, the Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial follows a young girl from Kathiawad who was forced into prostitution at a young age and eventually becomes a brothel madam and a political figure. Bhatt brought her A-game to the period film and it’s impossible to look away from her when she’s in the frame. The film not only garnered a huge audience but also brought box offices back from a long slump. It was one of the rare cases of a female-led film making a splash this big. And by big, we mean 210 crores in box office numbers.