8 iconic female characters from Bollywood movies: From Deepika Padukone in ‘Piku’ to Alia Bhatt in ‘Gully Boy’

It’s always fun to see well-written, well-etched female characters in movies. They’re very rare, but if done right, they’re always fun to watch. These characters are funny, edgy, evil, and also loving. Here is a list of 8 iconic female characters that have appeared in Bollywood films over the years. The list includes names like Deepika Padukone from the 2015 film Piku and Ali Bhatt from Gully Boy. So sit back, grab some popcorn, and enjoy these movies.

Check out 20 strong female characters in Bollywood movies

1. Deepika Padukone from Piku

Execution time: 122 minutes

IMDB rating: 7.6/10

Movie genre: drama medi

Movie star cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Irrfan Khan

director: Shoojit Sircar

Writer: juhi chaturvedi

Release year: 2015

Where to watch / OTT platforms: Sony LIV

Deepika Padukone plays the role of the titular Piku Banerjee, an architect. She is a driven and caring person who lives with her 70-year-old hypochondriac father Bashkoor (played by Amitabh Bachchan). Her love for her father remains a major highlight of this touching film. Directed by Shoojit Sircar, this movie is not to be missed.

2. Sridevi in ​​English Vinglish

Execution time: 134 minutes

IMDB rating: 7.8/10

Movie genre: comedy, drama

Movie star cast: Sridevi, Adil Hussain

director: Gauri Shinde

Writer: Gauri Shinde

Release year: year 2012

Where to watch / OTT platforms: geocinema

Sridevi returned to acting after many years with English Vinglish. In it, she plays the role of Shashi Godbole, a housewife who is teased by her family for not speaking English. Then she took matters into her own hands and attended her English class. Sridevi plays the kind but determined Shashi, who is a joy to watch. This movie is filled with strong performances, a great script, and a social message.

3. Vidya Balan in Kahaani

Execution time: 122 minutes

IMDB rating: 8.1/10

Movie genre: thriller

Movie star cast: Vidya Balan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui

director: Sujoy Ghosh

Writer: Sujoy Ghosh, Advaita Kala

Release year: year 2012

Where to watch / OTT platforms: amazon prime

Kahaani remains one of Vidya Balan’s best performances. She plays the role of Vidya Bagki, a pregnant woman who is searching for her missing husband. But she’s more than meets the eye. As the story progresses, we get to witness the layers of the characters. Kahanni is a tight thriller backed by Vidya’s strong performance.

4. Alia Bhatt (Gully Boy)

Execution time: 153 minutes

IMDB Rating: 7.9/10

Movie genre: musical, drama

Movie star cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt

director: Zoya Akhtar

Writer: Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti

Release year: 2019

Where to watch / OTT platforms: amazon prime

Alia Bhatt plays the role of Safeena in Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boy. She is so possessive of her boyfriend that she ends up physically hurting someone because of it. However, her personality is kind and caring from within. Arya brings another dimension to a role that could easily have become a caricature. If you haven’t seen this great movie yet, please do.

5. Sulekha Sikri of Badhaai Ho

Execution time: 123 minutes

IMDB rating: 7.9/10

Movie genre: comedy, drama

Movie star cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Sanya Malhotra, Surekha Sikri, Neena Gupta, Gajraj Rao

director: Amit Sharma

Writer: Akshat Girdial, Shantanu Srivastava

Release year: 2018

Where to watch / OTT platforms: disney plus hotstar

It’s very rare to see an older female character in a well-written Bollywood movie. Badhaai Ho’s Sulekha Sikri is one such example. Her personality is witty yet kind, foul-mouthed but full of wisdom. In Ayushmann’s Khurrana movie, Sikri stands out as the central character in her entire story and she makes sure to share her two cents regarding her daughter-in-law’s pregnancy.