We are finally in a phase today where Bollywood films are being shouldered by female actresses alone. There are films being helmed by all-female crews and probably all of this shows that the industry is up to embrace diversity like never before. As we celebrate International Women’s day on March 8, today it’s time we acknowledge it. Even as the discussion about ‘why women need a special day’ still remains, there’s no denying that the role of women in society across sectors is evolving and may be celebrating that is not such a bad idea. Bollywood has come a long way indeed from having women merely as eye-candies to actually bagging meaningful roles.

One of the biggest changes we see today is that it is not a rare occasion to have female-led films anymore. Rewind a few years and you will find probably one women-centric film per year. Some of the popular films from the earlier eras including 1977 Smita Patil starrer Bhumika which portrayed female characters like never before. Later, a similar understanding of women was shown in Mahesh Bhatt’s Arth (1982) staring Shabana Azmi in the lead. To watch a woman whose director husband leaves her for another woman and her journey of self-discovery post that was quite a novel theme in the 80s. Shabana Azmi's male counterparts at that point were busy knocking down artificial walls to make grand entries when it was actually her who was breaking the glass ceiling in reality. Women’s Day 2019: Sara Ali Khan’s Simmba, Katrina Kaif’s Thugs of Hindostan – 10 Recent Bollywood Movies That Let Its Female Characters Down.

Sridevi in Lamhe.
Sridevi in Lamhe. (Photo Credits: Twitter)

The difference between then and now is that none of these films was marketed as ‘women-centric’ and yet managed to make the required impact. A major shift hough seems to be happening at a production level. While most big banners back in the day preferred to place safe bets with male superstars, the concept of female superstars had not kicked in. Until, the late actress Sridevi, opened up avenues for bringing in the audiences thanks to her strong screen presence and prominent roles in films such as Lamhe (1991) that drew audiences to theatres to watch a woman act not just run around the bushes.

Thus, reducing the fear of producers about placing their bets on a female actress. As of today, the fear of not making profits through a female-led film has been on the decrease thanks to the likes of Queen (2013). The process has been a gradual one but we are finally in a space today where women-centric films are across genres and varied budgets. Having films like Taapsee Pannu's Naam Shabana (2017) and Alia Bhatt's Raazi (2018)showed how filmmakers are now trying to push the envelope to have female-led films that are far from male gaze and don't stick to having the plot of the woman's character dependent on any male characters. Women are no more second fiddle. Happy Women’s Day 2019 Videos: These Empowering Ads by Indian Brands Are a Must See on March 8 (Watch TVC Videos)

Kangana Ranaut in Queen.
Kangana Ranaut in Queen. (Photo Credits: YouTube)

Though true evolution has also come with films such as Vidya Balan's Tumhari Sulu, Sridevi's English Vinglish and Deepika Padukone's Piku which are regular, slice-of-life films with relatable, authentic female representation. These films do no shout 'women-centric cinema' but the lead characters are enough to give you an insight into their lives as a regular human being. A Lipstick Under My Burkha, on the other hand, is the kind of film that wants to make a statement. It is a women-centric drama with a purpose to reflect on what women deal with in society even today. There's also a Pink which lays down the harsh realities with a gut-wrenching dialogue to make the desired impact.

Bollywood is now realizing the potential of women-centric cinema not just as a societal tool but also the realisation that they no more need to rely on male superstars to get a film rolling. Keep them coming Bollywood, we are happy to watch women take the lead for a change!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 08, 2019 08:54 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).