This year several films centred around female protagonists are expected to hit the marquee
Female-centric movies are not new in Bollywood, but 2019 will see at least a dozen films revolving around women characters making it to the theatres. From Kangana Ranaut’s fierce warrior queen avatar in Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi that is releasing this Republic Day to newbie Janhvi Kapoor’s turn as the first female Indian Air Force pilot, Gunjan Saxena, there are around seven women biopics coming up in the next 12 months. That’s not all, a cop drama and a satire led by female protagonists are also being readied for this year. A peek into the line-up:
1. DEEPIKA PADUKONE: CHHAPAAK
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After her impressive turn as Rani Padmavati in the blockbuster film Padmaavat, Deepika Padukone has chosen to step into the shoes of Laxmi Agarwal, an acid attack survivor. She also turns producer with this Meghna Gulzar directorial. Laxmi was 15 when she suffered an acid attack by a 32-year-old man whose advances she had spurned. Later, she advocated a movement against acid attacks and is now the director of an NGO dedicated to helping the survivors. A story of trauma and triumph, Deepika will start shooting for it after she’s back from her honeymoon.
2. KANGANA RANAUT: MANIKARNIKA: QUEEN OF JHANSI
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Kangana Ranaut takes on the mantle of Rani Laxmibai in this period drama that is based around the 1857 Indian Mutiny against the British. The trailer has already created a buzz with the actress looking royal and fierce in the lavishly-mounted battle scenes. Reportedly made at a budget of Rs 125 crore, it is the most expensive women-centric film to be made in Bollywood so far. Kangana also took over the directorial reins after the original helmer Krish left mid-way for his South film commitments. All eyes are on the movie and the Queen actress, who hasn’t had a release last year.
3. JANHVI KAPOOR: BIOPIC ON GUNJAN SAXENA
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One-film-old Janhvi Kapoor has been entrusted with the task of playing India’s first female Air Force Pilot, the dynamic Gunjan Saxena who helped evacuate soldiers during the Kargil war. She flew through an area where the Pakistani army was shooting at everything in sight. Janhvi will reportedly take basic flying lessons on how the Indian Air Force works and lives. The young actress has even spent time with Gunjan to understand her story.
4. SHRADDHA KAPOOR: SAINA NEHWAL BIOPIC
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The film on badminton champion Saina Nehwal was announced over a year ago, and the makers released the first look of the film last September. However, the shoot is yet to begin. In the meantime, Shraddha has been learning the sport and has reportedly taken 40 classes of badminton in preparation for this biopic. The latest buzz on it is that the budget for this Amol Gupte directorial film has been re-evaluated.
5. PRIYANKA CHOPRA JONAS, ZAIRA WASIM: THE SKY IS PINK
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The heart-touching story of motivational speaker Aisha Choudhary, who suffered from pulmonary fibrosis, it has Dangal girl Zaira Wasim playing the protagonist. Directed by Shonali Bose, it marks the return of Priyanka Chopra Jonas to Bollywood. She essays the role of Aisha’s mother, Aditi. It will be the desi girl’s first release after marriage to Nick Jonas.
6. RANI MUKERJI: MARDAANI 2
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Rani Mukerji will reprise her role as the tough, no-nonsense cop Shivani Shivaji Rao in the sequel of her hit crime drama Mardaani. While in the first part, she took on the case of child trafficking, in the second one, Shivani will face a cold, merciless villain who has no empathy, no fear of God and is pure evil.
7. TAAPSEE PANNU AND BHUMI PEDNEKAR: WOMANIYA
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Two actresses, who have been doing films with powerful women characters, are coming together for a biopic on India’s oldest professional shooters Chandro Tomar, 86, and her sister-in-law Prakashi Tomar, 81. Both, Taapsee Pannu and Bhumi Pednekar, will soon start prepping for their roles by learning the local dialect and also take lessons in shooting. The movie goes on floors next month in UP.
8. RICHA CHADHA: SHAKEELA: NOT A PORN STAR
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Richa Chadha is getting into the skin of South adult star Shakeela, who gained popularity after the demise of another sex siren Silk Smitha. The Fukrey actress even put on weight to look like the buxom star. Though Shakeela acted in several B-grade movies, prominently in Malayalam, they were dubbed and released in various languages. Later, she transitioned into a comic actress appearing in family-oriented movies. Comparisons are already being drawn between Richa’s Shakeela and Vidya Balan’s The Dirty Picture that was loosely based on Silk Smitha’s life.
9. VIDYA BALAN, SONAKSHI SINHA, TAAPSEE PANNU: MISSION MANGAL
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Based on the women engineers behind the successful launch of India’s Mars Orbiter mission, Mission Mangal is toplined by Vidya Balan, Sonakshi Sinha and Taapsee Pannu alongside Kirti Kulhari and South actress Nithya Menen. Akshay Kumar, who has lately been doing issue-based films, plays an important role in this ladies’ special.
10. KONKONA SENSHARMA, BHUMI PEDNEKAR: DOLLY KITTY AUR WOH CHAMAKTE SITARE
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When two talented actresses like Konkona Sensharma and Bhumi Pednekar come together, it has to be nothing short of a riot. Directed by Alankrita Shrivastava, the movie is about two women who rebel against stereotypes. The quirky poster of the two in bird cages with the doors open says it all.
11. KANGANA RANAUT, RICHA CHADHA: PANGA
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Kangana Ranaut and Richa Chadha come together for the first time to play kabaddi! Yes, the film directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwary is about female national-level kabaddi players, their family values and the trials they face. So, before they started shooting for the sports drama, the actresses were trained by national-level players like Gauri Wadekar and Tarak Raul to make their game look real.
