India, May 28 -- For decades, women-led films have played a crucial role in shaping the artistic and cultural identity of Bollywood. From socially driven classics like Mother India (1957) and Sujata (1959) to modern character studies like Astitva (2000) and Queen (2014), these films have provided space for nuanced storytelling, emotional depth and perspectives that are often overlooked in male-centric cinema.

Films like Mardaani (2014) and Jigra (2024) have also challenged traditional gender roles, proving that audiences are willing to engage with stories centred on women subverting the patriarchy. Of course, credit must also go to actresses like Tabu, Vidya Balan, Kangana Ranaut and Alia Bhatt for this cultural shift, as they have demon...