Hyderabad, May 29 -- Today, women directors are making blockbuster films and winning international awards. Names like Zoya Akhtar, Meghna Gulzar, Farah Khan, and Gauri Shinde are celebrated across the country. But very few people know that the path for these filmmakers was opened nearly 100 years ago by one extraordinary woman, Fatma Begum.

Meet Fatma Begum, India's First Female Film Director

At a time when Indian cinema was still in its infancy and women were rarely allowed to act in films, Fatma Begum dared to dream bigger. She was not just an actress. She became a writer, producer, studio owner, and India's first female film director.

Born in 1892, Fatma Begum entered the film industry when it was almost entirely controlled by men. ...