Pushing Boundaries: Actresses in Hindi Cinema

Bollywood divas are taking bold steps.

- Nikita Madan

Bollywood, the largest film industry in the world, is known for its glitz and glamour, and its stars often serve as role models for millions of fans across the globe. However, behind the dazzling facade, there exists a darker reality of body shaming and unrealistic beauty standards that impact women who want to portray on sreen.

The pressure to conform to societal norms of physical appearance can take a toll on their mental and physical health, leading to self-esteem issues and even eating disorders.

In recent years, there has been a growing movement towards promoting body positivity and self-acceptance, challenging these beauty standards and pushing for greater representation and diversity in the industry.

This article delves into the intersectionality of gender with other identities such as race, ethnicity, and class, and explores the impact of societal pressure and traditional gender roles on women in Bollywood.

It also highlights the efforts being made to address these issues and the importance of promoting body positivity and self-acceptance, particularly for actresses.

Expected Modesty

This industry has always been known for its conservative outlook towards actresses, with strict expectations on how they should behave and present themselves on and off screen.

Actresses like Sharmila Tagore, Asha Parekh and Zeenat Aman were among the first to challenge these norms in the industry. They portrayed bold and unconventional roles on screen, often challenging the patriarchal status quo prevalent at the time.

Despite their contributions, these actresses faced backlash and criticism for their choices.

For example, Sharmila's bikini-clad appearance in An Evening in Paris caused a stir among the audience and was deemed unacceptable by some. Similarly, Zeenat Aman was criticised for her portrayal of a sex worker in Manoranjan.