Discover the top 10 best Bollywood movies for women featuring inspiring stories, strong female characters, romance, and drama. Perfect picks for every mood and age.
Bollywood spent decades making women just decorations in male-hero films. But things have changed big time in recent years. Now we’ve got given films where ladies kick butt and tell their tales. Whether it is Women’s Day or just Tuesday, these films hit nicely every time.
How Bollywood Changed for Women
The late 2000s added a huge shift in Indian cinema. Suddenly, women became the primary characters driving entire storylines forward. No more standing behind trees singing love songs with male actors. These films show real women dealing with actual problems they face daily.
Directors started trusting audiences to watch female-led stories without male superstars. The box office numbers proved every person wrong about what sells tickets. Women deserve films that replicate their struggles, goals, and victories authentically. These ten films modified how Bollywood sees and portrays women completely.
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List of 10 Best Bollywood Movies for Women
1. Fashion
Madhur Bhandarkar basically ripped the glamorous mask off the modelling industry. Priyanka Chopra’s Meghna starts as this wide-eyed girl from nowhere dreaming big. She makes it to the top runways but man, the price is steep. Drugs, toxic relationships, and losing yourself in all that glitz happen fast.
Watching Meghna’s rise and fall feels painfully real throughout the movie. Celebrity cameos and stunning fashion shows make everything look glamorous initially. But then you see the price of fame destroying lives slowly. This movie teaches that success means nothing without self-respect and sanity.
2. Queen
Rani gets dumped right before her wedding by her fiancé coldly. Most Bollywood heroines would cry forever, but Rani does something different. She takes her honeymoon trip to Paris and Amsterdam alone. The film becomes a beautiful journey of discovering yourself without needing anyone.
Kangana Ranaut made everyone fall in love with awkward, innocent Rani completely. No hero saves her because she learns to save herself instead. The British Film Institute called it one of the greatest Indian films. Even Oprah added Queen to her must-watch list, which says everything.
3. English Vinglish
Sridevi returned to cinema after fifteen years with this absolute gem. She plays Shashi, a housewife whom everyone ridicules for not speaking English. Her own family makes fun of her language skills constantly. So she secretly enrols in English classes to prove herself worthy.
The film captures how English becomes a status symbol in India. Shashi’s life from feeling small to standing tall is nice to see. Sridevi acted in 269 movies in a couple of languages during her life. This comeback proved she still had that magical screen presence.
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4. Neerja
Sonam Kapoor started off with critics with her work as Neerja Bhanot. The brave air hostess saved lives during the 1986 Pan Am hijacking. She alerted authorities and risked her life protecting humans on board. This biographical thriller keeps you breathless from start to finish.
The real Neerja died a hero at just twenty-two years old. Sonam captured her courage and fear perfectly throughout the tense hijacking scenes. The film won multiple Filmfare and National Film Awards deservedly. Every Indian should know Neerja’s sacrifice and bravery against terrorists that day.
5. Kahaani
Vidya Balan performs as a pregnant woman. She is looking for her missing husband. She travels from London to Kolkata following mysterious clues. The movie flips the damsel-in-distress stereotype absolutely on its head. Instead, a pregnant woman becomes the intrepid detective solving tricky puzzles.
Made on just 8 crores, this thriller made 100 crores. Guerrilla shooting techniques captured the authentic Kolkata streets brilliantly throughout the film. Vidya proved that strong storytelling beats big budgets and male stars. The climax twist leaves everyone’s jaw on the floor guaranteed.
6. Chhapaak
Every year, lots of Indian women get acid thrown on their faces. Deepika Padukone plays Malti. She is a real acid attack survivor. She fights for justice while dealing with scars.
Deepika acted without makeup showing Malti’s burned face throughout the film. The courtroom battles and daily struggles feel painfully real to watch. The box office didn’t treat this film kindly despite its important message. But it forced people to discuss acid violence and support for survivors.
Laws about selling acid needed changing and this film pushed that agenda. Society treats acid attack survivors horribly, treating them like outcasts constantly everywhere. Chhapaak challenged that disgusting stigma by putting their stories center stage. Sometimes movies matter more than money, and this is proof right there.
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7. Pink
Minal defends herself against harassment and gets falsely accused of prostitution. The courtroom drama that follows addresses women’s safety issues head-on. Amitabh Bachchan plays her lawyer fighting for justice in court. The film’s “No means No” message sparked nationwide debates about consent.
Pink won five Filmfare Awards including Best Film, unanimously voted by critics. The movie forced uncomfortable conversations about how India treats women’s rights. Every man and woman should watch this to understand consent better. The courtroom scenes give you goosebumps with their powerful dialogue delivery.
8. Mary Kom
Priyanka Chopra drilled for five months to play boxer Mary Kom. She gained muscle and learned real boxing skills from experts. The film shows Mary’s struggle in a male-dominated sport with determination. Her journey from Manipur to Olympic medals inspires every girl watching.
This biographical drama set records for female-led film opening weekends ever. Priyanka spent time with Mary’s family to capture her essence authentically. The National Film Award for Wholesome Entertainment went to this movie. Mary Kom proves that women can punch through any wall blocking them.
9. Lipstick Under My Burkha
Four ladies of ages secretly revolt against bold societal norms. The movie dives into taboo topics like a woman’s will and sexual space boldly. An elderly woman, a college student, a beautician, and a housewife all seek liberty differently. Their stories intersect showing how patriarchy affects women across generations constantly.
Indian censors initially banned this film for being too outspoken. It premiered at international festivals where it won gender equality awards. The movie uses dark humour to discuss the serious oppression women face. Definitely not your typical Bollywood film but that’s exactly the point.
10. Darlings
Alia Bhatt produced and starred in this domestic abuse. A female ultimately stands up against her abusive husband creatively. The film uses satire and dark humour to discuss serious violence. It won eleven Filmfare Awards including Best Actress and Best Screenplay.
The film does not glorify revenge but indicates survival and empowerment. Shefali Shah’s role as the mom merits special mention too. This unconventional approach to domestic violence sparked important conversations everywhere. Perfect watch if you want something darkly funny yet deeply meaningful.
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