Woman Centred

The time,notwithstanding the not-so-great box office performance of 7 Khoon Maaf,looks ripe for the resurgence of female superstar

Bollywoods leading ladies can sit back and rejoice. 2011 has brought in good tidings for talented actresses willing to push the envelope.

The ball was set rolling earlier this year with No One Killed Jessica with Rani Mukerji and Vidya Balan. Mukerji,also on our cover this year,proved a point with her spunky performance as Meera Gaiety. Its not a first and that is heartening. While Mukerjis earlier attempts at Dil Bole Hadippa and Laga Chunri Mein Daag failed to impress,her counterparts Priyanka Chopra pulled off Fashion and Vidya Balan an Ishqiya though Ishqiya had alternative testosterone power in Arshad Warsi and Naseerudin Shah. A while before that Madhuri Dixit who was impressive in Mrityudand,had suffered a dud in Aaja Nachle.

The moot point being debated was whether heroines make good business proposition on their own. The trend seems to point that perhaps they do,provided they are ably supported across departments.

Priyanka Chopras 7 Khoon Maaf,though it opened to mixed reactions,has shored up reasonable numbers and if the collections hold steady,it will probably break even and then some more.

This emerging trend is a good sign for it will surely raise the bar,encouraging heroines to experiment and invest in their acting skills along with shrinking and sculpting their bodies. Good performances of the films will result in meatier roles for heroines even in masala films with the mandatory hero-heroine coupling Kareena Kapoors Jab We Met or Anushka Sharmas roles in Band Baaja Baaraat are examples which is all good news. That the girls are moving away from the saccharine sweet stereotypes to dark,quirky characters.

Bigger profits will also boost investor confidence resulting in a greater fund allocation. A corollary to this could perhaps be more women directors,producers and such like. Dia Mirza has turned producer,Sushmita Sen and Lara Dutta have long been flirting with the idea of going behind the camera though nobody has yet followed in Dreamgirl Hema Malinis footsteps.

These are exciting times for those in the movie business,what with a healthy turnover,international interest and funds. Different genres of films have registered a robust interest fuelled by exposure to international cinema and even traditional Bollywood is making attempts at new-age cinema and the resurgence of the female superstar can only make things look up.

Ladies,take a bow.