The entertainment world is ready for strong female characters

As in the case of every industry, the film and television industry too has evolved over time, witnessing major changes not only in technology but also in the way stories are presented, narrated and executed. On the occasion of Women’s Day, Adgully we spoke to some well-known actresses from the entertainment world to know if they think that writers are making efforts to write roles for female characters not just in the lead role, but for other important characters as well, be it in TV shows, films or on OTT?

Actresses like Kajol, Sushmita Sen, Raveena Tandon, Kareena Kapoor Khan and many others have proved that author-backed roles have always been appreciated by the audience on any medium.

Tisca Chopra

Tisca Chopra will be seen essaying a very different character in ‘Murder Mubarak’. She says, “I have not been offered similar kind of mother’s role after ‘Taare Zameen Par’. The fact that nobody was willing to give me interesting roles was sad. However, in ‘Murder Mubarak’ you will get to see me playing a very interesting role. She is a mother, but she has more shades than that.”

Chhaya Kadam

Chhaya Kadam is playing a role of a gangster Kanchan Komdi. Echoeing Tisca Chopra’s sentiments, she says, “I have been playing a sad mother, who is abused by her husband and is struggling in her life for so many years on screen. I was kind of tired of it. But thankfully, Kunal Kemmu wrote this role and asked me to do it. I am really happy that I am getting an opportunity to play a role that no one ever imagined me doing it.”

Sheeba Akashdeep

“For sure, it is an era of great important characters. People have realised that a cast that supports the main leads is equally important and you can make a female character do a lot that you cannot make, for example, main leads do. The female leads tend to have a lot of connectivity with the audience because they are females and they connect with the primarily female audience, especially on TV, OTT, and movies. If they are family-centric and you are taking your family along to watch with a good strong female role, the audience will connect. So, the writers are writing strong female roles and with a lot of nuances and a lot more meat than before.”

Shubhangi Atre

“Until now, when we watch films or TV, we only watch the meaty parts of the male and female leads. In our real life, too, I believe we are the leading actors in our lives, but whatever our achievements are, they are not just ours. It also includes the people around in our life; it is because of their support that we achieve accolades. I am glad that the importance of character roles has increased and they get equal weightage too, which is very good. As an actor, you get a treat. I personally want to do character roles in films, OTT, and Television. I am hoping that television gets good content and I am very glad that this change is happening.”

Sneha Wagh

“Times have definitely changed. I belong to the television industry, where I feel women are clearly celebrated in every way. Most of the shows on television that gain popularity are women-centric and are written specifically for them.  According to me, that is the best thing. As a woman, I have faced a few challenges in the early years of my career. But once your talent is proved, no one questions you. But, I guess it goes for both males and females in any industry.”

Kanchi Singh

“I think after ‘Animal’ was released, people changed their thought process and now they are writing more films for women. From what I know, there is a production house that is working only with women, be it a spot boy, cameraman, director, the light person – it is an all-women’s team. People today have changed their thought process and women have become a central part, which is a very good thing.”

Shweta Kawaatra

“OTT has a default setting in their format. It functions only with wholesome importance given to every single detail of every character – male and female alike. It is like a balanced meal on your plate. No wonder it makes great viewing for every generation. That’s where the script blossoms, I think.”

Surbhi Shukla

"I think yes writers are now doing that, and yes they writing some good parts for everyone in the show. We can’t deny the fact that in television shows stories revolve around female characters. But I think now is time that we should go beyond saas-bahu drama,there are other characters which female actors can play. If we show such different characters on the screen then audience too enjoy watching it. If given a chance then I would definitely want to part of such a show based on Army or where kids can learn something from it."

Himani Chawla 

“I guess the time has changed now; overall in the majority of the mediums, the approach has changed towards writing the characters, the story, the screenplay. Everything has changed a lot from what it was 5-6 years ago. OTT has changed the entire ball game. The creators and writers had to change because during the pandemic period, the audience was exposed to a sea of content and that’s when the writing approach got changed. 

For instance, in ‘Dabangii’, my character is equally strong as the leads Aamir Dalvi and Manav Gohil. Kasturi’s track, which is currently going on, is truly female-centric. I am a binge-watcher, if I like the show or the characters, I watch the show throughout the night, I want to explore myself in the OTT space as an actor, there are such tremendous performances and roles written; one of my favourite characters is Vartika, played by Shefali Shah in ‘Delhi Crime’; then there is Tara in ‘Made in Heaven’, she also had such layers to her character; Sushmita Sen’s character in ‘Aarya’, etc.

Even when it comes to films, there are roles written by the writers keeping actors like Alia Bhatt, Deepika Padukone, Taapsee Pannu, and a lot more, in mind.

So yes, I would want to do something that has more substance in writing and challenges me as an actor. It is a good transition that we are in right now.”