Heroines Step Out of the Shadows and Steal the Show

Contrary to the long-held belief that heroes must always lead from the front, a growing number of actresses are proving that a strong female character can command equal, and sometimes greater, attention on screen. Sri Gauri Priya, for instance, emerged as one of the biggest talking points of Chennai Love Story, joining actresses such as Vaishnavi Chaitanya, who made a strong impact in Baby, and Payal Rajput, who delivered a career-defining performance in RX 100.

“Female characters getting more mileage is a good thing,” says producer Vishnu Induri, pointing out that audiences have always embraced substantial roles for heroines, particularly in love stories.

“In love stories, heroines have always had their share of footage and importance. From Keerthy Reddy in Tholi Prema to Sai Pallavi in Fidaa, actresses have stolen the show because a love story cannot work without equally well-written roles for both the hero and heroine,” he says.

While Vishnu agrees that heroes continue to dominate conventional commercial cinema, he believes the trend is changing. He cites Wamiqa Gabbi’s performance in the Tamil-dubbed action film DC, which reportedly collected around Rs 9 crore in the two Telugu states, as an example of an actress making a strong impact in a genre traditionally dominated by male stars.

“It all depends on the script. Wamiqa definitely shined bright in the action film. Ultimately, these things are decided by the director, and audiences have shown that they are willing to appreciate strong female characters,” he says.

According to Vishnu, the success of one well-written female character can encourage more filmmakers to follow the trend. “Once audiences accept a heroine in a meaty role, other filmmakers are likely to give actresses more substantial parts. A woman’s perspective also brings balance to a story. It adds a fresh dimension, and that needs to be captured,” he adds.

The growing acceptance of grey-shaded female characters is another significant change. Rukmini Vasanth, for instance, has attracted attention with her role in Kantara: Chapter 1, while Vaishnavi Chaitanya and Payal Rajput have also made their mark with unconventional characters. “Grey is the new shade for some heroines,” Vishnu observes.

He also points out that strong female characters are hardly a new phenomenon in Telugu cinema. Legendary actresses such as Savitri, Vanisree, Jamuna, Suhasini and Vijayashanti earned widespread appreciation for roles that went beyond being mere romantic interests. “It is not a new phenomenon, but we need more such movies,” he concludes.

Payal Rajput, who has delivered powerful performances in RX 100 and Mangalavaram, believes female characters should not be confined to simplistic labels of good and bad.

“Both RX 100 and Mangalavaram are very close to my heart, and I could give my best in some of my most challenging roles. The shades of white, grey and black have to be dismantled. Every role should be viewed individually. Only then will the surprise element work,” she says.

The actress also makes it clear that she would rather wait for the right opportunity than compromise with a poorly written character. “I would prefer to sit idle at home for few months rather than do a poorly etched role and hamper my prospects. Telugu cinema is close to my heart, and I want to continue working here,” she concludes.