Female actors take centre-stage with stories as diverse as spy thrillers and the life and struggles of a real-life folk dancer
Starting with Samantha Ruth Prabhu in Maa Inti Bangaram, the second-half of 2026 belongs to the shero. A host of female hero-driven films are gearing to ignite the box office.
The high-budget YRF spy action thriller Alpha stars not one but two sheroes—Alia Bhatt and Sharvari. Releasing on July 3, it is the first female-driven entry in the YRF Spy Universe and both Alia and Sharvari play deadly assassins. July also has Huma Qureshi playing a mute and deaf assassin in Baby Do Die Do. Then there is Shraddha Kapoor’s real-life drama Eetha, followed by Kareena Kapoor Khan’s Daayra and Tamannaah Bhatia’s folk-thriller Vvan.
Eetha, releasing on August 28, is a biopic of Vithabai Bhau Mang Narayangaonkar, a legendary Maharashtrian Tamasha and Lavani folk dancer. Tamannaah Bhatia takes centre-stage in the visually striking folk-thriller Vvan rooted in mythology. It is eyeing a late August release window. Daayra, headlined by Kareena Kapoor Khan, a much-discussed project, is slated for release on September 18.
Later in the year, there will by Mysaa starring Rashmika Mandanna in a performance-driven script and Gandhari helmed by Taapsee Pannu as a fierce mother on a relentless quest to rescue her daughter. She will be seen performing heavy raw action sequences.
“This is the best time to be a woman in Hindi cinema. The roles are diverse and relevant. I am doing two female-driven films – Gandhari and Woh Ladki Hai Kahaan – and I couldn’t be in a happier space,” says Taapsee.
Shabana Azmi, who headlines Raj Kumar Santoshi’s Batwara 1947, opening in August, says Sheroes will blossom in the coming months. “It is remarkable that Raj Santoshi, who is known to make action thrillers like Ghayal and Ghatak, is ready with a film that has two strong women characters played by me and Preity Zinta. Although Sunny Deol is there, we women also drive the plot forward,” she says.
Karan Johar feels the days of the decorative dolls are over. “Look at Cocktail 2. It is driven by two strong female heroes. Even Imtiaz Ali’s Main Waapas Aaunga has a very strong female presence. And of course Alpha is coming up where Alia and Sharvari just kill it.”
