It’s wild how quickly people judge women who dare to be confident, stand their ground, or even just get plain angry. Suddenly, we’re “too much” or “difficult”. Honestly, the way society freaks out about female rage is baffling. Why is it so controversial when we show them? Well, it’s high time we break down why a woman’s perfectly valid gussa gets labelled as “nakhra” or “problem”, while a man’s fiery anger is just hailed.
Just think about it. How many times have we seen our heroes explode in anger on screen? It’s the stuff of iconic scenes! They’re fighting for justice, protecting their family, or maybe just dramatically declaring their love. Their rage is powerful and justified, a sign of their heroic intensity. Now, when a leading lady shows that same fire, suddenly the narrative can shift. She might be called “ziddi”, “emotional”, or even “crazy”. The focus moves from the why of her anger to the how of it, which often paints her as difficult.
This double standard is so deeply woven into our storytelling. For ages, the ideal woman on screen was the epitome of grace and patience. Her anger was often reserved for romantic misunderstandings, easily resolved with a song and dance. But when she dares to express rage against systemic issues or personal betrayal with the same intensity as her male counterpart, it’s considered a deviation from this ideal. Suddenly, she’s not “ladylike” anymore.
Also, in a film where a woman calls out misogyny in her workplace or within her family. If she does it with raised voices or strong words, the reaction from other characters (and sometimes even the audience) might be to question her tone rather than address the issue she’s raising.
The truth is, a woman’s anger in Bollywood, just like in real life, isn’t a flaw; it’s often a response. It’s a reaction to being wronged, to being silenced, to fighting for her rights in a society that doesn’t always make it easy. Instead of labelling it as “nakchadi” or “drama”, maybe it’s time we look at the reasons behind that anger. Perhaps then, we can start seeing it for what it truly is: a powerful and valid emotion, just like it is for our heroes. And maybe, just maybe, we can finally move beyond these outdated stereotypes and let our heroines be angry, strong, and heard without the unnecessary labels.