5 Things We Hope Women Can Do In Indian Movies In 2023

The Indian entertainment space has come a long way, hasn’t it? And the women in it too, both on screen and behind it. We’ve heard of all-female production crews, the biggest blockbusters at the box office being women-led (hey there, Gangubai Kathiawadi), and the streaming space where content is king, women are the queens reigning solid over it. But you know what they say about satisfying a woman, right? You’ve got to hit that sweet, elusive spot. And let’s just say, we’re not quite there yet. Despite the progress, there are still several things we haven’t seen Indian women do on screen.

But a girl can dream, right?

With all of staking so many hopes on an already laden 2023, here are 5 things we hope we see women do in Indian movies in 2023.

1. Polyandry / Polyamory sans judgement

I remember watching the trailer for the recent Govinda Naam Mera and wondering. How many times has a woman in an Indian film gotten away with having multiple amours, or an extra-marital affair, and gotten away with it without serious character assassination? Or repentance? We’ve had films like No Entry, Gharwali Baharwali, Pati Patti Aur Woh, and many more, where the man has been shown to be polygamous (or polyamorous), and has been shamed for it, but then there’s always been forgiveness or absolution.

The woman has always taken the man back. Even in the recent JugJugg Jeeyo, a film I didn’t quite like, the ending makes light of the infidelity of the husband. We’re left with the hope that the repentant man will find a way to ‘pataao’ his wife, who has separated from him. In No Entry, we see the three male leads, forgiven by their wives, ogling at another hot woman passing them by.

But when has a woman’s infidelity ever been this sans judgement? I can only think of Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare, in which Konkona Sen Sharma’s character explores her sexuality with an extramarital affair. But when are we getting one where a woman is polyamorous just for fun? Perhaps 2023 will bring us stories that explore this ‘unfathomable’ and very real situation without turning it into a morality lesson for the woman.

Also Read: Bollywood Needs To Embrace Female Characters Who Enjoy Polyamory. Why Should Men Have All The Fun?

2. A woman not wanting children and sticking to her decision

One of my favourite films of 2021 was a Malayalam romantic comedy Sara’s, starring Anna Ben, where Sara is an aspiring filmmaker, who faces multiple hurdles in pursuit of her dream, including pressure to have a child post marriage. Spoiler alert: She and her husband (Sunny Wayne) sort it out, Sara fulfils her dream, and eventually has a baby when she’s ready. Now that was refreshing to see!

But we are yet to see a story where the wife refuses to have a child altogether, and despite societal pressure, isn’t convinced otherwise. Female characters on Indian screens are often shown to resist motherhood at first, but then gradually come around. But in reality, we know that there are women who choose to not have kids and adamantly stick to this decision for the rest of their lives, without guilt. I would love to see that more in mainstream films.

Not every woman dreams of motherhood. Furthermore, I would love to see more films that explore just how difficult motherhood can be. The real messiness and frustration that comes with becoming a parent, and how not everyone is cut out for it, instead of harping on about just how ‘beautiful’ an experience it is.

3. Women being uninterested in men

This was actually a ‘whoa’ realisation for me when I came across a Twitter thread this year. It pointed out how rare it was for women in movies to not be interested in men, and for men not taking that up as a challenge to wear them down. Think about it, men rarely take ‘no’ for an answer; even if, in the moment, they might respect the woman’s decision, there’s always that ‘She’ll eventually come around’ hanging in the air.

Maybe more films can explore respectful, platonic relationships between men and women that don’t have to have a romantic touch to them.

Also Read: This Twitter Thread Discusses How Rare It Is For Female Characters To Be Disinterested In Men!

4. A woman-led action franchise

Isn’t it about time we had one of these? We have some incredibly fit actresses in the current crop, and I would love to see them in an out-and-out action flick, like a War. I can imagine Hrithik’s role played by Katrina Kaif. Yes, we all had expectations when the first looks of Kangana Ranaut’s Dhaakad had dropped, but… erm… that didn’t work out.

If a Tiger Shroff can have multiple action franchises riding on him despite questionable acting skills, I am just saying, I have seen Disha Patani do some serious kicks on her Instagram workout videos too. Why doesn’t she get one?

Why is Priyanka Chopra doing the likes of Quantico and Citadel for American screens, which have a saturation of female action stars, and plugging the gap here in Bollywood?

Also Read: From Alia Bhatt To Shefali Shah, Best Indian Female Performers Of 2022

5. The Dil Chahta Hai for female friendships

Yes, I know, I know. Jee Le Zaraa, starring Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif, and Alia Bhatt, is expected to do for female friendships what Dil Chahta Hai did for bromances, coming from the house of Farhan Akhtar. But DCH wasn’t just a friendship story done right. It marked a tectonic shift in the Bollywood filmmaking style. And call me greedy, ambitious, or demanding a due, but I want a similar legacy for a film that treats female friendships with a little more rawness and no filters. You know, instead of it being all about a bunch of girls drinking a lot, talking loudly about sex, taking a road trip, and calling it ‘progressive’.

My girlfriends and I pull each up other through a lot more than just boy trouble. Our road trips aren’t always about meeting sexy strangers, and we’re not always drinking the fanciest alcohol dressed to the nines at clubs because our salaries can’t afford that every weekend.