From Alia Bhatt’s Gangubai to Taapsee Panu’s Thappad: Here Are 10 Women-Led Movies That Made It Big At The Box Office
Movies with strong female protagonists that prove women are dominating the box office!
By Anadya NarainUpdated April 28, 2025 4:05 PMShare:
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Female-led films are killing it at the box office! The typical movie plot about a macho hero saving a damsel in distress heroine is no longer what the audience wants to see. Moviegoers are now turning towards fresh stories and plots about strong female protagonists, and backing such movies is paying off, both critically and commercially. Here are 10 women centric movies that were a hit at the box office.
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Gangubai Kathiawadi- This Alia Bhatt starrer was a massive commercial hit, earning over ₹209.77 crore globally. After being tricked and sold to a brothel, a young woman takes control of the world of prostitution, utilising her underworld connections to rule it.
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The Dirty Picture- Released in 2011, Vidya Balan movie broke many barriers with The Dirty Picture. The film explores the life of a vamp, pushing boundaries by addressing previously taboo subjects and challenging conventional portrayals of women in cinema. The film did exceptionally well as it crossed over ₹80 crores at the box office.
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Neerja- The box office collection for this movie crossed ₹75 crores. Starring Sonam Kapoor, Neerja is a biographical film about a flight attendant who boards Pan Am flight 73 in 1986. When the flight is hijacked by terrorists, Neerja risks her life to stall the terrorists from attacking the passengers on board.
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Thappad- This Taapsee Pannu movie did not just make waves socially, but it also did well commercially. The movie crossed ₹35 crore at the box office. Amrita, a young woman, leads a content life with her husband, Vikram. However, their happiness is shattered when he slaps her at an office party causing her to file for a divorce.
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Manikarnika- This historical action drama film collected over ₹132 crores worldwide. Rani of Jhansi played by Kangana Ranaut refuses to bow down when the East India Company tries to annex the kingdom. Her rebellion soon turns into a revolution against the British Raj.
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Secret Superstar- The film was a global hit, earning over ₹900 crore worldwide, making it one of the most profitable Indian films ever. Insia, an ambitious young girl, dreams of becoming a singer but faces opposition from her father. She however, despite the hurdles turns towards the internet to showcase her talents, where she gains stardom.
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Mardaani- The movie grossed over ₹35 crores at the box office. Rani Mukherjee plays a fearless and daunting cop in this action film about uncovering a Delhi-based child trafficking cartel.
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Raazi- This spy thriller film featuring Alia Bhatt as its lead crossed ₹123 crores at the box office. The film follows Sehmat Khan, an undercover RAW agent who is married into a Pakistani family by her father so that she can get some valuable piece of information about the enemy.
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Mary Kom- This biographical movie about India’s renowned boxer Mary Kom was a commercial hit earning ₹56 crores at the box office. Mary Kom, played by Priyanka Chopra, encounters a renowned coach in the gym and world hard to follow her dreams, despite her father’s disapproval.
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Kahaani- This Vidya Balan starrer was another commercial success, earning ₹59 crores at the domestic box office. This mystery thriller follows a pregnant woman who travels to Kolkata from London to search for her missing husband.
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