• Source:JND

Female-Led Indian Movies At Box Office: In a field where males often play the lead roles in high-profile movies, a few exceptional women have shown that they are capable of both leading a movie and controlling the worldwide box office. The fact that Kalyani Priyadarshan's Lokah, India's first female superhero film, was made in a regional language makes it even more remarkable when it surpassed the Rs 100 crore global milestone. Aside from the Malayalam superhero film, other standout performances by Alia Bhatt in Gangubai Kathiawadi, Shraddha Kapoor in Stree, and Vidya Balan in The Dirty Picture have demonstrated that female-led movies can be both critically and financially successful.

5 Successful Indian Movies At The Box Office, Led By Women

1. Kalyani Priyadarshan – Lokah

Box Office: Rs 200 crore+ (approx)

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With the first regionally spoken, female-led superhero movie in India, Kalyani cracked the superhero ceiling. Her fearless, realistic, and inspirational portrayal of Lokah demonstrates that women can be the stars of spectacle-driven films. This accomplishment solidifies her status as a pioneer in the reinterpretation of gender roles in film.

2. Alia Bhatt – Gangubai Kathiawadi

Box Office: Rs 200 crore (approx)

Alia Bhatt not only gave one of her best performances to date in Gangubai Kathiawadi, but she also demonstrated that a female-led movie could be both critically and financially successful. With the film's explosive global box office success, Alia was solidified as one of the few leading ladies with blockbuster appeal.

3. Shraddha Kapoor – Stree

Box Office: Rs 201 crore (approx)

Shraddha Kapoor gave viewers a relatable yet fearless heroine, bringing charm and wit to the horror-comedy series. Her on-screen persona, emotional nuance, and comedic timing took the movie above and beyond genre conventions. Women can lead genre films and control box office expectations, as Stree demonstrated.

4. Sonam Kapoor - Neerja

Box Office - Rs 120+ crore

Neerja Bhanot, a flight attendant who gave her life to save passengers during the 1986 hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73, is the inspiration for the film Neerja. Her bravery and commitment to her duty in the face of grave peril are shown in the movie. The film, which had a pitiful budget of Rs 25 crore, made Rs 101.95 crore in India and Rs 120.35 crore internationally.

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5. Vidya Balan – The Dirty Picture

Box Office: Rs 100+ crore (approx)

With her portrayal of a fearless and unrepentant Silk Smitha in The Dirty Picture, Vidya Balan revolutionized the female-led biopic. She demonstrated that women could carry edgy and personal storylines with widespread appeal by drawing audiences to theaters with her gutsy performance and captivating on-screen persona.