‘Mardaani’ to ‘Aryaa’: India’s best female-led franchises

In a cinematic landscape where male-led franchises have long dominated the box office, a new wave of female-fronted films and series is redefining the rules of Bollywood's game. Not only are these brilliant ladies leading the titles, but they have also paved the way for female-centric franchises that are taking audiences by storm. From Rani Mukerji’s Shivani Shivaji Roy to Shefali Shah’s Vartika Chaturvedi, we look into the most iconic and impactful female-led franchises in Bollywood, exploring the characters, themes, and actresses that are shattering glass ceilings and redefining the face of Indian cinema.

Mardaani

Rani played the role of a fierce cop in Yash Raj Films’ ‘Mardaani,’ which was released in 2014. A critical and commercial success, the film depicts Rani as a Mumbai crime branch officer who sets out to nab the mastermind of a child trafficking mafia. Following the success of ‘Mardaani,’ it was set for its sequel, which was released in 2019. Now, according to a Pinkvilla report, the makers are set for its third installment, shooting for which will reportedly begin in 2025.

Haseen Dillruba

Taapsee Pannu received critical acclaim for her performance as Rani in ‘Haseen Dillruba,’ a Netflix original film that premiered on the streaming platform in July 2021. Co-starring Vikrant Massey as the male protagonist, the romantic thriller’s sequel, titled 'Phir Aayi Haseen Dillruba’, was released on August 9. It also starred Sunny Kaushal and Jimmy Sheirgill in pivotal roles. Taapsee and Vikrant reprised their roles in the sequel, continuing the crooked love story of Rani and Rishu.

Kahaani

Vidya Balan won the 58th National Film Awards for best actress for playing Vidya Baghchi in ‘Kahaani,’ a thriller co-written, co-produced, and directed by Sujoy Ghosh. She plays the role of a pregnant woman who seeks the help of a police officer to find her missing husband. After the success of the 2012 film, Sujoy decided to develop it as a thriller franchise and released its sequel ‘Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh’ in 2016. Balan’s brilliant act led her to bagging a nomination at the 62nd Filmfare Awards. The sequel was also declared tax-free in Uttar Pradesh.

Aaryaa

Sushmita Sen’s powerful portrayal of Aarya Sareen, a fiercely protective mother and reluctant mafia boss, in ‘Aarya,’ left the audiences in awe. It was her nuanced performance that made her character so relatable with the audience. It also isn’t very often that viewers get to watch an anti-heroine leading a show, but ‘Aarya’ filled in that gap, making it one of the most loved series in India. It earned various nominations for Sushmita, including an Emmy nomination. Co-created by Ram Madhavani and Sandeep Modi, the series’ three seasons were released in 2020, 2021, and 2023-2024, respectively.

Delhi Crime

Another popular series led by a female that was developed into a franchise upon its success is the Shefali Shah starrer ‘Delhi Crime.’ The first season, which was released on Netflix in 2019, is based on the horrific Nirbhaya rape case. Its second season, which came out in 2022, also featured Shefali and Rasika Duggal reprising their roles. The story of the second season revolved around the infamous Kachcha-Baniyan gang that was active in the 1990s. In both seasons, Shah played DCP Vartika Chaturvedi’s role, who is said to be inspired by real-life cop, Chhaya Sharma, Delhi’s former deputy commissioner of police who nabbed the culprits of the 2012 Delhi gang rape.