Bollywood Actresses Who Looked Cool As Gangsters On-Screen
Posted On: 25 Feb 2022 | Last Updated : 17 Sep 2024 | Views : 3.k
Ever since Bollywood came into existence male actors have always been played the main villain. But as movies evolved over the years the definition of a villain changed where filmmakers inspired by real-life gangsters and criminals came up with biopics. Bollywood went a step further when the success of gangster flicks like Shekhar Kapur's Bandit Queen was appreciated where the protagonist also portrayed the antagonist. The main villains were now being portrayed as vamps where women were given to play gangster roles in Bollywood and to a large extent became commercially successful too. Playing the quintessential lady gangster is as challenging as any other role and a few well-known actresses have played it to perfection. So, how many lady gangsters in Bollywood can you recall? May not be many but here’s a list of Bollywood actresses who broke the stereotypes and transformed themselves into lady gangsters and looked cool on-screen.
1. Shabana Azmi in Godmother (1999)
Shabana Azmi was one of the Bollywood actresses who looked uber cool playing a lady gangster on-screen in director Vinay Shukla’s Godmother. The movie was a biographical drama that was based on the life of Santokben Jadeja, who ran the Mafia operations at Porbandar, Gujarat, in the late 80s and 90s and later turned politician. Shabana’s top-class performance helped her bag that year's National Award for Best Actress along with the movie fetching the same for Best Feature Film, Music Direction, Editing, Lyrics, and Male Playback Singer.
2. Nandita Das in Supari (2003)
Another Bollywood actress who played an underworld don and called the shots on-screen was Nandita Das in director Padam Kumar’s 2003 flick Supari which also starred Uday Chopra, Rahul Dev, Purab Kohli, Irrfan Khan, and Nauheed Cyrusi. Nandita played the character of Mamta Shekari who is the lady boss of a gang that deals in contract killings and makes a fortune from it. Though the film was well-made but due to lack of proper promotions failed to get the cash registers ringing at the box office.
3. Pratima Kazmi in Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II (2003)
If at all there were Bollywood actresses who played gangsters on-screen with ease, it has to be Pratima Kazmi. Her portrayal as the ruthless crime lady boss Ganga Chauhan in Shashanka Ghosh’s 2003 gangster flick Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II, was just amazing. Her dialogues with Arshad Warsi were too funny to handle as the latter becomes a hostage at her house. The movie had some interesting characters along with an interesting storyline and good direction but unfortunately didn’t find many takers at the box office.
4. Neha Dhupia in Phas Gaye Re Obama (2010)
Talk about Bollywood woman gangsters and who can forget Munni from Phas Gaye Re Obama played by Neha Dhupia. The film directed by Subhash Kapoor was one of its kind that dealt with the extortion business in the state of Uttar Pradesh and the recession period, which made the proceedings interesting and hilarious at times. Though the film consists of a bunch of talented actors like Rajat Kapoor, Sanjay Mishra, Manu Rishi Chadha, Amole Gupte, etc., but it was Neha as Munni and her team of female gangsters who walked away with all the applause.
5. Isha Koppikar in Shabri (2011)
Think of Bollywood leading actresses who played gangsters on-screen and another name that comes to mind is Isha Koppikar’s character in Shabri. Though her character in Lalit Marathe’s Shabri was dark but very believable as she takes up the gun to avenge her brother’s death by eliminating the gang lord Rajdharbhau (Pradeep Rawat). Isha Koppikar’s performance as Shabri surprised everyone, giving glimpses of being the female version of RGV’s cult gangster flick Satya. The movie may have not found many takers but surely will go down as one of Isha’s most memorable performances.
6. Madhu Shalini in Department (2012)
Many of us may have forgotten Ram Gopal Varma’s 2012 cop-gangster flick Department, that starred big actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Rana Daggubati, Vijay Raaz, etc., had a small role by Madhu Shalini as Naseer who played Abhimanyu Singh’s gun moll. Madhu Shalini as the female gangster made her presence felt among the big stars and remains one of the highlights in this long-forgotten film.
7. Supriya Pathak in Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram Leela (2013)
If there was a list of top 10 actresses who looked cool playing gangsters on-screen then Supriya Pathak’s performance as Dhankor Baa, the chieftain of the Saneras in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Ram Leela remains outstanding. Her language, body language, and nuances of the character made it believable and kept the audience glued to the silver screen. Performances from Deepika Padukone as her daughter and Ranveer Singh as the head of the Rajadi’s added sheen to the narration, making each character unforgettable.
8. Richa Chadha in Fukrey (2013)
Richa Chadha as Bholi Punjaban in Fukrey makes her one of Bollywood’s most famous and lovable lady gangsters on-screen. The soft, as well as tough portrayal of Bholi Punjaban by the actress, was something that the audiences loved along with the romantic confrontations she has with Choocha (Varun Sharma). A lot of credit for the success of the film goes to Richa Chadha without whom Fukrey wouldn’t have been that interesting and hilarious despite having so many other characters as well.
9. Madhuri Dixit in Gulaab Gang (2014)
Madhuri Dixit who ruled the 90s in Bollywood is one actress who has done a variety of roles. Though she has portrayed many strong women characters on-screen but one that stands out in her filmography is the character of Rajjo in Gulaab Gang. Though the role cannot be termed negative in the real sense but was seen heading a team of oppressed women who fight for their fundamental rights against the system and the atrocities meted out to them. The film was regarded as her comeback vehicle to Bollywood that was directed by Soumik Sen and had the powerful character of Sumitra Devi played by Juhi Chawla opposite to her.
10. Shraddha Kapoor in Haseena Parkar (2017)
Come to think of popular female gangsters on-screen, and Shraddha Kapoor’s Haseena Parkar easily makes it to the list of top 10 Bollywood movies with female gangsters. A crime biopic based on the life and times of India’s most wanted criminal Dawood Ibrahim’s sister Haseena Parkar who took over the business of her brother who turned fugitive after the Mumbai bomb blasts in 1993. Shraddha Kapoor as Haseena Parkar, who was called Appa by her followers, was convincing in her role, sending shivers down the spines of the viewers.
11. Seema Biswas in Visfot (2024)
Seema Biswas also made a memorable impact in Kookie Gulati’s action thriller, Visfot, with her hauntingly nuanced portrayal of the female don, Acid Tai. Despite having limited screen time, Seema Biswas’s ruthless act as the female gang lord was a win, because she was convincing from the word go who threatened people by throwing on them rather than wasting a bullet.
