Since time untold women have been making their marks in various fields and have been overcoming odds with patience. One cannot ignore the overwhelming presence of remarkable women in the industry. As a young woman, it is truly encouraging to witness the work of strong women breaking stereotypes and emerging as the best in their fields. Women truly are bosses who can lead and can create waves in any industry. Not only shattering glass ceilings, but they can also roll out the red carpet and pave the way for future generations.
Be it Swara Bhaskar breaking all stereotypes or Nidhi Razdan with her fight against a sophisticated phishing attack, April is packed with women who deserve all the recognition and more! Not only have these women managed to capture everybody’s interest but also ignited emotions with their talent on and off-screen, in the sportsfield, as politicians, journalists, activists and so much more. Let us look at some inspiring women who pave the way for future generations.
8 Self-Driven Women Inspiring The Generations To Come
1. Suchitra Sen
Suchitra Sen was a brilliant actress, known for her vibrant screen appearance which used to send the audience into a state of euphoria. Her unmatchable performances stole many a million hearts. That’s how you describe her, the graceful chapter of India’s tinsel town, who managed to juggle between flourished career, early marriage and motherhood like a pro.
Suchitra Sen’s most famous Bollywood film is Gulzaar’s ‘Aandhi’ which followed a woman politician’s dilemma between her political and personal life. It created a storm throughout the nation as the storyline had an uncanny resemblance with the life and career of Indira Gandhi. Her onscreen pair with Uttam Kumar is still considered as a golden era.
In 1972, Suchitra Sen was conferred with the prestigious Padmashree award. Suchitra Sen achieved her first international success in 1963 when she received the Best Actress award for ‘Saptapadi’ at the Moscow International Film Festival. She became the first Indian actress to have this honour!
2. Jaya Bachchan
Jaya Bachchan is an Indian film actress, politician and a member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha from the Samajwadi Party, notably serving four terms since 2004. She is particularly known for reinforcing a natural style of acting in both mainstream and “middle-of-the-road” cinema. She is recognised as one of the finest Hindi film actresses of her time. She started her career in films at the age of twelve, followed by several memorable roles that propelled her towards prominence. Her political career has been flourishing with her bold speeches and opinions. Did you know Jaya wrote the script for the famous Bollywood film Shahenshah, back in 1988, which starred her husband, Amitabh Bachchan in the lead?
3. Swara Bhaskar
Swara Bhaskar started her career in the film industry with a supporting role in the 2009 drama Madholal Keep Walking. Best known for her supporting work in mainstream productions and starring roles in independent films, she has won two Screen Awards and has been nominated Filmfare Award on three occasions.
Swara served as a host for Shyam Benegal’s television mini-series Samvidhaan, which was based on the making of the Indian Constitution. Not just the big screen and television, Swara has also experimented with web series which turned out to be a success.
Swara’s performance received critical acclaim for the film Nil Battey Sannata and she was awarded the Best Actress trophy at the Silk Road International Film Festival in September 2015.
4. Nidhi Razdan
She is a renowned Indian journalist and television personality. She was the executive editor of NDTV and the primary anchor of NDTV news debate show Left, Right & Centre and the weekly debate show The Big Fight. She is known for her unbiased representation in the media. Razdan has also authored a book titled Left, Right and Centre: The Idea of India, which was published in July 2017. She has been under the limelight after she quit NDTV for a job offer of an associate professor in journalism at Harvard University however she had been the victim of a sophisticated phishing attack, which was exposed when she contacted Harvard. But she came out stronger than ever and is pursuing legal actions against the perpetrators.
5. Surekha Sikri
Surekha Sikri (born 19 April 1945) is an Indian theatre, film and television actress. A veteran of Hindi theatre, she made her debut in the 1978 political drama film Kissa Kursi Ka and went on to play supporting roles in numerous Hindi and Malayalam films, as well as in Indian soap operas.
Sikri won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress thrice, was awarded the Indian Telly Award for Best Actress in a Negative Role. throughout her career, she has been showered with immense recognition and appreciation from viewers and critics.
6. Anju Bobby George
Long jump Legend Anju Bobby George is India’s first and only World Champion in the IAAF World Athletics Final. She went on to win the gold medal at the IAAF World Athletics Final (a competition between the best eight athletes in the world based on the world ranking) in 2005. Hailing from a small village in Kerala to being the first Indian athlete ever to win a medal in a World Championships in Athletics, Anju had the honour of carrying the tricolour after she shined in the games. She was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2002, Khel Ratna in 2003 and Padma Shri in 2004. She has successfully become a female icon for women, inspiring young girls all over the world.
7. Shammi (Nargis Rabadi)
Fondly addressed as ‘Shammi aunty’, Nargis Rabadi, was an Indian actress who appeared in over two hundred Hindi films. Rabadi got into films by chance and we know everyone agrees that was a good accident. Shammi remained a sought-after actress with filmmakers when it came to goofy and comic roles. She was known to always ensure that you broke into a smile whether you saw her in person, in a film or on the television. She will always be remembered for her memorable roles during the 90s era.
8. Moushumi Chatterjee
She is an Indian actress who is recognised for her work in Hindi as well as Bengali cinema. The versatile actress Moushumi Chatterjee earned the love and admiration of all filmgoers by her excellent character presentation in several films. She broke the illusion that women do not succeed as an actress in films after marriage by emerging as the sixth highest-paid actress in Hindi films. Her latest film was the super hit Piku (2015) which won her rave reviews. Moushumi has done more than a hundred films that have been box-office hits and critically appreciated as well.
While these April women have taken the world by a storm, let us draw our inspiration and make our own mark in the world. They have taught us that we don’t have to go with the flow but against the current, if we are passionate about something! Let us uplift ourselves and fellow women of the world to great heights.