Divya and Shahana are playing journalists in the forthcoming movies "Monica" and "Game" respectively.
"Playing a journalist in 'Monica' helped me see a very interesting facet of being a political journalist wherein you get to enter the corridors of the political setup of the country and ask about anything! It made me realise what a powerful zone the mediapersons are in, " Divya told on phone from Mumbai.
"I've always looked up to women journalists like Barkha Dutt, who are strong and intelligent. But I respect them even more now, " added Divya, whose character in the film is extremely ambitious and bold.
Shahana, who is essaying a crime reporter in Abhinay Deo's thriller "Game", says she never thought being a journalist could be so tough.
"The background of my role is that of a journalist but I am not doing too much related to the profession in the film. However, for one scene, I had to do a PTC (piece to camera) and I realised it was very tough reporting live. It was quite an experience, " said Shahana.
Recently, Rani Mukerji donned the garb of a bold and fearless mediaperson in Rajkumar Gupta's "No One Killed Jessica". Though the role was a departure from the usual roles she essays, Rani said she didn't have to go out of her way to learn a journalist's mannerisms as she had met many during her career.
However, Soha Ali Khan's perception about journalists changed quite a bit after she played one of them in the 2008 film "Mumbai Meri Jaan".
"At one point I wanted to be a journalist. Then I was at the receiving end. Now after playing a TV journalist in 'Mumbai Meri Jaan', I'm more sympathetic towards the media's job. I understand why they need to ask uncomfortable questions. Of course, I still won't answer personal questions. But I understand the journalist has a right to ask what he or she wants to, " Soha had said in an earlier interview.
The trend of female actors essaying a strong role of mediapersons is not new.
In 1987, Sridevi played a journalist with a humorous streak in "Mr. India", while Dimple Kapadia took on the role of a strong, revolutionary journalist in the 1994 film "Krantiveer".
In 2000 Juhi Chawla played Ria Banerjee, a TV journalist in "Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani". Bubbly actress Preity Zinta donned a completely new look to report live from the battleground a la Barkha Dutt for Farhan Akhtar's "Lakshya" in 2004.
It was followed by Konkona Sen-Sharma's moving portrayal of the life of a page three journalist in Madhur Bhandarkar's "Page 3". Konkona was also seen as an ambitious journalist in "15 Park Avenue" in 2005.
Even glamour girl Priyanka Chopra was seen as a TV anchor in "God Tussi Great Ho", just as Kangana Ranaut recently played one in "Knockout".
Actress Deepal Shaw played a cameo as a journalist in "A Wednesday" in 2008, while debutant Jahan Bloch got to essay Dimple Kapadia's "Krantiveer" role in the movie's sequel "Krantiveer 2" last year.