Several strong female characters in the reel world struggled with new obstacles in 2020 but hit new heights this year. Meet the strong and inspiring characters of actresses who have overcome boundaries and given strength to people. Such female characters became more than the heroes' sidekicks. But finally, in recent years, a wide range of relatable, brilliant, and nuanced female characters have been offered to us through some movies and web shows. So, here we're presenting 10 such talented female characters of 2020.
Anupria Goenka has played this powerful role of Nikhat in Criminal Justice 2 who became a symbol of women who chose to learn from their struggles and develop, rather than get bogged down by how unjust life has been, by helping Anuradha. Nikhat was genuinely a realistic feminist symbol, delicate, aroused, and ready to fight for what was right.
Sushmita Sen who played the character of Aarya brought us a relative female lead, even though she did not belong to a world the average moviegoer inhabits, a display that showed, probably once and for all, that true talent does not fade away with age. Aarya was a committed mum, a mourning wife, a sister and daughter who had been betrayed, and a badass crime lord on the rise.
The character of Beena Tripathi played by Rasika Dugal in Mirzapur, who is a savvy player, whether it is exploiting the view that family members have for her own benefit, or twisting truth for her gain. Her acts may not necessarily be morally sound, but in the world of deception and treachery, they blend right in.
It wasn't the pain that Bulbbul (Tripti Dimri) went through that made Bulbbul's story relatable, but rather the way she reacted to the torment - emerging like a phoenix from the ashes but maintaining her central personality. In Bulbbul, there are two things to witness, the grim truth afflicting most females under patriarchy, and the illusion dreamed of by more than one woman.
Friends cum Cousins Dolly and Kitty, the role played by Konkona Sen Sharma and Bhumi Pednekar respectively—in their individual journeys and mutual experiences—held a reflection on why certain women want to seek independence that is forever elusive.
The stuff that seems deceptively easy to us, sometimes, maybe very difficult which lies the sense of self-worth of a woman. For Manju Devi (role played by Neena Gupta), it was like learning the National Anthem. She correctly portrayed the generation of women, equally democratic and traditional, who seek to crack the shackles of sexism but have been satisfied with and accustomed to the way things operate at the same time.
Tanya Maniktala's role as Lata in A Suitable Boy has set an example in 2020. Lata could have easily fit into today's world with the hardships Lata endured, with a mother obsessed with her marriage and dating life that was much more difficult than she would have wanted.
The character of Taapsee Pannu as Amrita in 'Thappad' showed how women, regardless of their class, continue to become victims of toxic masculinity even in 2020, until the moment they take an active stance against it.
Divya Dutta as Sadia Qureshi in an Indian action espionage thriller series 'Special OPS', has influenced the audience with her powerful role. She has also won the best actress in supporting role, Flyx Filmfare OTT Awards 2020.
Chhapaak is based on Agarwal's life story, and Deepika Padukone has played the role of her. She's an Indian acid attack survivor, a campaigner for the rights of acid attack victims. The character has influenced the audience.