International Women’s Day: From Sushmita Sen to Kirti Kulhari - 5 strong female characters

Kirti Kulhari in a still from Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors. Picture courtesy/PR

On the auspicious occasion of International Women's Day 2022, we bring you the limitless power of a woman with some bold female characters who have shattered stereotypes and broken barriers in cinema. Whether it's the indomitable Aarya Sareen, portrayed by Sushmita Sen in the superhit series Aarya or the sharp police officer Lara Dutta in Hundred who fights against the men to prove that she is no less than a man to Anu Chandra portrayed by Kirti Kulhari standing up for herself in the courtroom drama Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors, these versatile characters are a force to reckon with in their own way. On Women's Day 2022, we celebrate womanhood with these 5 outstanding characters in cinema.

Aarya Sareen in Aarya
Portrayed by the ever-stunning Sushmita Sen, Aarya Sareen is a powerful character who is willing to go to great lengths to protect her loved ones. Throughout the story, she transforms from being a dutiful mother who goes above and beyond and leaves no stone unturned to protect her children like a lioness. From a homemaker to her turn as an illicit drug dealer dodging the eyes of the prying law enforcement authorities is extremely remarkable. Without bias to either side of her role, actor Sushmita Sen displays elegance and gusto that cannot be taught. With a gripping storyline and an amazing performance by the cast, this show is a must-watch for all the ladies out there.

Anu Chandra in Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors
Essayed by actor Kirti Kulhari, Anu Chandra is a character who is both emotionally and physically abused by her high-profile lawyer husband Bikram Chandra. She then stabs her husband, leading to his death. Her character communicates the emotions and pain that a woman goes through while suffering from marital abuse. She belongs to a wealthy family and still faces the brutal suffering of marital abuse where she goes into her shell. However, later in the story, she breaks her silence, comes out strong and sheds light on what exactly happened behind closed doors in her married life. Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors is a must watch this Women's Day!

Netra Patil in Hundred
Netra Patil, played by actor Rinku Rajguru, has the last 100 days of her life to live out. While she seeks adventure in these 100 days, she is appointed as an undercover agent by ACP Saumya Shukla, played by actor Lara Dutta, a female police officer seeking a promotion. With this interesting duo at its core, the story discovers their journey of 100 days with multiple interesting twists in the plot, making it a must-watch for women across the globe!

Nikhat Hussain in Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors
The character of Nikhat Hussain, portrayed by actor Anupriya Goenka, is an assistant to lawyer Madhav Mishra (Pankaj Tripathi). She is a naive, simple woman and is new to the law. As the series progresses, Nikhat finds her space and understands how the world works. The dichotomy of her character - her strengths as a lawyer and her innocence as a fresher in the industry - is what sets her apart from other female characters. An extraordinary show with a unique character as Anupriya delivers the best for Nikhat Hussain.

Shagun Singh in 1962: The War in the Hills
While most stories of war never show a detailed side of the soldier's family, this series also showcases the life of an army wife. In 1962: The War in the Hills, essaying the role of Shagun Singh, the wife of Major Suraj Singh is Mahie Gill. A strong woman who fights cancer without showing a strain of weakness and endless support for her husband who fought for the country, Shagun Singh makes 1962:The War in the Hills unmissable.