For women making their movies and especially making their mark in a male-dominated industry like Bollywood it is not easy. However, Guneet Monga, Mira Nair, Prerna Arora, Ashwini Iyer Tiwary, Kiran Ral, and Zoya Akhtar have proven that everyone has space to exist and excel. To celebrate International Women’s Day today, we want to shine the spotlight on influential women filmmakers who have succeeded and redefined the narrative of Indian cinema with their impactful films.
Mira Nair
A pioneer in film the world over, Mira Nair needs no introduction. The filmmaker was one of the first female filmmakers who put India on the global map. Her filmography boasts epics such as Salaam Bombay!, Golden Globe winner Hysterical Blindness, Vanity Fair, The Namesake, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, and the series ‘The Suitable Boy’. This powerhouse of talent also has numerous documentaries and loves to showcase her Indian roots and heritage on the global platform through her work.
Guneet Monga
This woman of substance and grit has often backed unconventional films and new talent in her journey as a filmmaker. She’s known for taking risks in her film choices, which has helped her succeed and triumph in the industry. She produced the outstanding film, ‘The Elephant Whisperers’, which won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film. Over the years, Guneet has produced films like Peddlers(2012), Gangs of Wasseypur franchise, Kathal, and many more.
Prerna Arora
Prerna Arora chose to bring something new to film by backing films with social issues. She has films like Toilet: Ek Prem Katha (2017), Rustom (2016), and Padman (2018) to her credit. Now, this dynamic filmmaker is gearing up for two upcoming projects: ‘Hero Heeroine’ starring Divyah Khosla Kumar and ‘Dunk’ starring Nidhhi Agerwal, which highlights the issue of the land mafia.
Ashwini Iyer Tiwari
A look at Ashwini’s filmography, and you will see how her films are from a woman’s point of view, which is such a rarity in filmmaking. She became a much sought-after director after her directorial debut, the comedy-drama Nil Battey Sannata (2016). She won her first Filmfare Award for Best Director for the romantic comedy-drama Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017).
Kiran Rao
Kiran Rao has brought a new voice to Indian cinema with her unique films. Not only as a producer of many excellent films, she has also shined as a director. Her debut film was the critically acclaimed hit film Dhobi Ghat in 2011. Her most recent film is the fabulous Laapataa Ladies, which once again is garnering rave reviews from critics and fans alike.
Zoya Akhtar
It all began with the outstanding film Luck By Chance in 2009, and Zoya became a filmmaker to watch out for and look up to. It is still a favorite of Hindi film fans to this day. With her second film, Zindagi Na Milengi Dobara, she once again tasted critical and commercial success, and she has not stopped. From projects like Dil Dhakane Do, Gully Boy, Lust Stories, Ghost Stories to her latest with young debutantes in Netflix’s ‘The Archies’, Zoya blended the best of both worlds – commercial and dreamy but also real, not just reel, making her one of the best filmmakers of B-town.
