Heroines, the new heroes?

Kahaani. Queen. Gulaab Gang. Revolver Rani. You know what these films have in common. But, do you know what’s missing in them? It’s the almost-deified lead male actor. Each of these heroine-oriented films had no popular hero, in some cases, no male actor at all! Did the filmmaker see no merit in adding a male character or was no hero man enough to agree to a role that pales in front of the leading lady? Whatever be the case, these female-oriented films unabashedly celebrated their no-guy-required status.

With last week’s release Bobby Jasoos once again putting Vidya Balan out there in the limelight, harshikaa udasi takes a quick look at some of the upcoming films in which women lead from the front.

Vidya Balan: Samar Shaikh’s Bobby Jasoos (Just released)

It was Kahaani that actually showed that an actress could pull off a film in this country and ensure a good return on investment too. Vidya Balan is the sort of actress who touches not the obvious money-spinners, yet manages to make money on them. While The Dirty Picture (released before Kahaani) had three male actors, it was Vidya who stole the thunder. Her last two films Ghanchakkar (with Emraan Hashmi) and Shaadi Ke Side Effects (with Farhan Akhtar) tanked at the box office. The most surprising outcome of this is, for Bobby Jasoos, the producers went all out to promote it as a solo-heroine project to ensure that the film runs! Sources say that that was the reason why Ali Fazal, Vidya’s younger co-star, was not involved in the film’s promotions with her.

Rani Mukerji: Pradeep Sarkar’s Mardaani (August 22)

Mrs Chopra aka Rani Mukerji is the new boss at YashRaj Films and is making sure she sends out the right signal too. Mardaani is her second collaboration with Pradeep Sarkar and the two take on a female-oriented film yet again after the debacle of Laaga Chunari Mein Daag. The film is about child-trafficking and Rani is the tough-as-nails crime branch officer on the job. Who’s the guy? Nobody.

Bipasha Basu: Vikram Bhatt’s Creature 3D (September 12)

So besides the creature, Bipasha Basu needs a hero? Director Vikram Bhatt has imported Pakistani television actor and model Imran Abbas Naqvi for the job. VFX is the mainstay of this monster thriller sci-fi film that’s basically shot with Bipasha. Is the hero only eye candy? Or was the director left with no choice?

Sonam Kapoor: Shashank Shah’s Khoobsurat (September 19)

Is Pakistan the new go-to place for sourcing Bollywood heroes? Or is it only the case when the subject is woman-oriented with little scope for herogiri? Rakesh Roshan was overshadowed by Rekha in the original Khoobsurat. Possibly no Bollywood hero wanted to go down that route again. Which could be the reason why Disney UTV has got Fawad Khan to star opposite Sonam. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the Pakistani actor, model and singer, known for his role in Khuda Kay Liye has also bagged a YashRaj film.

Sonakshi Sinha: Yet-untitled A R Murugadoss film (To go on the floors)

Murugadoss is candidly calling his film a hero-centric project. The only difference is that the hero is Sonakshi Sinha. “There will be no male hero in the film. (Sonakshi will play the hero) much in the same way as Aamir Khan in Ghajini and Akshay Kumar in Holiday,” the man has been quoted. The director has said he has committed to a female action thriller with Fox Star Studios and the subject is very close to his heart. “It will send out a very strong message to the women of India,” he has said. Sonakshi will train in traditional martial arts for the role.