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Which actresses have their own box office standing today?
Bollywood remains a male dominated industry and will continue to be so for a while. Gone are the days when actresses commanded an equal footing and sometimes even wielded more power than the heroes. Especially with the emergence of the Khans in the 90s, the heroine has become a mere showpiece in their films.
Recently TOI has listed that only four actresses today, command their own box office standing with hit heroine-centric films that needed no make megastar -:
1. SRIDEVI - The first female superstar of Indian Cinema, Sridevi's comeback is now officially the greatest ever in Bollywood. To comeback after 15 years in a film that had no big hero but entirely revolved around you and yet make it a global success - only a legend like her could have set the bar so high. Sridevi perhaps remains the last actress who had films revolving entirely around her like Nagina, Chandni, Chaalbaaz, Gumrah & Judaai and 15 years later she again proved that she will always remain the 'hero' of her films. With English Vinglish becoming a worldwide hit and earning her sobriquets like India's Meryl Streep and Japan's Female Rajinikanth, Sridevi's box office power is vindicated once again. And when you look at other actresses struggling to give a decent comeback film, you know why Sri was voted 'India's Greatest Actress in 100 Years.'
2. VIDYA BALAN - Vidya has done what many actresses post the 80s and 90s failed to do. Command films and scripts where she was the be- all and end-all. Vidya also started with really strong roles in films like Parineeta and Bhul Bhulayya but it is with films like Paa and Ishqiya that she came on her own. And then came Dirty Picture and Kahaani and Vidya Balan proved that she needed no hero to make her films box office gold. It is quite evident that when Vidya does films where she is a mere sidekick like Kismat Konnection , neither the film nor Vidya herself shines. It is when she is at the helm of affairs that the actress takes off. Recently Bobby Jasoos may not have set the box office on fire but we are sure that next great role is round the corner.
3. PRIYANKA CHOPRA - Priyanka's like Sridevi and Vidya, also began with nondescript roles but her versatility and ability to manifest strong characters soon paid off. A gamble like Aitraaz worked where despite playing the antagonist, PC's histrionics won over the audiences and critics. Some good films followed but it was finally Madhur Bhandarkar's Fashion that brought not just rave reviews and awards but also consolidated Priyanka's box office standing as a heroine who needed no hero to strike gold at the ticket windows. A gutsy film with a gutsy performance, the actress soared and how in that role. And now with Mary Kom, Priyanka is all set to raise the bar once more. Here's hoping she gets to play more such magnificent characters.
4. KANGANA RANAUT - A few months ago Kangana may not have made it to this list. But then came a film called Queen and overnight Kangana has become the new box office queen. Queen is now to Ranaut what English Vinglish is to Sridevi. Both films started slow but excellent word of mouth and repeat viewings made them both box office winners. Despite being a superlative actress, Kagana has so far mostly played the typical heroine with a rare Fashion of Woh Lamhe thrown in. With Queen, Kangana has reasserted her place in the Bollywood sun and looks raring to make the kill again. The question is, where will she find another perfect script like Queen to showcase her spectacular talent?
Here's hoping other actresses also get a chance to prove their box office power!!!
