Bollywood is seeing a growing shift towards women-led action films, with female protagonists increasingly taking centre stage
For years, Bollywood’s biggest action franchise films have belonged almost exclusively to men. Whether it was Salman Khan’s Tiger in Ek Tha Tiger (2012), Tiger Zinda Hai (2017) and Tiger 3 (2023), or Ajay Devgn’s Singham in Singham (2011), Singham Returns (2014) and Singham Again (2024), the industry’s most valuable franchises have been built around male superstars.
Women, regardless of their popularity, were usually cast as romantic interests, supporting characters or occasional action heroes whose stories rarely extended beyond a single film.
That formula is beginning to change. The past year has witnessed one of the most significant shifts in mainstream Indian cinema, with major studios placing women at the centre of large-scale action franchises. Yash Raj Films Alpha (2026), starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, marks the first female-led film in the hugely successful YRF Spy Universe.
At the same time, Mardaani 3 (2026) has brought back Rani Mukerji’s fearless police officer Shivani Shivaji Roy, reaffirming one of Bollywood’s longest-running female-led action franchises. In Telugu cinema, Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s Maa Inti Bangaram (2026) has rewritten box-office history by becoming the first solo female-led Telugu film to cross INR 1 billion worldwide.
Taken together, these films suggest that Bollywood is no longer merely experimenting with women-led action stories. It is beginning to treat female protagonists as commercially viable franchise brands capable of generating sequels, spin-offs and long-term intellectual property.
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In an industry built around male heroes, the contrast with the past could hardly be greater.
Over the last 15 years, India’s biggest action franchises have almost entirely revolved around male stars and have collectively earned well over INR 30 billion worldwide, making the Spy Universe one of India’s most valuable cinematic properties.
Similarly, Rohit Shetty’s Cop Universe has relied on Singham (2011), Singham Returns (2014), Simmba (2018), Sooryavanshi (2021) and Singham Again (2024). Even when Deepika Padukone joined Singham Again (2024) as Lady Singham, her character was introduced within an already established male-led universe rather than leading a standalone franchise.
Historically, Bollywood has produced memorable female action characters, right from the days of Fearless Nadia or Mary Ann Evans in the 1930s and 1940s, but rarely invested in them as franchises. More recently, Sridevi headlined Army (1996), Priyanka Chopra played an action-oriented role in Don 2 (2011), Taapsee Pannu starred in Naam Shabana (2017), a spin-off from Baby (2015), Kangana Ranaut led Dhaakad (2022), while Deepika Padukone appeared as ISI agent Rubina Mohsin in Pathaan (2023). Although these performances were widely appreciated, none developed into sustained blockbuster franchises comparable to their male counterparts.
Alpha changes the equation
The most ambitious test of this new strategy is Alpha, scheduled for release on December 25. Unlike previous female-led action films, Alpha is not an isolated project. It is the first female-led chapter in the YRF Spy Universe, India’s biggest espionage franchise. By making Alia Bhatt and Sharvari the lead spies, Yash Raj Films is effectively asking audiences whether women can carry the same franchise value previously associated with Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan.
The move represents a major financial gamble. Franchise filmmaking has become Bollywood’s preferred business model because familiar characters reduce commercial risk while generating theatrical revenues, streaming deals, merchandising opportunities and international appeal. If Alpha succeeds, it could fundamentally alter how studios build future cinematic universes.
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The return of Shivani Roy
While Alpha represents the future, Mardaani 3 demonstrates the longevity that female action characters can achieve.
When Mardaani released in 2014, Rani Mukerji’s portrayal of Mumbai police officer Shivani Shivaji Roy stood apart from conventional Bollywood heroines. She was neither a glamorous side character nor a romantic partner. She drove the narrative through intelligence, physical courage and emotional resilience.
The success of Mardaani was followed by Mardaani 2 (2019), and now Mardaani 3, making it one of Bollywood’s few enduring female-led action franchises. Although operating on smaller budgets than films in the Spy Universe, the series has consistently attracted audiences and demonstrated that viewers remain invested in women-led crime thrillers.
South India joins the movement
The transformation is not confined to Bollywood. One of the biggest stories of 2026 has been Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s Maa Inti Bangaram, a Telugu action drama that has crossed INR 1 billion worldwide, making it the first solo female-led Telugu film to achieve the milestone.
Another important addition to the slate this year is Jaayra, a female-led action thriller positioned as a mainstream theatrical entertainer. Unlike earlier women-centric films that were often marketed as niche productions, Jaayra is being developed as a commercial action spectacle, reflecting increasing confidence among producers.
Industry insiders also point to a broader pipeline of projects. Besides Alpha, several studios are exploring female-led action, mythology and fantasy franchises, with actresses including Alia Bhatt, Deepika Padukone, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Rashmika Mandanna, Tamannaah Bhatia and Wamiqa Gabbi increasingly being considered for physically demanding lead roles that were once almost exclusively reserved for male stars. This marks a significant departure from Bollywood’s long-standing formula of centring big-budget action films around male actors.
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A global trend reaches India
Bollywood’s evolution mirrors developments across international cinema. Hollywood demonstrated the commercial potential of women-led action films much earlier. Patty Jenkins-starring Wonder Woman (2017) grossed more than USD 823 million worldwide, while Captain Marvel (2019) crossed USD 1.13 billion, becoming one of Marvel Studios’ biggest hits. With Charlize Theron, Atomic Blonde (2017), Netflix’s The Old Guard (2020), Kate (2021), The Woman King (2022) and the Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) with Viola Davis further proved that audiences were willing to embrace women as action heroes.
Streaming platforms have accelerated this transformation. Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+ have introduced Indian audiences to women-led action series and spy thrillers from across the world, gradually normalising female protagonists in genres once dominated by men.
Changing audience expectations
The shift is also being driven by economics. Bollywood has faced inconsistent box-office performance since the pandemic. Rising production costs, changing audience preferences and increasing competition from South Indian cinema have compelled producers to rethink established formulas.
At the same time, India’s cinema audience has changed significantly. Women now account for a growing share of multiplex viewers, while younger audiences increasingly seek stories featuring complex female characters rather than traditional romantic stereotypes.
The success of films such as Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022), Crew (2024), Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway (2023), Jigra (2024), Mardaani 3 (2026) and Maa Inti Bangaram has strengthened industry confidence that actresses can attract audiences independently of male co-stars.
