Lesbian, transgender to obese bahu: Women are breaking the mould on Indian television - Hindustan Times
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Lesbian, transgender to obese bahu: Women are breaking the mould on Indian television

Hindustan Times | ByAnjuri Nayar Singh, New Delhi
Mar 07, 2017 07:21 PM IST

Celebrating International Women’s Day today, here’s taking a look at the most powerful and interesting characters portrayed by women on small screen.

Playing the quintessential bahu on screen seems to be a thing of the past for female actors on Indian television, as we see more of them inclined towards playing interesting yet different characters. Over the years, there has been an evident shift in the kind of roles that women have showcased on daily soaps and audience only seem to be loving them.

Actor Rytasha Rathore, who plays an overweight bahu on screen, says there must be more shows with unconventional lead characters.
Actor Rytasha Rathore, who plays an overweight bahu on screen, says there must be more shows with unconventional lead characters.

Actor Rytasha Rathore plays an overweight bahu on the show Badho Bahu.
Actor Rytasha Rathore plays an overweight bahu on the show Badho Bahu.

Actor Rytasha Rathore plays an overweight bahu in the show Badho Bahu and says her character breaks the parameters of a stereotypical lead character. “Why can’t women who look heavy play lead roles in popular shows? Why do they always need someone lean? Why can’t people choose actors for their talent irrespective of their shape and size? These are a few unconventional beliefs and thoughts people are living with in the mainstream entertainment sector. We need to break this stereotype and I am blessed to have got the character of Badho,” she says.

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Actor Rubina Dilaik plays a transgender on screen.
Actor Rubina Dilaik plays a transgender on screen.

Actor Rubina Dilaik’s character of a transgender in the show Shakti Astitva Ke Ehsaas Kii took everyone by surprise and she says she’s glad that women are coming forward and accepting such different roles on screen. “I feel actresses are constantly picking up characters that are unusual and define their potential of achieving the impossible. This character made me push my limits on screen. Although I was hesitant initially, I know that I had to take up the role,” she says.

Actor Ridheema Tiwari has got a lot of appreciation for her role of Maldawali in Ghulaam.
Actor Ridheema Tiwari has got a lot of appreciation for her role of Maldawali in Ghulaam.

Actor Ridheema Tiwari plays a bold Maldawali in the show Ghulaam that she has received a lot of appreciation from her fans. The actor feels, “When you play a bold role, it makes you confident as a woman and as an actor too. It does not mean that if you cry on screen, you are not confident. A woman would not be able to do so many things in real life but when there is a character like this, it empowers you within and completely changes your perspective.”

Actor Shaily Priya Pandey plays a gay character in her show Queens Hain Hum.
Actor Shaily Priya Pandey plays a gay character in her show Queens Hain Hum.

Actor Shaily Priya Pandey portrays the character of a lesbian in the show Queens Hain Hum and the reason she took up the role was because it was very different compared to anything that has already been shown on television. “It was indeed a very big challenge because so far, no girl has played gay i a Tv show. Of course I was hesitant in the beginning but then I took it as a challenge and gave my best,” she was quoted as saying.

Actor Farnaz Shetty plays a man on screen in her show Waaris.
Actor Farnaz Shetty plays a man on screen in her show Waaris.

Actor Farnaz Shetty plays a man on the show Waaris. The show underwent a ten year leap before which the character was played by child actor Sania Touqueer. “My character Manu makes a statement due to the fact that being a girl, she has been raised as a boy. Having said that, as an artist, it’s extremely critical to play such kind of roles, as they make a strong impact on our society,” Shetty says.

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