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Beyond Fear: Bollywood's Supernatural Women Evolve from Ghosts to Protectors
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News18•04-10-2026, 09:30
Beyond Fear: Bollywood's Supernatural Women Evolve from Ghosts to Protectors
- •Bollywood films are redefining supernatural female characters, moving beyond traditional scary portrayals to give them complex stories and motivations.
- •Stree (2018) features Shraddha Kapoor as a mysterious spirit who transforms from a feared entity to a town protector, cleverly reversing gender fear dynamics.
- •Anushka Sharma's Pari (2018) delves into the tragic circumstances of Rukhsana, a character caught between supernatural forces and human cruelty, connected to the mythical Ifrit.
- •Bulbbul (2020) showcases Triptii Dimri's character transforming into a supernatural figure, reclaiming power and protecting women from violence, drawing on the chudail folklore.
- •Janhvi Kapoor's Roohi (2021) explores possession by Mudiyapairi, with the character eventually accepting this part of herself, offering a unique take on female identity and the supernatural.
Key Questions Answered
Yami Gautam's Nayyi Navelli is scheduled to release on October 16.
Shraddha Kapoor's mysterious character in Stree transitions from being a feared ghost that abducts men during an annual festival to ultimately becoming the protector of the fictional town of Chanderi.
In Pari, Anushka Sharma's character Rukhsana is connected to the supernatural world through the mythical Ifrit, portraying a tragic figure caught between supernatural forces and human cruelty.
