Is ‘Akira’ Breaking The Action Heroine Stereotype In Bollywood?

Bollywood heroines have always had to compensate for hard-hitting action with overriding sensuality on screen.

Sonakshi Sinha’s upcoming film Akira, all set to release next month, is an action drama which revolves around a small-town girl who hits out, quite literally, at people who do her wrong. Now Bollywood has had its fair share of women doing action on screen - right from Fearless Nadia to Priyanka Chopra. But from what we see of Akira in its trailer, the film stands out for more than its kicking, punching protagonist.

In what looks like a first, here is an action heroine who is neither behaving like a man (think Rani Mukherjee’s Mardaani) nor oozing sensuality in sewn-to-the-body costumes. Instead she is a regular girl in regular clothes who lashes out at her attackers. In other words, a woman who doesn’t have to somehow overcompensate for her kicks and punches by exuding an overt, superglam Lara Croft-esque sensuousness.

The trailer shows Sonakshi - playing a girl from Jodhpur who comes to Mumbai to study - donning short kurtas with traditional Rajasthani jackets and leggings throughout, and in a couple of scenes even a shapeless brown t-shirt. No skin show, no outlandish costumes highlighting a 16-inch waist or femme fatale airs - but a regular girl who can kick to save herself without having to scream ‘feminine’.

And this is where Akira seems to be breaking stereotypes. Check out how Bollywood has portrayed its action heroines over the years.

Fearless Nadia, Hunterwali

Fearless Nadia truly lived up to her name. An Australian brought up in India, Mary Ann Evans aka Fearless Nadia was the first superhero on the Indian big screen. Playing a Robin Hood-esque role in Hunterwali (1935), she kicked butt like no one could imagine in those times - but in a way that showed off both her tremendous beauty as well as her lithe figure.

Zeenat Aman, Don

Zeenat Aman was undoubtedly one of the sexiest heroines ever to have graced Bollywood. And together with Parveen Babi, she broke numerous taboos to celebrate feminine freedom on the Indian screen. The superhit Don (1978) saw her as the tough girl Roma, who seeking revenge against the underworld kingpin, learns martial arts and aces it. But it wouldn’t serve just to see a Zeenat in pants and jackets, would it? So out came the uber-sexy gowns and steps to match. After all, you need oomph as well as karate chops to impress Don.

Priyanka Chopra, Drona

One of the early films of PeeCee’s career, Drona (2008) saw her play the role of a female bodyguard to Abhishek Bachchan’s character. Earnest as ever, Priyanka learnt gatka, a Sikh martial art form, for the film and performed the action scenes with elan. BUT, in case anyone forgot what a glam doll she is, she flaunted strange capes and headgear and of course, designer Bollywood ensembles that showed off her ample booty. And we are sure that song Oop Cha was integral to the plot and had nothing to do with getting Ms Chopra to groove like only she can.

Deepika Padukone, Chandni Chowk To China

What’s the point of a heroine doing action if they do not go slamming in a bodysuit pray? Deepika Padukone threw some mean punches as the femme fatale, agonisingly called Meow Meow, in Chandni Chowk To China (2009). And of course being the femme fatale also entails wooing the hero in super sexy dresses as well, not to mention sing and dance.

Kangana Ranaut, Krrish 3

Another instance of an ultra-glam bodysuit action lady - incidentally, the suit itself was rumoured to have costed Rs 1 crore. Wow. Kangana Ranaut played a badass shape-shifting female mutant in Krrish 3 (2013), and since just kicking in bodysuits never won over any superhero, Kangana had to don those outlandish designer costumes and swing to romantic numbers as well. What a waste.