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Women power which has redefined Indian entertainment
The film industry in India has seen a monumental change with women coming in to the industry not only as pretty faces but as thinking women. The industry is seeing an increasing number of women wielding the megaphone, helming production houses, making inroads into male domains, and getting equal representation in board-rooms, story-telling and mass entertainment has undergone a huge shift. On this International Women’s Day, we are profiling five such powerful clutter-breakers who have imprinted Indian entertainment with courageous originality and freshness.
Shailja Kejriwal, Alankrita Shrivastava, Gauri Shinde, Zoya Akhtar, and Guneet Monga Alankrita Shrivastava:
Alankrita Shrivastava’s work demonstrates that women’s stories when narrated by a female auteur have a stunning resonance and power. Her 2017 feature ‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’ gave voice to a diverse cross-section of female protagonists from different age groups and social and economic backgrounds to show that the oppression of women is universal and takes many forms. The film, which is now recognised as one of the most important feminist stories ever told, travelled to over 80 international film festivals and won 18 international awards. Her third film ‘Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare’, web-show ‘Bombay Begums’ and her work in 2019’s ‘Made In Heaven’ explored themes of desire, guilt, shame, ambition, and fulfilment through the lens of female characters who have never been seen before on the big or the small screen.
Shailja Kejriwal:
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd CCO special projects Shailja Kejriwal is a pioneering visionary who continues to harness the power of storytelling to celebrate not just diverse streams of culture but the #RiseofWomeninTheatre. Be it Zindagi, a treasure trove of cross-border entertainment, or Zee Theatre, India’s first major curation and digital archival initiative, Shailja has tirelessly demonstrated that mass entertainment can be meaningful and enriching. Zee Theatre not only preserves the riches of Indian and global theatre for future generations but has also aired international musical blockbusters like ‘The Sound of Music Live!’, ‘Hairspray Live!’, ‘Peter Pan Live!’ and ‘Billy Elliot: The Musical’ in India for the first time. From curating award-winning documentaries like ‘Shut Up Sona’ to producing original teleplays like Gunehgaar, Shadyantra, Yeh Shaadi Nahi Ho Sakti and original shows like Churails, Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam, Barzakh, Shailja’s focus on women and their stories remains unwavering.
Gauri Shinde:
Gauri Shinde’s sensitive, empathetic gaze depicts the vulnerabilities and unexpressed emotions of women in her delicately nuanced films like ‘English Vinglish’ and ‘Dear Zindagi’. While the former depicted Sridevi, the biggest superstar of her generation as a self-effacing, under-confident homemaker, the latter explored the angst of a young girl who has been labelled as the proverbial ‘black-sheep’ of her family and finally gets therapy to deal with her pain. The film made much-needed observations on self-love and mental health. Gauri engaged with gender questions even as an ad filmmaker and in 2004, made Y Not?, a short which was about the nation’s preoccupation with a boy-child. She also created the ‘ShareTheLoad’ campaign with Ariel India and ‘It’s Between You’ for WhatsApp India.
Zoya Akhtar:
From her very first film ‘Luck By Chance’ (2009), Zoya Akhtar established herself as a unique and refreshing story-teller with a distinct style of her own. With ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara'(2011) and Dil Dhadakne Do (2015), she joined the category of makers who are critically acclaimed and also capable of delivering blockbusters. In 2015, she along with Reema Kagti founded Tiger Baby Films, and the success of the web series, ‘Made in Heaven’ and the raw and gritty ‘Gully Boy’ underscored her versatility and demonstrated that she was a creative force to reckon with. As a prominent director and producer, she is willing to take risks and break free from commercial tropes entrenched in a male-dominated business. She is not only creating a space for unusual stories but also powerful female characters with agency, dignity, and defiance who take on the patriarchy and win.
Guneet Monga:
As the founder of Sikhya Entertainment, Guneet Monga has gone where no producer has gone before. This winner of the Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres award is known for ‘Period- End of Sentence’, an Academy Award-winning documentary short film, ‘The Elephant Whisperers’, another Academy Award-nominated documentary short film, BAFTA nominee, ‘The Lunchbox’ and also path-breaking films like ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ – Part 1, ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ – Part 2, ‘Masaan’, ‘Zubaan’ and ‘Pagglait’. In 2018, she was inducted into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and has also been voted as one of the top 12 women achievers in the global entertainment industry by The Hollywood Reporter.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
