For Indian female actors, 40 is the new 20

Storytellers are now coming up with scripts that give scope for senior actors to make a successful comeback

A significant sign that the Indian film industry is evolving is the fact that storytellers are coming up with scripts that have 40-plus actors as leading ladies, in films, OTT space as well as the television screen.

Here’s looking at popular stories that capture tales of womanhood in all its maturity.

---

Supriya Pilgaonkar in Janani: Supriya will soon be seen in the TV show Janani, which tells the story of a woman who is widowed, and faces the harsh realities of the world with a new perspective. She returns to television with the show, as a woman who faces a sudden jolt in life. The show explores various emotions of the woman who was otherwise accustomed to a simple, secure way of living.

Sushmita Sen in Aarya: The first season of the web series was appreciated immensely, and Sushmita is gearing up to return on season two of the crime thriller drama. “We always end up doing things differently. Especially at my age, I am able to wholly grasp the value of doing things differently,” she had said earlier.

Shefali Shah in Darlings: The Shah Rukh Khan film production will hit the screen later this year. While the shooting has yet to begin, the story explores the relation of a mother-daughter duo. Alia Bhatt will be seen essaying the role of Shefali’s on-screen daughter.

Kajol and Tanvi Azmi in Tribhanga: This trilingual film, which recently dropped in the OTT space, has three generations of women in a family, played by Tanvi Azmi, Kajol and Mithila Palkar. The story revolves around Kajol’s character, a celebrated dancer, discovering many truths about her estranged mother, an author, after the latter slips into a coma.

Suchita Trivedi in Indiawaali Maa: Suchita Trivedi came back to the limelight with Indiawaali Maa. Her character, of a mother trying to win back the affection of her son living in London, was high on emotional quotient.

Rupali Ganguly in Anupamaa: The actor is loved by the television viewing audience as the titular character in the show. Her simple, adjusting nature on-screen has made Anupamaa a much-loved character.