Abstract

This study examines the evolution of female characters in Hindi cinema exploring how their portrayals have shifted over time in response to changing social cultural and political contexts. Historically Hindi films often depicted women through a narrow lens characterized by traditional roles and stereotypical narratives. However as societal attitudes towards gender and women’s roles have transformed so too have the representations on screen. By analyzing key films from different decades this research identifies significant shifts in character development from the idealized figures of the early years to more complex and diverse portrayals in contemporary cinema. The study focuses on themes such as agency autonomy and diversity highlighting how female characters have moved from passive roles to dynamic protagonists who engage with a broader range of experiences and challenges. The analysis also considers the influence of social movements changes in audience expectations and the impact of