Bollywood Bets on Female-Led Theatrical Films as Daayra, Eetha and Shakti Shalini Line Up
The Times of India reports that Hindi studios are now backing actresses in large-scale theatrical films, with Daayra, Eetha and Shakti Shalini next in line.
Related movie: Daayra release date and details
Hindi cinema has another run of female-led theatrical releases coming, the Times of India reported in August 2026. They follow Alia Bhatt's Alpha and Huma Qureshi's Baby Do Die Do.
What happened
The report names Kareena Kapoor Khan's Daayra, Shraddha Kapoor's Eetha and Aditya Sarpotdar's Shakti Shalini as the next films in the slate. It argues that the trend stands out because of scale, not just numbers. These are crime thrillers, biographical dramas and supernatural films made as mainstream studio releases, not small festival titles.
The article places the shift in context. Women-led hits such as Queen, Raazi and Gangubai Kathiawadi have long existed but were treated as exceptions, while big-budget action films were built around male stars. Earlier in 2026, the Times of India reported that Rani Mukerji's Mardaani 3 was nearing ₹45 crore, according to Sacnilk.
Results have been mixed. Other coverage we reviewed, including an IWMBuzz opinion piece and a BollySpice column, notes that Alpha and Baby Do Die Do underperformed at the box office despite reasonable reviews.
What is confirmed
- Daayra, Eetha and Shakti Shalini are upcoming female-led Hindi theatrical releases named by the Times of India.
- Alpha (Alia Bhatt) and Baby Do Die Do (Huma Qureshi) released earlier in 2026.
- Mardaani 3 was nearing ₹45 crore, according to Sacnilk figures cited by the Times of India.
What is being reported
Several outlets report that Alpha and Baby Do Die Do underperformed commercially. Final box-office figures vary by source.
Who has responded
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh told the Times of India that there is an audience for women-led films "provided you make a well made film". He pointed to earlier stars such as Hema Malini, Shabana Azmi and Rekha, who headlined commercially successful films.
Timeline
- Times of India reports on the upcoming female-led slate
What happens next
Daayra and Eetha are among the next female-led Hindi releases. Check each film's page for its confirmed date.
Sources
- Times of India — Bollywood embraces female-led films: a new era of women in cinema
- Times of India — Mardaani 3, Assi: women-led cinema takes lead
- IWMBuzz — Rise of female-led films (opinion)
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