Top 5 Women oriented films in Bollywood

She is soft and yet very strong inside. Her endurance is beyond imagination. She can handle trouble and carry heavy burden with equal ease. She displays many emotions from joy to jealousy, from fear to fondness and from sadness to surprise. What's more she is truly someone who wears many hats each day as a mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter and a professional and yet excels in all her roles. She is none other than the Woman.

Even in reel-life, no Bollywood potboiler is complete without a woman's presence. Her presence simply lights up the screens thereby creating an unmatchable aura within the dark confines of the cinema hall. Hence, on this special occasion of Women's Day Bollywood Hungama takes a trip down memory lane and brings you some of the top women oriented films to have hit the silver screen.

Lajja

In a land where women are worshipped in the name of Laxmi and Durga, they are also tortured, abused, humiliated and sometimes killed. Lajja showcases the journey of one such woman (Manisha Koirala) who is on the run, hiding from her husband. Whilst on this expedition to seek safety, she comes across three strong-minded women (Mahima Chaudhary, Madhuri Dixit and Rekha) who are bearing the punishment of being independent women. Drawing relevance to real life situations, the film makes one aware that though our society has progressed, somewhere these malpractices still continue against women. Lajja is the poignant story of those women who become prey to man's malevolence but still continue to fight.

Dor

Life has varied stages for women, but worst is if in the due course she loses her life partner forever. Dor is one such movie wherein Ayesha Takia married at a young age is forced to renounce happiness and live a life of repentance when her husband dies. When a family member dies, it sure is a moaning period but for how long will a woman moan. Doesn't she have the right to be happy ever again? Somehow, a woman is expected to moan all her life. Ayesha Takia's character in Dor suffers everyday. Gul Panag, who becomes Ayesha's friend, then makes her release that her life is not over and that she deserves to live happily like any other human being. Ayesha takes her first step towards her new life and moves on.

Chak De India

Very often sports are considered as a male dominant activity. Chak De India discards this pre-conceived notion. The film throws light on the forgotten game (which is also our national game), Hockey, and displays how the 'chakla belan chalane wali ladkiyan' can also make their nation proud. Chak De India emphasizes that women may not be physically stronger than men, but can put up a strong fight with undying energy and can match them even in the toughest of sport. Not just emphasizing on the physical fitness, but the film through the characters of Vidya Sharma and Preeti Sabarwal, also shows that women are very much capable of creating space for themselves in a so called 'male dominated' society.

Astitva

Is the identity of a woman always marked with that of her husband's? Does a woman have a separate identity within a marriage? Astitva is the story of a woman (Tabu), who forgets herself and her desires to fulfill her duty as a devoted loyal wife. Where a man, (Sachin Khedekar) can break the laws of marriage and gets forgiven, a woman is condemned for the same. Living in the 21st century, when the so called 'broad-minded' son refuses to accept her, she decides that it is never too late to rediscover her lost identity. The film very clearly indicates that women can stand with or without men. Just because she has immense patience and endurance, one must not take her for granted. Her silence does not signify her ignorance.

Mother India

When we talk of women oriented films, it is impossible to not include Mother India. The film was a complete package of social relevance. It narrates the story of a village woman (Nargis) who supports her husband in his work and also manages home. After an accident when Rajkumar loses his hands, Nargis takes over as the earning member of the family. Even when her husband runs away looking at his helplessness to get the family out of debt, she stands determined to fight the survival match. A disaster strikes when the entire village is swept away by floods. She also loses her youngest child in it. But the woman remains strong fending for her two sons for whom she is both the mother and the father. She fought for what she believed in and stood up against injustice, even if that meant to sacrifice her own son, because she believed what he was doing was wrong. Such is the trait of a woman. She can be humble and forgiving, but at the same time, if needed, she can also be merciless.

The super wives of Bollywood

The woman of today is no more dependent on her man to carve her individual identity. In every stretch and field, the female species matches the male and at times ever overtakes him. Bollywood too is no exception. On Women’s day, we celebrate the spirit of those Bollywood wives who have gained recognition of their own and are not overshadowed by their successful husbands.

Seema Khan – Seema Khan, wife of actor-director Sohail Khan has an identity of her own and is not dependent on her husband when it comes to gaining recognition. Though not involved with the film industry, she has many film celebrities as her clients. That’s because she is a fashion designer who runs her own boutique in Mumbai. She also has her own designer label.

Her clientele includes brother-in-law Arbaaz Khan, sister-in-law Malaika Arora Khan, Amrita Arora, Sonali Bendre and models Tapur, Gauhar Khan, Mridula and Nina Manuel. Seema has showcased her collections at the Lakme India Fashion Week 2006 and many such eventful occasions.

Husband Sohail Khan was once quoted saying that he cannot afford his wife Seema Khan for designing for any of his productions as the prices charged by her are on a higher range. Perhaps that explains why Bollywood still eludes her!

Tania Deol – Bobby Deol’s wife, Tania maintains the Deol legacy of bahus staying away from films. But at the same time Tania happens to be the most known name amongst Deol wives. Tania got married at a young age and had nothing to do at that time other than accompanying Bobby on his film sets. So she took up a diploma course in interiors and soon gained a liking towards designing coffee tables, chairs and other furniture pieces.

With her inherent sense of aesthetics, she graduated from single pieces to conceiving a theme and recreating an entire space. Starting off from furniture, she now also designs accessories like candles, chandeliers, lamp shades, lights and wall hangings. She does consult architects but has a mind of her own.

With a workshop stationed at Sunny Super Recording Studio, her client list boasts of names from the corporate and movie world.
Gauri Khan – From being a campus girlfriend of Shah Rukh Khan to being the wife of the biggest superstar of Hindi cinema, Gauri Khan has graduated gigantically. The couple got married before Shah Rukh started in films and are still going rock-solid in times of treacherous temptations.

Gauri has been a terrific support system to Shah Rukh Khan and has stood like the Rock of Gibraltar for him in all phases. Her movie connection was always linked with SRK in the means of designing costumes for his films like Baazigar, Karan Arjun to Kabhi Haa Kabhi Naa. She took charge of Khan’s production outfit, Red Chillies Entertainment, and turned producer with films like Main Hoon Na, Paheli and Om Shanti Om.

Recently Gauri even appeared on the cover of Vogue magazine. And this time without SRK!

Mana Shetty – They started their dating in Udipi restaurants during their courtship period. And today Suniel Shetty and wife Mana Shetty add grace to the elite events of moviedom. Though Mana has not partnered Suniel as a producer or designer on any of his projects, she is known for being the reason of peace and contentment in Suniel Shetty’s life.

Mana is one star wife who doesn’t need Bollywood to define her identity.

Katie Holmes Says She Went To Heaven After Falling in Love with Tom Cruise

Katie Holmes claims her life is a dream come true.

The former ‘Dawson’s Creek’ actress says being married to Tom Cruise and
becoming a mother to their 22-month-old daughter Suri has completed her and
she can’t believe how lucky she is.

She said: “Being in heaven was falling in love with Tom and having our
daughter. I’m such a lucky woman. Sometimes I feel like I’m dreaming. It was
always my dream as a child to marry Tom Cruise!”

Katie, 29, began dating 45-year-old Tom in April 2005, and has been madly in
love with the “most wonderful human being” ever since.

She told Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper: “We just went on this great date
together, and it’s been wonderful ever since. He’s the most amazing man in
the world. I’m so happy. I love him. I feel like he’s made my life.

“He’s just amazing. He’s kind, generous, smart, he’s Tom Cruise - he’s the
most artistic man I’ve ever met. He makes me laugh like I’ve never laughed.

He’s made me feel joy like I never have before. There are so many things.
He’s the most wonderful human being I know.”

Katie Holmes Makes Victoria Beckham Mad Over Tattoo Comment

Katie Holmes has reportedly made her pal Victoria Beckham mad after making comments about her new tattoo. Sources alleged that the Spice Girl got a new tattoo of the phrase “De Integro,” which means “afresh.” She asked Holmes to get the tattoo also, but the actress refused saying it was “trashy.”

Beckham, who is married to soccer star David Beckham, was said to be “pretty shocked and upset” by the comment.

Meanwhile, Holmes has gushed about her husband Tom Cruise in an interview with In Style magazine. She said it was love at first sight. “It happened in an instant. When you fall in love, it’s like time stops. I try every day to make Tom know how much I love him. It gets better and better,” she said.