Where the women ruled

If 2014 was the year when several heroine-centric films worked their magic at the box office, then 2015 certainly didn’t play spoilsport with the trend. In a year when the Salman Khan starrers Prem Ratan Dhan Payo and Bajrangi Bhaijaan made the most money, there were some quieter gems from the women of B-town. The ones that made it to the list featured uber-strong performances, or depended on the lead actress to carry the weight of a film’s success on her super-slim shoulders. Which ones made it to your favourites’ list in the year gone by

Kangana Ranaut in Tanu Weds Manu Returns

She had a couple of missteps with I Love New Year and Katti Batti, but the hit that was Tanu Weds Manu Returns was propelled along ably enough by Kangana Ranut in a double role. Reprising her role as the drama queen Tanu and introducing the sporty Kusum, Kangana had plenty of leeway to show off her histrionic skills, and she made good use of the opportunity.

Anushka Sharma in NH10

She had a hit in Dil Dhadakne Do, but it was in NH10 that Anushka Sharma truly shone in 2015. Her gritty performance was praise-worthy of course, but even more so, was her decision to take on the producer’s mantle with this less-than-mainstream movie. Anushka proved — like her character, the redoubtable Meera — that she could take on any challenge, and come out on top.

Deepika Padukone in Piku

To hold your own in a film that was said to have one of Amitabh Bachchan’s career-best performances is no mean feat. And it was Deepika Padukone who did justice to the titular role of Piku in this Shoojit Sircar film. Piku continued Deepika’s run of box office good luck, and before long, she would be turning in competent performances in Tamasha and Bajirao Mastani as well. But it is Piku that will be her most memorable role in 2015.

Bhumi Pednekar in Dum Laga Ke Haisha

An unconventional choice of a debut paid off and Bhumi Pednekar became the toast of B-town after her stellar turn as the smart, overweight Sandhya married to school dropout Prem in Dum Laga Ke Haisha. Even as she won over her reluctant onscreen husband in the film, Bhumi won audience’s hearts far more easily. She’s already picked up a Best Debutante award or two — we predict that she’ll be scooping up a whole lot more.

Kalki Koechlin in Margarita With A Straw

Kalki Koechlin has the ability to balance out roles in big-budget movies with offbeat appearances, as she did in 2015 with Margarita With A Straw. To her part of Laila — a young woman with cerebral palsy — Kalki brought both fragility and strength. It was an unqualified triumph, and as Kalki admitted, “the role of a lifetime”.