Appreciation doesn’t necessarily need a day, in particular. But it is always kind to have a day that reminds us of the importance of a special someone. One such occasion is International Women’s Day. In honour of the many women who paved path, shattered glass ceiling, and held ground for us, the least that we say is a simple ‘thank you!’ So, let’s take a look at a few of the lot who brought out strong characters on-screen.

In a world that obsesses over the ‘perfect’ shape, every woman finds herself to be not-good-enough. At a time when people preached starving to look a certain way, Anushka Shetty came to our rescue with Size Zero. Let’s keep the Disney dreams aside because reality can be beautiful too. She proved that we need to love ourselves.

Gone are the days when girls had to be a certain way to be accepted by the so-called society. Today, women know what they want and how to earn whatever they wish for. Bringing out the goofy, quirky girl of today’s world, Samantha Akkineni, in A Aaa, showed the world that there is more than one way of doing things.

Pooja Hegde has won everyone’s heart with her effervescent personality. Time and again, she has also brought strong and opinionated women on-screen who do not believe in bending down to the societal rules. In Saakshyam, she showed the world how a girl’s lifestyle choices have nothing to do with her spirituality. In Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava, Pooja played the strong character who let everyone know that she was the other ‘half’ in a relationship and not a subordinate.

It was in the late 2000s when Kajal Aggarwal showed us the meaning of consent and confidence, with Chandamama. Her character was that of a city girl who does not forget her roots.

Shruti Haasan’s character in Srimanthudu is truly the one to inspire many. In a society that continues to turn their back to harsh realities, she proves that ones might and focus can make all the difference. She puts it out, loud and clear, that women have ambitions – and these ambitions will only get bigger and better.

From female infanticide to dowry system, a girl ends up being in many hells just because her life doesn’t fit well to one’s idea. But hey, its 2020 and these women have decided to make things count. Sai Pallavi, in Kanam, takes a dig at the age-old notions and tells us that it’s time for us the take the blinders out and embrace girls.

The newest entrant, Shraddha Srinath was commended for her role in Jersey. Here, we saw her as the girl who fell for the strong man. But she won all the brownie points when she ended up being the one to hold the fort. She opened the eyes of many to the fact that women, on their own, can do a lot more than what the world gives them credit for.

Long before we woke up to the conversation or thought of women’s equality or empowerment, Ramya Krishnan began founding a new path. From Padayappa to Sailaja Reddy Alludu, she has always embraced ‘off-beat’ roles with open arms. While she has garnered appreciation for her acting prowess, she has also made women of all kinds more real on the big screen.

We cannot not talk about the yesteryear beauty, Jayasudha, who continues to be a trailblazer in Indian cinema. Of course, she did many important and amazing roles as the leading lady of the film. But her true beauty and strength were given due credit much later. With films like Bommarillu and Sathamanam Bhavathi, Jayasudha showed the world that they are all for love, but one wrong step and you will witness the side of them you wouldn’t want to see.

Last, but not least, let’s take a moment to remember Sridevi and her unconditional contribution to Indian cinema. From Padaherella Vayasu to English Vinglish, this iconic actor has given us many roles where she has willingly shattered boundaries with a graceful smile.

Stay tuned as we take a bow to these amazing women. You can also catch all the latest entertainment on ZEE5 here.