After essaying powerful characters in films like Akira and Force 2, Sonakshi Sinha is playing a journalist in her upcoming film Noor. Based on the novel Karachi, You’re Killing Me! by Pakistani novelist Saba Imtiaz, the Sunhil Sippy directorial chronicles the journo’s struggles in her professional life.
Bollywood has a love-hate relationship with the media. You might have stumbled upon old videos of journalists being snubbed by B-town ladies. An old footage showing Jaya Bachchan scolding scribes at a public event is still fresh in our minds. However, there have been films wherein the female protagonists have donned the role of a journalist reporting in difficult situations. Although their portrayal is more glamorous and a far cry from those in real life.
Here are five films which gained attention for having female protagonists playing journalists.
Kareena Kapoor Khan (Satyagraha) : Known for making films on social issues, Prakash Jha directed Satyagraha based on the 2011 Anna Hazare-led anti-corruption movement. An ensemble cast comprising Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, Arjun Rampal and Manoj Bajpayee attracted a lot of buzz before the release. However, the role which everybody was expecting was of Kareena Kapoor Khan. She essayed the role of a journalist who covers the entire movement in the film. But stardom overshadowed Kareena’s performance throughout the film.
Nargis Fakhri (Madras Cafe): John Abraham won accolades for playing an undercover Army officer in Sri Lankan conflict drama Madras Cafe. The film also featured Nargis Fakhri who essayed the role of a journalist who covers the ongoing events in the island nation. She had a very limited screen time in the Shoojit Sircar directorial and played a decent part offered to her.
Preity Zinta (Lakshya): Farhan Akhtar’s Kargil war drama Lakshya won a lot of awards despite being a commercial failure. Starring Hrithik Roshan, the film had Preity Zinta playing a war correspondent who also happens to be his love interest. The dimpled actress was praised for the off-beat role she essayed in the film. You should check out the song Kitni Baatein which speaks volume about her acting prowess.
Rani Mukerji (No One Killed Jessica): She is known for playing versatile roles of a deaf-blind girl, con woman, lawyer and others. But Rani Mukerji added another feather to her cap when she played a feisty journalist in No One Killed Jessica. Based on the Jessica Lall murder case, the film showed Rani in her badass avatar. She complimented the other lead Vidya Balan as the duo set the screen on fire.
Konkona Sen Sharma (Page 3): Madhur Bhandarkar’s Page 3 is arguably the best film made on a journalist’s life. Konkona Sen Sharma played the lead role of a journalist whose job involves attending parties hosted by the elite section of the society. Unlike others, her role was non-glamorous and more realistic as it chronicled the struggles of a journalist.
Also read: Maatr vs Noor on 21 April, will Sonakshi Sinha’s magic overshadow Raveena Tandon’s come-back?
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