Nudity has been associated with art since medieval times. Art that was transitioned from paintings to cinema hasn’t changed that aspect either. In the west this phenomenon has been recognised as artistic demand. However, on the Indian front we have termed it as vulgarity and do not dare to explore the mere presentation of flesh onscreen.
Overcoming such stereotypical approaches in Bollywood, many leading ladies dared to bare it all onscreen. They are not only remembered for the powerful performance but also setting standards of a good actor when it came to their profession. From Kubbra Sait in Sacred Games to Seema Biswas Bandit in Bandit Queen, here are eight women who broke the glass ceiling.
Simi Garewal- Siddhartha (1972)
Best known for her famous chat show ‘Rendezvous with Simi Garewal’, Simi has given several bold scenes onscreen over the years. She is still considered as one the top leading ladies of Indian cinema who was ahead of her time.
Zeenat Aman- Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978)
Starring the beauty queen of yesteryears Zeenat Aman, the film is based on a woman who hides her disfigured face but is abandoned when discovered. The plot takes a dramatic twist which shows Zeenat baring it all.
Mandakini- Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985)
Mandakini may have been away from Bollywood now, but the blue-eyed beauty made her some serious fans after sporting a wet look in the waterfall that revealed more than what was expected.
Seema Biswas- Bandit Queen (1996)
A film made on famous female bandit Phoolan Devi featured Seema Biswas in many scenes that required nudity. The celluloid is one of the few films that has showcased what could be termed as objectionable scenes in Indian cinema.
Nandana Sen- Rang Rasiya (2008)
This Randeep Hooda starrer didn’t do well due to several intimate scenes including one in which Nandana bares it all. However, those who have seen it already, claim it is a must watch simply for the narrative.
Mallika Sherawat- Hisss (2010)
Mallika Sherawat is a renowned bold figurine in Bollywood. She has broken all barriers when it came to onscreen intimacy or even going butt naked in her international venture titled Hisss where she essayed the role of a shapeshifting snake.
Radhika Apte- Parched (2015)
Over the years, Radhika has given some of the most terrific performances as an actress. The film Parched touches upon four women in Gujarat talking about men, sex and life as they struggle to survive. The film some bold scenes delivered by Apte.
Kubbra Sait- Sacred Games (2018)
As Sacred Games is gearing up for its second season, fans can never forget Cuckoo played by Kubbra Sait. Full frontal nudity in Bollywood is still an untouched subject, however it was the first time it was done on an Indian platform, of course courtesy Netflix.
