Bollywood's most popular 'widows'

With Kangana Ranaut playing the ‘quintessential widow’ in upcoming flick Double Dhamaal, we take a walk down the memory lane and check out the Bollywood’s most endearing widows of all time…

Bollywood's most popular 'widows'

1. Kangana Ranaut (Double Dhamaal)

Misery factor: There is no misery factor at all with this widow as Kangana does a light hearted spoof in the movie taking inspiration from the iconic widow Radha of Sholay, played by Jaya Bachchan.

Look wise:  Kangana has perfected her widow looks to the T, complete with a pristine white sari and no-make-up. Only her hair retains the glam quotient.

2. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (Choker Bali)

Misery factor: Aiahwarya played a Bengali widow Binodini, who was educated, charismatic and gutsy. She had to follow the code of conduct prescribed for the widows, which included abstinence from simple pleasures of life like relishing tea, chewing paan to falling in love, marrying again or enjoying sex.

Turning point: Binodini breaks free from the shackles of widowhood and seduces her brother-in-law, Mahendra , though she leaves him forever towards the end as a tribute to her bonding with Ashalata, played by Raima Sen.

Look wise: Binodini was at her sensual best despite being clad in a boring off-white cotton sari.

3. Amisha Patel (Mangal Pandey)

Misery factor: Amisha plays Jwala, a widow who is expected to be burnt alive in the pyre of her dead husband as a part of the barbaric ritual Sati.

Turning point: A British officer Gordon saves Jwala, thereby questioning the evil ritual. He later goes on to fall in love with the widow and the two also have some passionate moments, wherein a tear rolling down Amisha’s cheek tells the tale of her mixed emotions.

Look wise: In white Bengali sarees with hair let loose, Amisha looks beautiful and vulnerable at the same time.

4. Ayesha Takia (Dor)

Misery factor: A chirpy bubbly newly married Rajasthani girl, who loves dressing up like other new brides has to don the ominous black garb after the sudden demise of her husband. Being held responsible for the ill-luck by the family emotionally drains her further.

Turning point: Her friendship to Mira (Gul Panag), who is wife of Ayesha’s husband’s killer. Ayesha’s mental struggle to make-up her mind to forgive Meera’s husband and attain a new lease of life for her own self after breaking free from the widow tag.

Look wise: Ayesha’s grief and pain tears out the black attire forced upon her according to Rajasthani rituals.

5. Rani Mukherjee (Baabul)

Misery factor: A happily married Mili (Rani Mukherjee) loses her husband played by Salman Khan in an accident. She’s left with a child and in-laws.

Turning point: The film brings a breath of fresh air, when you see Mili’s father-in-law played by AmitabhBachchan convincing her and his elder brother to let her remarry with her childhood friend played by John Abraham. He succeeds after a struggles of seven long years.

6. Rani Mukherjee (Hum Tum)

Misery factor: The movie internationalises the concept of widow. Here, Ria Prakash, who lost 

her husband immediately after her marriage is a modern day widow, whose family will support her decision to remarry if she wants. But, grief doesn’t allow Riya to let go of her husband’s memories and she restrains herself from anything happy.

Turning point: There comes Karan, who brings a fresh perspective to Riya’s life. He makes her realise of her right to be happy and eventually the Riya agrees to marry Karan.

Look wise:  Riya wears chic clothes, though her choice of pastel shades and boring hues symbolize her misery.

7. Preeti Jhangiani (Mohobbatein)

Misery factor: Preeti plays Kiran, who is married to an Army officer who never returned from war, and she behaves as if her husband were still alive because of her father-in-law, General Khanna (Amrish Puri), who holds out hope that his son is alive.

Turning point: She mets Karan (Jimmy Shergill), who falls in love with her 

Look wise: Kiran wears churidaar-kurtas which are sexy enough to woo JimmySheirgill.

8. Padmini Kolhapure (Prem Rog)

Misery Factor: Marriage at an early age, husband dies in an accident and young Radha is held responsible for bringing bad luck. She is expected to lead a secluded life, chop off her hair, walk bare feet, eat simple food and remain love-less for the rest of her life. A lusty brother-in-law adds to her misery by trying to rape her.

Turning point: While, her sister in law, intervenes just before her hair are being chopeed off. Her childhood friend Rishi Kapoor comes to her rescue. He fights for her and eventually win the battle against a society where widow remarriage was a taboo.

Look wise: Her white saree and bare feet are tell-all symbols of her plight.

9. Jaya Bachchan (Sholay)

Misery Factor: She is the ‘iconic widow’ of Bollywood. Radha’s sad story started when Gabbar Singh killed her entire family leaving her alone with her father-in-law, Thakur. 

Turning Point: A spirited and bubbly Radha, loses her vivacity and lives a lonely life when Jai comes into her life. But her fate is doomed again when her secret admirer Jai is also killed.

Lookwise: Pristine white saree draped in a seedha pallu with head covered completes her look of rural widow.

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