Best Kalki Koechlin Starrer Films That Prove The Actor Deserves More Appreciation

Best Kalki Koechlin Films: Actor Kalki Koechlin has contributed to some of the most amazing works in the Indian film industry taking up some very unconventional roles. While the actor has amassed critical acclaim for her works, she still remains underrated in mainstream cinema. Here are the best Kalki Koechlin films that have provided the audience with entertainment as well as important subjects to reflect upon.

Kalki Koechlin is an actor of French descent who works in the Indian film industry. Not only does the actor has proficient acting skills, but she is also an ardent supporter of women's rights and is often seen advocating for the causes like body positivity, gender sensitisation as well as normalising taboos such as body hair and pregnancy before marriage. While Koechlin predominantly works in Hindi-language films, she has acted in South Indian projects as well. Kalki Koechlin made her Bollywood debut with 2009 film Dev D as Chanda.

Koechlin has amassed recognition as an actor with awards including Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor (Female) in 2010, National Film Award in Special Jury Award category in 2016 and Screen Award for Best Female Actor (Critics) also in 2016.

Here are the best Kalki Koechlin films to watch if you haven't yet:

Margarita With A Straw

Directed by Shonali Bose, the 2014 film Margarita With A Straw follows the story of a young woman with cerebral palsy who leaves her home in a rebellious act to study abroad while discovering love and exploring her sexuality. Along with Koechlin, the cast includes Revathi and Sayani Gupta in prominent roles. Koechlin also received the National Film Award in the Special Jury category for her role of a specially-abled woman. In the film, the actor was seen portraying a woman with disability without reducing the actor to a victim. Koechlin's character possessed the same desires as any other woman and she had the willpower to get what she wants in life.

That Girl In Yellow Boots

The 2010 film That Girl In Yellow Boots is directed and written by Anurag Kashyap. The film follows the story of a British woman (Koechlin) with Indian roots as she returns to India to find her estranged father. During her search, she suffers in the dark realities of Indian society while dealing with an abusive boyfriend, a gangster as well as working at a massage parlour only to find out a disturbing truth. The film cast also includes Prashant Prakash and Naseeruddin Shah along with Gulshan Devaiah and Shivkumar Subramaniam. By making the protagonist engage with several uncomfortable situation, the film depicts what all goes in our polished neighbourhoods and how women have to navigate such difficulties on their own.

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

While Kalki Koechlin had a supporting role in the film, her role was quite prominent in the plot. Not only did Koechlin's character Aditi gave us major BFF goals, it also made us realise the importance of moving on to find the right one in our lives. An of course, her carefree attitude to top it all! Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani cast include actors Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Kalki Koechlin and Aditya Roy Kapur in prominent roles. In the film, Koechlin broke apart the overused stereotype of a "cool girl" in some ways. She makes conventional choices but they seem uncoventional because a "cool girl" is never expected to take such paths.

A still from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

Zoya Akhtar's Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara shows Kalki Koechlin's character Natasha as a demanding and possessive fiancée of Kabir (Abhay Deol). While once she was an ambitious and independent woman, Natasha started coming off as a controlling woman as she went on to dictate Kabir's life refusing to give him space. Even though Koechlin's role was short in the film, it was quite entertaining to see her "Rock Chick" phase in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. The actor's skills were briefly displayed in the film as she was able to make the audience despise her for all she was.

A still from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

Suggested Reading: Kalki Koechlin: “I Have Always Been The Black Sheep”

Ribbon

The 2017 family drama film Ribbon revolves around a young married couple, Sahana (Kalki Koechlin) and Karan (Sumeet Vyas) as they deal with an unplanned pregnancy and also takes care of the child while their lives become even more stressful. The feature film is the directorial debut of Rakhee Sandilya. Koechlin's character reminded many young mothers who face numerous hurdles in their professional lives due to their gender. Without marching out with outrage, Koechlin unveils the truth behind the corporate ways which hardly ever makes it easy for women to succeed.