Afwaah To Bala: Bhumi Pednekar Films That Have A Social Message

Bhumi Pednekar is one of the few Bollywood lead actors who has experimented with a wide range of characters since her debut in 2015. She has maintained a balance in her film choices, favouring both entertainment and films with a social message. Her latest film Badhaai Do also follows the same trend.

Most of her films were box office hits, and she was praised for bringing many behind-closed-door debates to the big screen and leaving us with an uplifting message. Pednekar has made a name for herself in the Indian film industry because of her on-screen talent, she was natural, relatable, and quite powerful, she was an open-minded and strong-willed woman who gave back to lookism and fat-shaming, she acted in plots exploring erectile dysfunction (Shubh Mangal Saavdhan) and same-sex relationships (Badhaai Do), and she has also acted in several ground-breaking roles in Bollywood.

Bhumi Pednekar Films: Here are 7 Movies that are a must-watch:

Afwaah

Sudhir Mishra’s thought-provoking and gripping political drama, Afwaah subtly yet strongly turns out to be a social commentary on various things — from the current political scenario in the country to the love jihad debate to social media rumours coming into play. Set in the backdrop of Sawalpur, Rajasthan, a politician's young daughter Nivi (Pednekar) seeks to escape her engagement to a violent leader, but when a stranger (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) comes to her aid, the two face an onslaught of bigotry and hate. 

Dum Laga Ke Haisha

Dum Laga Ke Haisha is a 2015 Hindi-language romantic comedy-drama that was released globally as My Big Fat Bride. This is Bhumi Pednekar's first film, and she was cast as the female lead. The actor had to be overweight for the role.

As a result, she put on 30 pounds in order to get the part. Ayushmann Khurrana played Prem Prakash Tiwari, while Pednekar played Sandhya Tiwari. When Sandhya marries Prem, who is more than pleasantly overweight, the latter is unable to see past his wife's size. When she overhears him making insulting comments about her to others, she tries unsuccessfully to get his attention, and the two end up on the edge of divorce. The plot of the film revolves around how their circumstances alter and how they fall in love with each other.

Toilet: Ek Prem Katha

Toilet: Ek Prem Katha is a comedy-drama released in India in 2017. Keshav Sharma is played by Akshay Kumar, and Jaya Sharma is played by Pednekar. Keshav, from Uttar Pradesh's neighbouring village, likes Jaya, a liberal thinker. They marry, but it never strikes Keshav to inform her that his home lacks a toilet. Jaya then files for divorce as a result of this. The plot of the film revolves around how the couple convinces the locals and family that a toilet is a necessity for the household.

Shubh Mangal Saavdhan

Shubh Mangal Saavdhan is a romantic comedy released in India in 2017. Mudit Sharma is played by Ayushmann Khurrana, and Sugandha Sharma is played by Pednekar. The film is a remake of the 2013 Tamil film "Kalyana Samayal Saadham." The plot centres on Mudit Sharma and Sugandha, who have fallen in love and are planning to marry. However, the story takes a turn when the groom realises he has erectile dysfunction.

Suggested Reading: Revisiting Some Of Madhuri Dixit’s Most Powerful Performances

Sonchiriya

Sonchiriya was released in India in 2019. In the film, Sushant Singh Rajput played Lakhan "Lakhna" Singh, while Pednekar played Indumati Tomar in the film. The film depicts a group of roving bandits led by Man Singh (Manoj Bajpayee) as they fight the cops and their own conscience in the ravines of 1970s Chambal.

Saand Ki Aankh

Saand Ki Aankh Screenshot

Saand Ki Aankh is a biographical drama film released in India in 2019. Bhumi Pednekar plays Chandro Tomar, and Prakashi Tomar is played by Taapsee Pannu. The plot revolves around the sisters-in-law, Chandro and Prakashi, who have grown accustomed to the patriarchal norms of their community. They don't agree with it, so the women find their own tiny getaways to keep them going. The two old folks, who live in Johri village (Uttar Pradesh) with their large family, find by chance that they have a knack for shooting at the age of 60.

Both actors won the Film Fare Awards in the Critics' Award for Best Female Actor category.

Bala

Bhumi Pednekar in a still from Bala / Image Credit: Scroll.in

Bala is a satirical black comedy film set to be released in Hindi in 2020. Ayushmann Khurrana plays Balmukund, Latika Trivedi is played by Bhumi Pednekar, and Pari Mishra is played by Yami Gautam. Bala, a young man, is balding prematurely and finds it difficult to meet conventional beauty standards. When his uncertainty threatens his marriage, he seeks the advice of Latika, a dark-skinned lawyer who was once his love interest.

Although Pednekar's performance was lauded, her casting was questioned because the filmmakers didn't choose someone with Latika's skin tone, instead hiring Pednekar and giving her a brownface that is nowhere near realistic.

Badhaai Do

Badhaai Do is a Hindi-language comedy drama film released in India in 2022. Rajkummar Rao plays Shardul Thakur, while Pednekar plays Suman "Sumi" Singh in the film. Suman Singh, a physical education teacher, and Shardul, a police officer, are the central characters in this romantic comedy. The story revolves around two gay people who marry to avoid their families' pressure and constant mocking. As they decide to marry in order to keep their sexual orientation hidden from their families and continue to live their lives on their own terms. They share a flat and go on dates with other individuals. The film's plot concentrates on how they achieve their ultimate aims and the challenges they endure.