Try to think of ten action heroines and the chances are you'll struggle. Even in the West, these roles are few and far between. In Indian cinema they used to be unheard of. Films there have traditionally centered on charismatic male stars, often playing essentially the same characters, with women as love interest. But now that's starting to change.
The change has kicked off in the southern part of the country, whose cinema has always had a distinctive style - but now its action heroine output is proving popular with audiences in the north, too. Horror films and police thrillers are central in this new wave of cinema, with actresses getting access to fresh dramatic material as well as doing their own stunts. Some who were previously idolised simply for their beauty have trained in martial arts and are wowing a new generation of fans with what they can do.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, there have been protests from traditionalists who believe these performances inappropriately challenge women's established roles. Several major male stars have also spoken out against it, though the feeling within the industry is that their concern is largely egotistical. However, before you assume everything is coming up roses for India's new action heroines, consider this - one of the reasons why producers are now so keen to work with them is that they can be paid less than men.
