Examining the clothing worn by feminist characters in Bollywood

Be prepared to carry the "man hater" or feminist label if you dare to believe that men, women, transgender people, and other people beyond the binary are equal. Particularly if you have coloured hair and a septum piercing, in which case you would be knighted for being both a controversial feminist and an outcast.

Fashion has long been described as a means of expression, an expansion of the self, and a way to express your underlying beliefs through your wardrobe. By simply examining your clothing selections, astute onlookers can infer that you are a feminist. And no, you don't have to wear "that shirt," which features a 1940s-era woman flexing her arm and wearing a bandana on her head.

We've chosen some of our favourite on-screen Bollywood feminists to support our arguments, both ideologically and, unavoidably, aesthetically.

Piku Banerjee from Piku

Piku's outfit, which was overseen by award-winning costume designer Veera Kapoor, was a true reflection of a working woman from the somewhat upper middle class. Her kohl-rimmed eyes and distinctive black bindi, paired with a modest middle part on the main front, were a repeating feature. She is based in Delhi and has Bengali ancestry.

Being an architect by trade, she mainly wore Kurtis and palazzo sets, with black, white, and blush tones dominating. When it was released in 2015, we finally understood why the churidar industry was about to close its doors at the time: the proud palazzo wearer, then and today.

Rani Mehra from Queen

Because of its inspiring and truthful narrative, Queen has earned a cult following that will live on in history. After her superficial, wanting to be NRI fiancé who can't think as an adult deserted her, Rani leaves on her pre-arranged honeymoon and runs into all the difficulties life can throw at a person who isn't fluent in another language.

For a large number of desi women, the odd white and blue printed kurta with an embroidered yoke continues to serve as a symbol of feminism. Once she began emancipating herself from the constraints of adhering to the traditional regressive conventions and socialising with the liberal Vijayalakshmi, her clothing began to take on a somewhat contemporary edge.

Poo From Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham 

She is a legend, an icon, and the embodiment of the time. and always will be. Poo from K3G was the ultimate feminist icon we didn't realise we needed, whether it was her obstinate attitude on wearing a backless top or her decision to choose a partner based on her own set of requirements. She certainly had her cruel girl moments (maybe reciting Chandu ke chacha almost helped?), but her persona was still interesting.

She had a variety of outfits to choose from, whether it was the Poo bani Parvati classic fits or her club Classique red cord set (non-matching heels were required). We continually draw inspiration from people like Paris Hilton who are high on shimmer, overdosing on Y2K, and high on shimmer.

Aarya Sareen from Aarya

It goes without saying that Sushmita Sen gave a faultless performance in the Disney+ Hotstar production as Aarya Sareen. Her attire was an eclectic combination of traditional outfits & stylish workwear, with the latter being a homage to the tale set in Rajasthan. She plays an unconventional position of a mafia queen after her husband's murder.

She wore everything from stylish, monochromatic suits to fitted knits and silk shirts with cowl drapes. Her contemporary styling was flawless. The polished blow-dry hair, muted lip colour, and big sunglasses wonderfully set the scene and instantly mesmerised the audience.