Recent cinematic trends indicate a notable evolution in the portrayal of female antagonists within Hindi cinema, diverging from earlier character archetypes. Historically, leading female roles often emphasized idealized traits such as piety, faithfulness, and self-sacrifice. During the 1960s and 1970s, negative female characters were typically not central antagonists, though figures like Kamini Verma in "Karz" emerged as iconic femme fatales.
Contemporary productions now feature prominent female characters with malevolent intentions, exemplified by Dr. Geetika Sen in "Accused," and antagonists highlighted in upcoming titles such as "Mardaani 3," "Delhi Crime 3," "Kohrra 2," and "Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos." The scope of antagonistic female representations also includes mythological entities like chudails and bhootnis. A further development is the depiction of characters, such as Badi Didi and Amma from "Delhi Crime 3," who are presented as victims transitioning into villains, underscoring a nuanced exploration of female agency in both beneficial and detrimental capacities.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/victim-vamp-or-just-plain-wicked-how-bollywoods-female-antagonists-have-evolved-over-the-years-10619572/
