Ever since we witnessed the boom of the television industry since the early 2000s, there have been certain stereotypes associated with the content here. Regressive storylines, misogyny and the list of negatives could go on. However, there has been a wave of change in Indian TV in recent years. Especially when talking about shows on the ZEE Network, the change has been the most prominent. The network became a medium for voicing strong opinions on issues pertaining to women today. Hence, compiled in this list are strong female characters from the ZEE network that we have loved as an audience over the years.
Zindagi Ki Mehek (2016-2018)
Character – Mehek
With an incredible passion for cooking, Mehek as a character came across as shy but driven with determination. Such strong interest to hone a skill and being independent makes Mehek stand out as a protagonist. Also, even her equation with Shaurya is built upon a professional clash, unlike other shows where the reason usually revolves around the family cliche. This made for an interesting character graph for her in Zindagi Ki Mehek.
Badho Bahu (2016-2018)
Character – Komal
In a time where the TV space only featured protagonists that fit into the conventional definition of beauty, Komal in Badho Bahu was a breath of fresh air. In the show, she accurately depicted the struggles of an overweight woman in a rural environment. While the body shaming and stereotyping could leave anyone bitter, Komal beautifully shows how to tackles such challenges with a smile. It is no surprise that the show eventually got remade in multiple Indian languages, with the most recent one being in Malayalam this year.
Waaris (2016-2017)
Character – Manpreet
In rural India, gender discrimination continues to be a reality. As a result of which, women have to make a lot of compromises there. Through Manpreet in Waaris, we see a similar scenario play out in Waaris. In the show, she is forced to disguise herself as a male to ensure that the responsibility of the village head does not go her cruel uncle. However, as she grows, she still has feminine desires. Over the course of the show, the struggle of dual identity for Manpreet makes for an intriguing watch, especially when her romance with Rajveer blossoms.
Queens Hai Hum (2016-2017)
Character – Jhanvi
The show features five female protagonists who are friends. While each of them has got a strong storyline, it is Jhanvi’s storyline that grabs the most attention. That’s because she was the first lesbian character in a long-running Indian TV show. Through Jhanvi, the fear of coming out of the closet even today is depicted with incredible realism in Queens Hai Hum and made her journey one to root for.
With such incredible characters and strong storylines being introduced on the ZEE network, the future of Indian TV looks promising. So, if you wish to binge watch all these shows online, you can find them all on ZEE5. With various subscription packs and attractive cash back offers, you should definitely consider getting yourself a ZEE5 Premium subscription right away.
