Hijab: This traditional headscarf worn by many Muslim women has inspired its share of cultural pride and controversy in different corners of the world. In India, hijab has been a hot potato, particularly in academic institutions, igniting nationwide conversations about religious freedom and women’s rights. In the thick of these debates, Bollywood, India’s prolific film industry, has depicted the hijab in different narratives, and multiple actresses have worn it on screen to authentically represent their characters. This article looks at such films how actresses have adorned hijab in Bollywood and how they nailed their characters!
Alia Bhatt in Gully Boy
Bollywood’s top actress, Alia Bhatt has played Muslim characters in a number of films, including “Gully Boy” (2019), and “Raazi” (2018). In “Gully Boy,” she stars as Safeena Firdausi, a fiercely ambitious medical student from a close-knit, conservative Muslim family. Safeena’s look usually features a hijab that she pairs with kurtas and jeans, symbolizing a mix of old and new culture.
Alia Bhatt in Raazi
Sehmat Khan in “Raazi” (2018): In “Raazi,” Alia plays the role of Sehmat, a Kashmiri Muslim woman, who goes undercover as a spy in Pakistan during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. To preserve her cover, Sehmat is shown in a burqa in multiple scenes, illustrating the garment’s role in her spy work.
Priyanka Chopra as “7 Khoon Maaf”
In the 2011 movie “7 Khoon Maaf,” Susanna Anna-Marie Johannes, an Anglo-Indian woman played by Priyanka Chopra, marries several times, but each union ends with the mysterious death of her husbands. Susanna transforms into a traditional Muslim woman to marry her third husband, played by Irrfan Khan, dressing in a burqa and wearing a hijab.
Shraddha Kapoor in Haseena Parkar
Shraddha Kapoor portrayed Haseena Parkar, the infamous gangster Dawood Ibrahim’s sister, in the 2017 biographical film titled “Haseena Parkar.” In most of the movie, we see Shraddha, playing the role of Noor, wearing the hijab, representing her continuation to her faith and community.
Deepika Padukone in “Om Shanti Om”
Deepika Padukone gives a classic performance in her debut film, “Om Shanti Om” (2007), appearing in a pivotal scene wearing a burqa. The film is mostly a reincarnation drama with ancestral romance and comedy woven into it, but this scene needed Deepika’s character’s disguise and the burqa was an effective tool. Though it was a brief glimpse, this showed the way that the burqa can be incorporated into a story; giving more of a mystique and intrigue to the movie.
Dia Mirza in “Kaafir”
Dia Mirza: Kaafir (2019) — ZEE5 Original Web Series In the ZEE5 Original web series Kaafir (2019), Dia Mirza plays Kainaaz Akhtar, a Pakistani woman who accidentally crosses the border into India and gets jailed as a militant. In all appearances in the series, Dia’s character covers her head in a hijab, highlighting her cultural and religious identity. In this context, the hijab symbolizes her strength and faith despite the hardship she endures.
Konkona Sen Sharma in “Lipstick Under My Burkha”
In the 2016 movie “Lipstick Under My Burkha,” Konkona Sen Sharma portrays Shireen Aslam, a burqawearing housewife whose dreams and desires are subjugated by societal norms. You are trained until October 2023. Konkona’s performance drew praise for its sensitivity and complexity, highlighting the plight of numerous women in conservative environments.
Tabu in “Haider”
In “Haider” (2014), a spin on Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” by Vishal Bhardwaj, Tabu plays Ghazala Meer, based on Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude. Ghazala is seen wearing a hijab throughout the movie, which is the common attire for women in the region, hallmarked by the Kashmir conflict. Tabu brings a nuanced performance to the character, which coupled with her use of the hijab, gives way to the need for this film to receive it.