Women Directors in Indian Cinema

Fatma Begum was an Indian actress and filmmaker who directed the 1926 silent film Bulbul-e-Paristan, making her the first woman director in Indian cinema.

Aparna Sen is an Indian actress, director, and screenwriter who is known for her films dealing with social issues and women's rights, such as 36 Chowringhee Lane (1981), Paroma (1984), and Mr. and Mrs. Iyer (2002).

Deepa Mehta is an Indian-Canadian filmmaker who is known for her films dealing with social issues and women's rights, such as Water (2005), Fire (1996), and Earth (1998).

Rituparno Ghosh was an Indian filmmaker who is known for his experimental and non-linear storytelling style, as seen in films such as Chokher Bali (2003), Raincoat (2004), and The Last Lear (2007).

Meghna Gulzar is an Indian filmmaker who is known for her films dealing with social issues and women's rights, such as Raazi (2018), Talvar (2015), and Just Married (2007).

Shonali Bose is an Indian filmmaker who is known for her films that explore the lives of ordinary people in small towns and villages, such as Margarita with a Straw (2014), Amu (2005), and The Sky is Pink (2019).

Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury is an Indian filmmaker who is known for his films dealing with social issues, such as Pink (2016), Titli (2014), and Lost (2018).

Alankrita Shrivastava is an Indian filmmaker who is known for her films that explore the lives of women in rural India, such as Lipstick Under My Burkha (2016), Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare (2020), and Bombay Begums (2021).

Suresh Triveni is an Indian filmmaker who is known for his films dealing with social issues and women's rights, such as Tumhari Sulu (2018) and Jalsa (2022).

Gauri Shinde is an Indian filmmaker who is known for her films that explore the lives of women in urban India, such as English Vinglish (2012), Dear Zindagi (2016), and Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl (2020).

Zoya Akhtar is an Indian filmmaker who is known for her films dealing with social issues and women's rights, such as Gully Boy (2019), Dil Dhadakne Do (2015), and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011).

Leena Yadav is an Indian filmmaker who is known for her films that explore the lives of women in the LGBTQ community, such as Parched (2015), Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana (2017), and Rajma Chawal (2018).

Alankrita Shrivastava is an Indian filmmaker who is known for her films that explore the lives of women in rural India, such as Lipstick Under My Burkha (2016), Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare (2020), and Bombay Begums (2021).

Rituparno Ghosh was an Indian filmmaker who is known for his films that explore the lives of women in the sex industry, such as Dahan (1997), Chokher Bali (2003), and The Last Lear (2007).

Alankrita Shrivastava is an Indian filmmaker who is known for her films that explore the lives of women in rural India, such as Lipstick Under My Burkha (2016), Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare (2020), and Bombay Begums (2021).