There was a time when women on screen were shown as perfect – soft-spoken, sacrificial, or there just to make the hero look better. But OTT broke that pattern. It brought us women who are strong and scared, powerful and vulnerable. Women who don’t wait to be saved. They fail, rise, and live on their own terms.
These are not “women-centric” stories. These are real stories – led by women who made us stop scrolling and just watch. Here are some of the most unforgettable female leads who made OTT braver, bolder, and far more human.
Delhi Crime
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IMDb Rating : 8.5/10
Star Cast :
Shefali Shah, Rasika Dugal, Rajesh Tailang
Release Year : 2019
OTT Platform : Netflix
It’s not an easy show. Based on the 2012 Delhi case, Delhi Crime hits hard. But more than the crime, it’s about the weight of duty, the exhaustion of justice, and one woman’s fight to stay human while carrying an entire city’s pain.
Why Watch :
Shefali Shah as DCP Vartika Chaturvedi is not just a character – she’s a mirror of every woman who works twice as hard to be taken seriously. Her silence speaks louder than words. She leads with empathy, holds her team like family, and doesn’t flinch when reality gets cruel. It’s a performance that doesn’t demand your attention – it earns it.
Made in Heaven
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IMDb Rating : 8.2/10
Star Cast :
Sobhita Dhulipala, Arjun Mathur, Jim Sarbh, Kalki Koechlin
Release Year : 2019
OTT Platform : Amazon Prime Video
At first glance, it’s about fancy weddings, rich people, and beautiful chaos. But deep inside, Made in Heaven is about the price women pay for ambition and the lies they live with to survive in a world that never forgives their hunger.
Why Watch :
Sobhita Dhulipala as Tara Khanna is raw, conflicted, and unfiltered. She’s not trying to please anyone. She’s trying to survive her truth and it’s messy. You see her ambition, her guilt, her quiet rebellion. She’s not perfect, but she’s painfully real. Every decision she makes carries the weight of what women are taught to smile through betrayal and stay composed through chaos.
Darlings
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IMDb Rating : 7.1/10
Star Cast :
Alia Bhatt, Shefali Shah, Vijay Varma, Roshan Mathew
Release Year : 2022
OTT Platform : Netflix
It starts like a story about a troubled marriage but slowly turns into a lesson on courage. It’s not loud or preachy – it’s uncomfortable and relatable.
Why Watch :
Alia Bhatt as Badrunissa begins as a woman who’s scared of her own decisions. But as the story unfolds, you watch her reclaim herself – quietly, powerfully. It’s not revenge that drives her; it’s self-respect. Shefali Shah adds depth as her mother – tough, witty, and fiercely protective. Together, they give you a story that feels heartbreakingly close to home.
Aarya
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IMDb Rating : 7.9/10
Star Cast :
Sushmita Sen, Chandrachur Singh, Sikandar Kher
Release Year : 2020
OTT Platform : Disney+ Hotstar
Aarya is a woman who never planned to be a fighter. But when her husband is murdered and her family is threatened, she has no choice but to step into the underworld.
Why Watch :
Sushmita Sen carries the entire series on her shoulders. She’s poised yet dangerous. Every move she makes feels measured. Aarya doesn’t scream strength – she breathes it. It’s about survival, motherhood, and the quiet kind of courage that doesn’t ask for applause. Sushmita makes you believe that elegance and power can co-exist in one frame.
Maharani
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IMDb Rating : 7.6/10
Star Cast :
Huma Qureshi, Sohum Shah, Amit Sial
Release Year : 2021
OTT Platform : SonyLIV
A homemaker suddenly becomes the Chief Minister of Bihar. She doesn’t understand the system – she is the system learning itself. The journey is chaotic, political, and empowering.
Why Watch :
Huma Qureshi as Rani Bharti is real and raw. She starts clueless, mocked by the men around her. But her growth is slow and satisfying. By the end, she’s not just a CM – she’s a statement. She learns the language of politics, but never loses her simplicity. Huma doesn’t play her like a politician; she plays her like a woman who finally realizes she belongs in power.
Bombay Begums
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IMDb Rating : 5.3/10
Star Cast :
Pooja Bhatt, Shahana Goswami, Amruta Subhash, Plabita Borthakur
Release Year : 2021
OTT Platform : Netflix
It’s about women in corporate India, ambition, motherhood, and survival. A mix of dreams and exhaustion, told with unfiltered honesty.
Why Watch :
Amruta Subhash as Lily steals the show – a bar dancer with more grit than most boardroom bosses. Each woman in the story is fighting her own war, quietly. It’s not about perfection – it’s about persistence.
Conclusion
These women changed the face of storytelling. They didn’t just entertain – they shifted perspective. They showed us that being strong doesn’t mean being emotionless. That being broken doesn’t mean being weak. OTT gave them the space to be real and they gave us stories we’ll never forget.