‘Women have become glamour catalysts’: Raveena Tandon calls for stronger female roles in Bollywood comedies

Veteran actress Raveena Tandon has spoken candidly about the changing landscape of Bollywood comedies, expressing concern that female characters are increasingly being reduced to decorative roles rather than becoming active participants in the humour.

Currently seen in Welcome to the Jungle, the actress believes that today’s comedy films rarely offer women the kind of memorable comic roles that once defined Hindi cinema.

In a recent interview with PTI, Raveena reflected on the legacy of female comedians and singled out legendary actress Sridevi as the benchmark for comic performances in Indian cinema.

Calling Sridevi the “gold standard” of comedy, Raveena praised her effortless performances in classics like Mr. India and ChaalBaaz, saying the late superstar proved that an actress could combine glamour with impeccable comic timing.

She also acknowledged the contributions of celebrated actresses such as Juhi Chawla, Geeta Bali, and Madhubala, who brought their own distinctive charm and spontaneity to comedy films.

However, according to Raveena, the opportunities available to actresses today are far more limited.

The actress observed that comedy films have gradually become more structured and plot-driven, leaving very little room for female characters to display their comic abilities. Instead, she believes many actresses are now used primarily as “glamour catalysts”, contributing more to the visual appeal than to the narrative or humour.

Raveena stressed that the problem is not a lack of talent among today’s actresses but rather a shortage of well-written roles.

She said modern performers possess excellent comic timing and strong screen presence, but writers rarely give them the opportunity to play messy, unpredictable or genuinely funny characters.

Encouraging a shift in storytelling, Raveena urged filmmakers and screenwriters to intentionally create female protagonists who are flawed, chaotic and entertaining rather than constantly portraying women as perfect or overly polished.

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According to her, audiences are ready to embrace women who can carry comedy with the same freedom traditionally enjoyed by male actors.

Raveena’s comments have sparked a broader conversation about gender representation in mainstream Hindi cinema, particularly within the comedy genre, where male characters have historically dominated the narrative.

On the professional front, Raveena Tandon is currently seen in Welcome to the Jungle, the third installment of the popular Welcome franchise.

Directed by Ahmed Khan, the film features an ensemble cast including Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Disha Patani, Jacqueline Fernandez, Arshad Warsi, Anil Kapoor, and Nana Patekar.

Released last week, Welcome to the Jungle has enjoyed a strong start at the global box office, reportedly crossing the ₹100 crore mark worldwide, continuing the franchise’s popularity among audiences.

As Bollywood evolves, Raveena hopes the industry will once again create meaningful comic roles for women, allowing actresses to showcase their full range of talent beyond glamour alone.