Ahead of Assi, check out these Bollywood films that boldly tackled violence against women

After working with Anubhav Sinha in hard-hitting films like Mulk and Thappad, Taapsee Pannu is now gearing up for their hat-trick collaboration with Assi - an urgent watch. The film focuses on the high rate of rape in India. As the film releases, let's have a look at these hard-hitting Bollywood dramas that highlighted crimes against women

Updated On: 2026-02-16 03:12 PM IST

Compiled by : Aakruti Bagla

Films on crime against women

A cop is called to investigate the murder of a wealthy man, who is the patriarch of a large family. The investigation gets murkier as he realises each person harbours many skeletons  in their closets - ultimately leading him to uncover a sex trafficking ring.

Satyaprem Ki Katha showcases how Katha (Kiara Advani) suffers PTSD when her boyfriend rapes her. With the help of Sattu (Kartik Aaryan), she fights legal battle to regain confidence and respect. The film sheds light on how there is a taboo around addressing such issues.

The terrible predicament of rural women in India is shown in Parched. The film explores issues including child marriage, domestic abuse, and marital rape to show the negative aspects of patriarchal culture.

Article 15 (2019) is a hard-hitting crime drama inspired by true events, focusing on caste-based discrimination and violence against women in rural India.

Guilty, starring Kiara Advani, is a hard-hitting Netflix drama that explores sexual harassment and consent on a college campus. The film follows a young woman who accuses a popular classmate of assault, sparking debates about privilege.

Sridevi's Mom is the story of a mother who revenges her daughter’s rape and death after being denied justice by the law.

Pink sends a strong message: when a woman says “No,” it means “No,” regardless of her clothes or lifestyle. Amitabh Bachchan plays an advocate fighting for girls trapped in a legal battle against powerful offenders.

Gangubai Kathiawadi highlights violence and crime against women by portraying the harsh realities of sex trafficking. Starring Alia Bhatt, the film follows Gangubai’s journey fighting against powerful men who exploit women.

Mardaani is the story of a female cop, Shivani Roy. It’s played played by Rani Mukerji who fights the kingpin of organised crimes involving child trafficking and drugs. It shows how the lady officer fights woman trafficking in the city.

Provoked is a 2006 film based on the true story of Kiranjit Ahluwalia, who endured years of domestic abuse before taking a drastic step to defend herself. Starring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, the movie highlights emotional and physical toll of abusive relationships.

Starring Meenakshi Seshadri as the titular character, the film follows Damini as she courageously battles a corrupt system to ensure her maid’s rapists are punished.

Bhoomi follows a father-daughter duo, Arun (Sanjay Dutt) and Bhoomi (Aditi Rao Hydari), whose lives are shattered when Bhoomi is gang-raped. Despite the humiliating trial and the perpetrators being let off, the film portrays their struggle to rebuild life and find resilience amid tragedy.

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