7 actresses who delivered powerful biopic performances

Parineeti Chopra – Saina

Parineeti delivered a dedicated and emotionally grounded performance as badminton champion Saina Nehwal, capturing her grit, discipline and journey

Vidya Balan – Shakuntala Devi

Vidya made the mathematician feel unpredictable, flamboyant and fully human. She wasn’t just solving numbers, she was challenging the world’s expectations

Sushmita Sen – Taali

Sushmita brought dignity to Gauri Sawant’s story. She played her with charm, humour and a refusal to shrink herself for anyone

Deepika Padukone – Chhapaak

Deepika didn’t lean into tragedy, she leaned into survival. The stillness in her performance made you sit with the weight of it

Priyanka Chopra – Mary Kom

Priyanka didn’t play Mary Kom as an underdog waiting for miracles. She played her as someone who expects to fight. It felt more like retaliation

Alia Bhatt – Gangubai Kathiawadi

Alia gave Gangubai swagger without turning her into a caricature. There’s wit, unpredictability and a sharpness that doesn’t beg for sympathy

Patralekhaa – Phule

Patralekhaa’s Savitribai doesn’t shout to prove courage and that’s exactly why it hits deeper. There’s a quiet strength in how she stands up to caste prejudice