Indian Women: The Dangerous Beauties with Brains

The 21st century mind is unfortunately still obsessed with a conventionally caricatured stereotype of beautiful women as not very smart or naive, or at best a damsel in distress and this is true for even the so called "advanced and progressive mindsets" all over the world and unfortunately in India too. Having said that, this was not so at least in the original ancient Indian culture which looked at women as "Vidushis" and "Virangnas".

More and more modern Indian Women are manifesting the 'Shakti' that courses through their veins, the shakti every Woman is born with. This breed of Indian Women are not just breaking stereotypes but have established new benchmarks for the younger generation of girls. These bold, unapologetic, uninhibited, well-informed women who are globally conscious and yet firmly rooted in the Indian Cultural Ethos sometimes give a glimpse of what bad-ass ancient Indian Women must have been be like. None of these women are to be taken lightly or to be trifled with. They are a perfect blend of power with humility, intelligence with wisdom and tradition with modernity.

Here is our curated list of what we think are the 'Dangerous Beauties of India' with... 'EVIDENCES'.

1. Aishwarya Rai

Aishwarya Rai won the Miss World 1994 Pageant, showcasing her poise and intelligence on a global stage. Throughout her acting career, she has delivered captivating performances in films like "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam," "Devdas," and "Guru," earning not just commercial success but also critical acclaim and international recognition. Her foray into Hollywood with films like "Bride and Prejudice" and "The Pink Panther 2" further solidified her status as a versatile actress with global appeal.

Despite her ethereal beauty, Aishwarya's journey has been marked by grit and determination. In her early acting career, she faced criticism for being reduced to her looks. However, during an interview, when pressed about this stereotype, Aishwarya's response was nothing short of fierce. She unapologetically asserted her professionalism and refused to let anyone diminish her talent with superficial labels.

"Look, I can’t fight the looks I’ve been born with. If I’m blessed with good looks, so be it. But for Pete’s sake, don’t knock my hard work, my professionalism. I’m only three-films-old. I haven’t given any of my directors any reason to complain."

And who can forget her sassy yet graceful response to the condescending and borderline racist questions asked on the David Letterman Show. Not only did her response shut him up, it won 1.4 billion Indian hearts too. She is the personification of a "Dangerous Beauty" and is DEFINITELY not someone to be trifled with. Her deep scorpion eyes will see through into someone's soul and can kill you from within. Don't believe me? Ask David Letterman.

2. Sushmita Sen: Living Life on Her Own Terms

Sushmita's journey is a testament to her resilience and determination and the courage to stand her ground as a proud misfit who lives her life in her own way with her soul singing its own song. After winning the Miss Universe 1994 pageant, she ventured into acting, starring in films like "Main Hoon Na" and "Biwi No. 1." However, it's her off-screen persona that truly sets her apart. Sushmita made headlines when she chose to adopt a baby girl at the age of 24, defying societal norms and embracing motherhood on her own terms.

In 2022, Sushmita faced a barrage of unwarranted criticism when rumors of her dating the IPL founder Lalit Modi surfaced. In a moment that showcased her unwavering confidence and resilience, Sushmita responded with utmost grace and sass. She took to social media to address the speculations and allegations of being a "gold digger" head-on proclaiming, "I dig deeper than Gold...and I've always (famously) preferred Diamonds!! And yes I still buy them myself!!!" Sushmita's unapologetic stance against baseless gossip and her refusal to be labeled a "gold digger" exemplify her fierce spirit and unyielding self-assurance.

3. Bansuri Swaraj: Carrying Forward a Legacy of Leadership

Bansuri Swaraj, following in the footsteps of her illustrious mother, the firebrand Late foreign minister of India Mrs. Sushma Swaraj, has carved a niche for herself in the political arena. She is a renowned Supreme Court Lawyer and has worked as co-convener of the legal cell of BJP.

Bansuri's electoral victory in the 18th Lok Sabha elections in 2024 marked a significant milestone in her political career. As a Supreme Court Lawyer and Politician, she continues to uphold the values of integrity and accountability instilled by her mother. Bansuri's commitment to public service and excellence exemplifies her dedication to making a positive impact in society. Don't let her cute looks deceive you into thinking of her as a harmless sweet girl. If you have seen her speak on solemn issues of national and international importance or seen her argue in the Hon. Supreme Court of India, you'd know what we are talking about. She definitely deserves the title of "Dangerous beauty".

4. Avani Chaturvedi: Breaking Barriers in the Skies

Squadron leader Avani Chaturvedi's ascent to becoming the first Indian female officer to become a combat jet pilot was not without its challenges. In a traditionally male-dominated field, Avani defied stereotypes and soared to new heights—quite literally.

Her feat of flying a MiG-21 Bison solo showcased her exceptional skills as a pilot and paved the way for greater gender inclusivity in the Indian armed forces. Avani's trailblazing journey continues to inspire aspiring aviators and young women across the country, while her looks with a pilot's uniform and the trademark "aviators" make her a formidable foe on land and in air. Don't believe us? Ask the pilots who go on routine flight combat simulations with her. We are sure.. that come the day, this daughter of mother India would demonstrate to the world that Indian women can be the perfect blend of beauty, brains and a heart that brims with courage. #respect

5. Priyanka Chopra: A Global Icon with a Voice

Priyanka's list of accomplishments is as diverse as her talent. From winning the Miss World 2000 pageant to becoming one of India's highest-paid actresses, she has continuously pushed the boundaries of success. Priyanka's transition to Hollywood with roles in films like "Quantico" and "Baywatch" further solidified her status as a global icon. In addition to her acting career, she is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and a vocal advocate for gender equality and social justice.

Priyanka Chopra's journey from Bollywood to Hollywood is a testament to her audacity and resilience. When faced with criticism regarding her accent in Hollywood, Priyanka embraced her uniqueness, turning it into her strength. Her refusal to be boxed into conventional roles and her advocacy for diversity in storytelling have made her a trailblazer in the entertainment industry.

6. Palki Sharma Upadhyaya: Unveiling Truths with Fearlessness

Palki Sharma is the change in Indian journalism we all had been waiting for.

Her unshakeable confidence and depth of articulation; and the class and elegance with which she puts her point and that too without getting biased, is unprecedented. She doesn't shy away from calling spade a spade. And her words are enough to make someone 'dig a grave' for themselves. Don't believe us ? Ask Patrick Christies who tried mud slinging on India's, after India landed the Chandryaan 2 on the dark side of the moon. And asked india to return 2.3 billion grant sent between 2016 and 2021. And asked it's government to not give money to countries with a space program. And he didn't stop their he futher denegrated India by saying, "If you have money to fire rockets to dark side of the moon, you should not be coming to us with your hand out for foreign aid" This boiled the blood of all us Indians. But don't worry, Palki Sharma took our revenge. She made it clear that 'Since 2015 India has taken NO foreign grant'. And the 2.3 billion figure that the Patrick quoted, is not foreign aid but investments and revenue that UK has made through multilateral channels to stay in New Delhi's good books (which India never begged for), verified by ICAI report. She didn't stop there. She went all the way down the road, digging all the old graves of the British colonial loot of an estimated $45 trillion which is 15 times more than the Britain's GDP. Ahhh!!! the Third Degree Burns!!! She made it crystal clear that we may be the soft power but now we are also a global power and 5th largest economy. And she is not gonna sit and watch while the self entitled British don't shy from stooping so low.

You can watch the full video here:

Recently while representing India at Oxford Union, she did not miss the opportunity to paint an accurate picture of New Bharat at the global platform which was already tarnished by the likes of so called 'Deshbhakt' Aakash Banerjee. And that too with utmost grace. An Excerpt from her speech goes like this:

"I have lived in many Indias…the very India where exciting policies and positions were abandoned. The self-doubting India, where decisions were taken based on global opinions. And today, a more confident India where the world comes for leadership and inspiration. Indians are prosperous at home and hence more confident abroad"

You can watch the full video here:

Still, there are many who criticise her for being so uninhibited, but never ever have any of their rude comments stopped her from speaking her truth. She is truly an epitome of Dangerous Beauty.

7. Sania Mirza: A Champion On and Off the Court

The first Indian Woman Tennis player, Sania Mirza is India's pride. The confident strides she takes against her opponents has made her win the titles of India's No 1 in Singles.

Her biggest badass moment took place in 2015, when she won the Wimbledon and US Open women's doubles titles, partnering with Martina Hingis and became a role model for so many young Indian women to pursue their dreams fearlessly.

But all these wins came with her own set of challenges. She was criticised for wearing short skirts while playing tennis. Not just that, in 2005 she was threatened with Fatwa for wearing skirts in the game. But this didn't stop her from playing and our fearless champ went on from one victory to another, winning medals and hearts at the same time.

Not just that, she repeatedly had to face sexist questions from interviewers about her retirement and settling down. To which she retaliated by saying, "why such questions are only asked to a female sports person and never a male sports person", which made the interviewer go absolutely quiet and apologise for his denigrating question.

Even when she got married and had a son, just two months after that she was on the field playing her game.

Sania's undying spirit and never give up attitude inspires millions across India and the world. No matter what circumstances were thrown at her she never stopped playing. She never backed off!!! There is a reason why she is 'The Number One'

8. Manushi Chillar: Beauty with Purpose

Inspired by Priyanka Chopra and later went on to be crowned as Miss World 2017 herself, another Indian Woman left an impact globally and made India Proud. But Manushi chillar is not just a beauty pageant which she very well made clear on the stage of Miss World when she boldly asserted her view points on motherhood as the highest paid profession, unhesitatingly challenging the societal norms and expectations.

After her beautiful win as Miss World 2017, Manushi Chillar started an initiative named, 'Project Shakti' to raise awareness about menstrual health and hygiene and empower rural women by providing them with sanitary napkins and normalising talking about menstrual health. As Miss World 2017, she used her platform to raise awareness about menstrual hygiene and empower women in rural areas. Along with a stunning smile she is also smart enough to handle ridiculous comments innovatively. You must have come across, the Congress Leader Shashi Tharoor's somewhat demeaning comment:

What a mistake to demonetise our currency! BJP should have realised that Indian cash dominates the globe: look, even our Chhillar has become Miss World!

And then when rebuked by people on twitter for such insensitive comment, he tried to cover it up by calling it humor.

On being tagged by @vineetjaintimes, Manushi finally broke her silence and made sure that she quietens everyone up with her reply: Exactly @vineetjaintimes agree with you on this. A girl who has just won the World isn’t going to be upset over a tongue-in-cheek remark. ‘Chillar’ talk is just small change - let’s not forget the ‘chill’ within Chhillar @ShashiTharoor That was smooth... Even without saying much... She said a lot

She knows how to finish a battle before it starts. Kudos to her wisdom!

9. IPS Ankita Sharma

Inspired by the 'First Woman IPS Officer', Kiran Bedi; a girl from a small village in Chattisgarh, Ankita Sharma dreamt of following her role model's footsteps.

She worked hard for her dream and in her 3rd UPSC attempt finally conquered it by becoming the 1st IPS Officer from Chattisgarh.

And we've got to say, she fully justifies her title and uniform. The Current SP of the Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai district, boldy executes super risky Anti-Naxal Missions in Bastar district. Ankita aims to drag out corruption, narcotics and naxal operations from Chattisgarh. She was honoured with the prestigious Indra Bhushan Award by the Director General of Chattisgarh Police for her exemplary efforts to take down Narcotics network in Raipur. She is truly an informidable force. Amidst heated argument between the Congress MP, Shakuntala Sahu and Ankita Sharma; the MP tried to threaten Ankita by saying, "thik se raho warna aukaat dikha dungi (will show you your place)." To which the fearless and badass Ankita retorted, "jahan phone lagana hai laga lijiye, wo apko meri aukaat bata denge (call whoever you wish to, they will tell you who am I)". You can watch the full video here:

Ankita Shama's journey is a testament of a woman's courage, determination and an indomitable spirit of breaking shackles and achieving the impossible.

10. Roshni Nadar Malhotra: Leading with Vision and Compassion

HCL Chairperson Roshni is taking her fathers' business to new heights. With her deep understanding of business growth and expansion and clear vision, she has lead the company into global spaces and incorporated various technological advancements. As per the IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List (2019), she is the richest woman in India and was also listed in Forbes (2023) amongst the World's 100 Most Powerful Women.

Her bold vision and compassionate leadership make her a role model for aspiring leaders everywhere.

And the List Goes On...

True Beauty lies in breaking barriers, challenging stereotypes, and achieving greatness. Every woman has this Dangerous Beauty inside, all you need is to recognise it. Embrace your power and declare the "dangerous beauty" that you are. Check out this adorable 'Dangerous Beauty Tee' that will act as a constant reminder of the hidden power and beauty deep within you.

FAQs

Q: Who are considered "dangerous beauties" in India?

A: The term "dangerous beauties" in this context refers to Indian women who are not only beautiful but also intelligent, accomplished, and influential in their respective fields. Examples include Aishwarya Rai, Sushmita Sen, Priyanka Chopra, and others mentioned in the blog.

Q: What does the term "dangerous beauty" mean in this context?

A: In this context, "dangerous beauty" refers to women who possess both physical beauty and intellectual prowess, challenging stereotypes and making significant contributions to their fields and society.

Q: How are these women breaking stereotypes?

A: These women are breaking stereotypes by excelling in various fields such as entertainment, sports, politics, journalism, and business, while also being recognized for their beauty. They demonstrate that women can be both beautiful and intelligent, defying the notion that attractiveness and capability are mutually exclusive.

Q: Are there any common traits among these "dangerous beauties"?

A: Common traits include confidence, resilience, outspokenness, and the ability to excel in their chosen fields while maintaining a strong public presence. They often use their platforms to advocate for social causes and challenge societal norms.

Q: How has the perception of beautiful women in India changed over time?

A: The blog suggests that while there are still stereotypes, the perception is shifting. More women are being recognized for their accomplishments alongside their beauty, reflecting a blend of traditional Indian cultural values and modern, global perspectives.

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