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Bollywood's memorably drunken heroines
Alcoholism in Hindi cinema is traditionally left to the males. Women and alcohol are mostly linked via amorality.
Still, as one of our prettiest heroines cavorts drunkenly in one of this Friday's releases, we thought we'd take a look at her and nine other heroines who've done screen sloshedness very impactfully indeed:
Deepika Padukone in Break Ke Baad
In Danish Aslam's upcoming film, Deepika Padukone is drunk through most of the promos -- either slurring nonsensically, staggering about, or even just being carried around by Imran Khan.
Deepika's no stranger to cinematic tipsiness, though, having had her fun drunk moments in Love Aaj Kal.
Vidya Balan in Ishqiya
Priyanka Chopra in Kaminey
One of the best drunk scenes in recent cinema came with Vishal Bhardwaj's Kaminey where Priyanka Chopra, smashed on beer and balmy weather, aggressively straddled Shahid Kapoor and pinned him down demanding sex, even if unsafe.
A real, romantic, relatable moment of sheer drunken uninhibition.
Kareena Kapoor in 3 Idiots
One of the funniest moments in Rajkumar Hirani's historically successful 3 Idiots comes with heroine Kareena Kapoor drunkenly sneaking into Aamir Khan's hostel room.
She's sweet, funny, politically incorrect and drunk in the most endearing way. The best kind of pain, that.
Rani Mukerji in Saawariya
Rani Mukerji isn't the first name that comes to mind when you think of a drunkard, but she hit the bottle hard in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya, playing a prostitute -- albeit one with a heart of gold -- who needs her drink even more than she needs a client.
Kangna Ranaut in Gangster
Kangna Ranaut impressed the socks off everyone in this Anurag Basu film, where the curly-haired actress played an irredeemable alcoholic, a troubled woman seeking comfort only at the bottom of a glass.
A fragile, emotionally torn character, held together flimsily by alcohol -- bravo.
Manisha Koirala in Company
In one of Ram Gopal Varma's most accomplished films, Manisha Koirala played a gangster wife, essentially someone too smart, too jaded, and too old to be a moll.
The result was chain-smoking and drinking, but the portrayal is restrained, realistic and even disturbing.
Kajol in Dilwaale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge
It's one of the biggest Hindi films of all time, and much fun is conjured up when Kajol reluctantly drinks from Shah Rukh Khan's brandy to keep herself from freezing.
She glugs up the whole bottle, leading to the rollicking Zarra Sa Jhoom Loon Main song -- as well as a very well made who-changed-my-clothes setpiece the next morning when she wakes up in pyjamas, with no memory of the previous night.
Tanuja in Jewel Thief
Drinking isn't always a character disability or addiction, and it doesn't have to be a one-off wild night: it can just be something a girl genuinely likes to do.
Screen heroines aren't usually casual drinkers, but the gold standard has to be Tanuja in this fine mystery -- a fun-loving young brat ever-ready to introduce some libations into the proceedings. And why not?
Meena Kumari in Sahib Bibi Aur Gulam
Quite simply, one of the best performances by an actress in all of Hindi cinema.
In Abrar Alvi's adaptation of Bimal Mitra's novel, Meena Kumari plays Chhoti Bahu, a woman who takes to drink just so her husband, finding company at home, won't keep venturing out.
The decision gnaws at her constantly, eventually leading to the habit crippling her and turning her into a full-blown alcoholic. It's a tough part, and the actress works it magically.