Nirupa Roy was a Bollywood actress known for playing the 'dukhiyaari maa' (suffering mother) roles in melodramatic Hindi films. However, she was also the first female superhero in Indian cinema, starring as the protagonist Shanti in the 1960 film 'Superman'.

When did Nirupa Roy play a superhero in Bollywood?

Nirupa Roy played a superhero named Shanti in the 1960 Bollywood film 'Superman', which predated Hollywood's first major Superman film by over a decade.

What was the plot of the 1960 film 'Superman' starring Nirupa Roy?

In the film, Nirupa Roy played Shanti, the adopted daughter of a scientist who creates a serum that grants the ability to fly and become indestructible. Shanti uses these powers to defeat a bandit terrorizing the people.

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Bollywood's First Female Superhero: Nirupa Roy's Forgotten Legacy

4 Nov

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Summary

Nirupa Roy, Bollywood's 'eternal mother', was the first on-screen female superhero
She played a superhero named Shanti in the 1960 film 'Superman'
Nirupa Roy's early action heroine roles were overshadowed by her later 'crying mother' roles

Bollywood's First Female Superhero: Nirupa Roy's Forgotten Legacy

Decades before the era of high-octane Bollywood heroines, Nirupa Roy, known for her 'dukhiyaari maa' roles, was the first on-screen female superhero in Indian cinema. In 1960, she starred in the film 'Superman', playing the protagonist Shanti, the adopted daughter of a scientist who creates a serum granting the ability to fly and become indestructible. Shanti uses these powers to defeat a bandit terrorizing the people.

While Hollywood's first major Superman film came out in 1951, Bollywood had already witnessed its first 'superman' in the form of Nirupa Roy's character. This was long before Hrithik Roshan donned the Krrish mask or Kalyani Priyadarshan's recent turn as the female superhero in 'Lokah: Chapter 1'.