The United Nations celebrates 22 May as International Day for biological diversity. Our cinema has innumerable examples where women have blurred the differences and celebrated diversity. Looking back at those moments and saluting their courage and power.
Fearless Nadia best remembered as the masked heroine in Hunterwali released in 1935, which was one of the earliest female-lead Indian films. Born as Mary Ann Evans, she came to India with her father and learned horseback riding, hunting, fishing, and shooting during their stay in the North-West Frontier Province.
After her father’s demise she tried job as a salesgirl and even a stenographer but was not successful. She mastered the art of cartwheels and splits, which came in handy when she began working for Zarko Circus in 1930. J B H Wadia, founder of Wadia Movietone took a gamble and presented her as a slave girl in Desh Deepak, and then as Princess Parizaad in Noor-e-Yaman. Nadia proved a huge hit. She was the first and the only stunt heroine of Hindi films.