Rani Mukerji, Tabu, and Deepika Padukone: Actresses who stole the show as fearless cops in gripping thriller dramas

Bollywood and OTT platforms have seen several actresses step into strong police roles, which broke the stereotypes and has delivered impactful performances in several years. From crime dramas to action thrillers, B-Town beauties who have carved a niche with their acting in different genres have brought a spark to the silver screen.

She has ruled the industry for 30 years with her unique roles. Rani's portrayal as the fearless police officer Shivani Shivaji Roy in the Mardaani franchise has gained much attention all over. It was directed by Pradeep Sarkar ('Mardaani', 2014) and Gopi Puthran ('Mardaani 2', 2019); the films showcased the actress as a tough cop taking on crimes against women. The series also featured actors like Taher Shabbir and Vishal Jethwa. Now, she is back again with a bang in 'Mardaani 3,' and the trailer has left no stone unturned with a thriller plot where she has to save 93 young girls who have gone missing due to a crime done by a woman named Amma.

The actress who has charmed in reel-real with her talent had delivered a powerful performance as IG Meera Deshmukh in 'Drishyam' (2015) and 'Drishyam 2' (2022). It was chaired by Nishikant Kamat and Abhishek Pathak; the film starred Ajay Devgn in the lead. Her portrayal of a determined and sharp police officer was the main highlight of the crime thriller and was widely praised by the audience.

Kareena Kapoor Khan stepped into the role of a police officer in 'The Buckingham Murders' (2023), directed by Hansal Mehta. This crime thriller saw the actress play a resilient cop investigating a murder case in the UK. Her performance was praised by fans and viewers, and it also marked one of her most serious to date. 'The Buckingham Murders' also stars Ash Tandon, Ranveer Brar, and Keith Allen. It is written by Aseem Arrora, Kashyap Kapoor, and Raghav Raj Kakker.

She played SI Anjali Bhaati in the Amazon Prime Video series 'Dahaad' (2023). Helmed by Reema Kagti and Ruchika Oberoi, the show also starred Vijay Varma, Gulshan Devaiah, and Sohum Shah. Sonakshi’s portrayal of a small-town female cop investigating a series of murders was widely appreciated and marked a turning point in her career.

The dimpled beauty's character as a cop in Rohit Shetty’s action film 'Singham Again' had made the moviegoers go whistle for her entry and action scenes. She was a part of the popular cop universe, and it also starred Ajay Devgn, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, and Kareena Kapoor Khan. The 'Jawan' actress's role adds to the growing list of strong female officers in mainstream Bollywood action cinema.