Women written by Sanjay Leela Bhansali: Fierce, flawed, and forever iconic

In Bhansali’s grand retelling of Devdas, Paro (Aishwarya Rai) is both gentle and fierce — a woman scorned, yet unbending in pride. Chandramukhi (Madhuri Dixit), a courtesan with a heart full of unspoken pain, radiates dignity and quiet strength. Both are emotionally charged characters navigating love and loss on their own terms.