Modern Indian freedom fighters

Independence is when two young women play international level kabaddi, living apart from their husbands to realise their dreams. Independence is when an actress and former beauty pageant winner is shunned by the industry for allegedly having an affair with a superstar but comes back stronger than ever, producing films and acting in one of the most awaited films of the year. Independence is also ensuring that a woman’s identity remains her own despite being married to one of the most powerful men in the film industry. Independence is surviving the worst disease known to man and coming back stronger.

For us, independence is celebrating these women and millions of others like them who have stood strong in the face of adversity and and criticism and said boldly to the world: “I will not give in”. This Independence Day we celebrate Arjuna awardee and kabaddi player Mamtha Poojari and her teammate Preet Kaur, who are living in Hyderabad, away from their husbands to realise their dreams.

We celebrate actress Priyanka Chopra, who is on top of her game, starring in movies that revolve around her, like Mary Kom, turning producer with Madamji, launching a music career with international stars like Pitbull and Will.i.am, and making more money than many heroes in B’wood. We celebrate Rani Mukherjee, who despite being in the shadow of her cousin Kajol for most of her career and undergoing a slump for a couple of years, is back with Mardaani, in which she is the “hero”.

We celebrate model/actress/anchor Lisa Ray, India’s first supermodel who battled “incurable” cancer and emerged the winner. Though people were ready with her obituary, Lisa today is at the top of her career and has shifted her base back to Mumbai. Deccan Chronicle salute the above women who symbolise modern India and it is because of their perseverance and of millions of others like them that we can call India a truly independent country.

The ‘Comeback Queen’ - Lisa Ray, actor and cancer survivor

I am all set to start a new chapter in my life. I am shifting back to Mumbai,” says Lisa, adding, “Cancer gave me an opportunity to stop. It was the diagnosis that helped me to really take my mind off the things that we are so worried about and to work on myself.” “Everything starts from within. Healing begins with the attitude. We all live our thoughts and these thoughts become important.” She is now gearing up to release her book that will trace her journey, her fight, which she says, came out of a “heart-breaking process of a personal narrative”. The actress, who is exploring everything she can again do with acting, is also working towards of building a National Cancer institute. “The primary objective with this institute is to dispel the fear factor that comes with cancer,” she says.

No knockouts for her - Priyanka Chopra, actor

The Mary Kom actress says, “Work is worship for me. And it’s not that I just work hard, I put in my best in everything I do because it is my passion.
“I probably work 99 hours a day! My success mantra is basically working and working. From the day I started I have been at it.” “Whenever I do any character in a film I get inspired from that as I live that character. Every film is a Mughal-E Azam for me.” Talking about Mary Kom, she adds, “Both of us are strong women and like her, I too come from a small town. Our upbringing has been similar. Her life is not only an inspiration for me but for every young person.”

Enter the hero - Rani Mukherjee, actor

“My film Mardaani sends out the message that girls need to take charge of their own lives. A father of a girl should feel protected when he goes out with her and not vice versa.” “A girl need not be just a commodity at home and look after the kitchen. In fact she should be able to win in kushti with her brother at home. We need to tell the society that there need not be any discrimination between a girl and a boy.”