Who isn’t a fan of superhero movies? The Marvel and DC franchise have ardent fan followers who love the world of superheroes. When it comes to Bollywood, the filmmakers have time and again tried to make superhero flicks as an answer to Hollywood’s already established franchises. As a result, fans have got films like , and more. But much before Hollywood and Bollywood launched their superheroes, India got its first on-screen superhero in the form of a woman.
Back in 1935, India got its first on-screen masked superhero played by an actress. It was much before played by left everyone entertained. The movie was much appreciated as it was unique and entertaining.
The movie’s name in . The film featured in the leading role. She was an Austalian-Indian actress who was also a stuntwoman. While Fearless Nadia was her stage name, her real name was Mary Ann Evans. Hunterwali released in 1935 was produced by Wadia Movietone company of Bombay. Hunterwali had Nadia playing a princess who would turn into a masked vigilante to fight crime. If reports are to be believed, Fearless Nadia performed all her stunts on her own in the film. Years later, in 1943, movie released in the theatres starring Nadia and it was a smashing hit again. The film made her one of the most iconic stars that India has ever seen. She was the first stunt actress of Bollywood. It is now that actresses are making headlines in entertaining news for performing their own stunts but Fearless Nadia did it long ago and pulled off some death-defying stunts on her own long ago.
Fearless Nadia’s last film was Khiladi that released in 1968. She passed away in the year 1996 at the age of 88.
It was years after Hunterwali that Bollywood saw more of superhero films in the form of ‘s Ajooba, ‘s Mr India, serial Shaktimaan starring Mukesh Khanna and then Krissh franchise starring Hrithik Roshan.
