Lipstick Under My Burkha

In a bustling Indian city, four ordinary women push against narrow rules that govern how a woman should live. Leela longs for a life beyond routine chores and family duty; Usha Buaji uses wit and courage to challenge expectations; Rehana experiments with her own desires while weighing tradition and risk; Shireen keeps a private hunger for more than the roles she's given. Each woman hides truths behind small lies and careful compromises to protect the lives they want. Their parallel stories unfold with humor and warmth as they test boundaries, seek space for choice, and insist that happiness belongs to them too. The film treats friendship, longing, and resilience with honesty and hope. Together they redefine what counts as courage.

Directed by Alankrita Shrivastava with writing by Gazal Dhaliwal and Suhani Kanwar, Lipstick Under My Burkha drew festival notice and released in India after censorship clearance. Shrivastava blends dry humor with intimate portraits of each woman.

Box office figures are not widely reported for this title, reflecting its limited release and modest earnings, but it helped spark conversations about what mainstream Indian cinema can portray and how audiences respond to boundary pushing stories across the country.

Lipstick Under My Burkha sparked a national conversation about censorship and female autonomy in Indian cinema. The four protagonists offer diverse viewpoints on desire, ambition, and independence, turning intimate moments into topics for public discussion. Critics praised the ensemble for carving space for women who are central in mainstream films.

Critics praised the performances of the ensemble led by Konkona Sen Sharma, Aahana Kumra, and Ratna Pathak Shah, noting how the film balances humor with social critique. It centers on patriarchy, friendship, and the quest for personal voice within constrained traditions. Critics praised the performances and its frank treatment overall.