Bhumi Pednekar Birthday 2023: 5 films of the actress to add to your to-watch list

Bhumi Pednekar in `Badhai Do` (L) and `Toilet: Ek Prem Katha` (R), Pics/Film Stills

Bhumi Pednekar will turn a year older on July 18, 2023. Bhumi is known for her stellar range and versatility across her filmography. On the actress's 34th birthday, we dive into 5 of her must-watch films.

1. Dum Laga Ke Haisha

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Bhumi Pednekar starred opposite Ayushmann Khurrana in her feature-film debut. The movie, set in 1990s Haridwar, touched upon themes of family, body shaming, and the politics of arranged marriage in India. Bhumi gained a lot of weight for this unconventional role and gave a powerful performance.

2. Shubh Mangal Saavdhan

In this remake of Kalyana Samayal Saadham, Bhumi shared the screen with her Dum Laga Ke Haisha co-star for the second time. The duo is known for choosing roles that explore hushed and taboo themes in Indian society. The film follows a couple who try to find a solution after their relationship suffers an unexpected setback when the groom discovers he has erectile dysfunction.

3. Toilet: Ek Prem Katha

Bhumi Pednekar starred opposite Akshay Kumar in 'Toilet: Ek Prem Katha.' The film follows country bumpkin Keshav and progressive Jaya, who come together from neighboring villages to join hands in marriage. However, Jaya threatens to leave her husband on the first day after she learns he does not have a toilet in the house. This striking narrative contests practices of open defecation in India and brings a new lens to sanitation, superstition, and public health.

4. Bala

Bala is a satirical black-comedy film. The story revolves around the protagonist Balmukund Shukla, a young man from Kanpur who is suffering from male pattern baldness. The film focuses on social perceptions and stigma associated with appearances that do not conform to the 'ideal,' including balding and colorism. Bhumi Pednekar played the role of Balmukund's lawyer, a dark-complexioned girl in the film.

5. Badhai Do

The premise of the film is that of a 'lavender marriage' - where both parties involved enter into a marriage of convenience to conceal the sexual orientation of one or both partners. Badhai Do follows Rajkummar Rao, a gay man, and Bhumi Pednekar, a lesbian woman, who enter into a similar partnership. Bhumi's character has hitherto been pigeonholed into entering a heterosexual relationship and having a 'married' life, despite her focus on her career as a P.T. teacher and her hidden desire to live authentically