| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|
| 1974 | Parinay | | |
| Faslah | Asha | |
| Ankur | Laxmi | Winner, National Film Award for Best Actress |
| Ishq Ishq Ishq | Pammy | |
| 1975 | Nishant | Sushila | |
| 1976 | Kadambari | Chetna | |
| Shaque | Meena Joshi | |
| Fakira | Neeta/Geeta | |
| 1977 | Shatranj Ke Khiladi | Khurshid | |
| Adha Din Adhi Raat | Dr. Radha | |
| Amar Akbar Anthony | Laxmi | |
| Chor Sipahee | Priya | |
| Ek Hi Raasta | Ketki | |
| Hira Aur Patthar | Gauri | |
| Jallian Wala Bagh | | |
| Kanneshwara Rama | Malli | Kannada film |
| Karm | Neelam | |
| Khel Khilari Ka | Rachna | |
| Kissa Kursi Ka | Janata | |
| Parvarish | Shabu | [1] |
| Swami | Saudamini | Winner, Filmfare Best Actress Award |
| Vishwasghaat | Seema | |
| 1978 | Atithee | Leela/Julie | |
| Devata | Mary/Lily | Double role |
| Junoon | Firdaus | |
| Khoon Ki Pukaar | Shano | |
| Swarg Narak | Geeta Vinod | |
| Toote Khilone | | |
| 1979 | Lahu Ke Do Rang | Roma | |
| Amar Deep | Radha | |
| Bagula Bhagat | | |
| Jeena Yahan | | |
| 1980 | Hum Paanch | Sundariya | |
| Apne Paraye | Chandranath's wife | |
| Thodisi Bewafaii | Neema | |
| Sparsh | Kavita | |
| Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Ata Hai | Stella | |
| Ek Baar Kaho | Aarti Mathur | |
| Jwalamukhi | Kiran | |
| Yeh Kaisa Insaaf | Madhu | |
| 1981 | Shama | Shama | |
| Ek Hi Bhool | Meenakshi | Special appearance |
| Sameera | | |
| 1982 | Arth | Pooja Malhotra | Winner, National Film Award for Best Actress and Filmfare Best Actress Award |
| Suraag | Sunita/Bela | |
| Raaste Pyar Ke | Shyama | |
| Anokha Bandhan | Annapurna | |
| Ashanti | Kamini | |
| Log Kya Kahenge | Roma | |
| Namkeen | Mitthu | |
| Yeh Nazdeekiyan | Shobna | |
| 1983 | Doosri Dulhan | Chanda | |
| Avtaar | Radha Krishen | |
| Mandi | Rukmini Bai | |
| Masoom | Indu Malhotra | |
| Sweekar Kiya Maine | Gopika | |
| Pyaasi Aankhen | | |
| 1984 | Bhavna | Bhavna Saxena | Winner, Filmfare Best Actress Award |
| Gangvaa | Jamna | |
| Khandhar | Jamini | Winner, National Film Award for Best Actress |
| Lorie | Geeta Malhotra | |
| Aaj Ka M.L.A. Ram Avtar | Sushma | |
| Hum Rahe Na Hum | Mohini Sahani | |
| Kaamyab | Sita | |
| Kamla | Sarita Jadhav | |
| Paar | Rama | Winner, National Film Award for Best Actress |
| Ram Tera Desh | Advocate | Special appearance |
| Yaadon Ki Zanjeer | | Delayed release |
| 1985 | Rahi Badal Gaye | Bhavna | |
| Khamosh | Azmi | |
| 1986 | Nasihat | Indrani | |
| Genesis | The Woman | |
| Shart | Kiran Dutt | |
| Anjuman | Anjuman | |
| Ek Pal | Priyam | |
| Samay Ki Dharaa | Madhvi | |
| 1987 | Itihaas | Sunaina | |
| Susman | Gauramma | |
| 1988 | Madame Sousatzka | Sushila Sen | |
| Mardon Wali Baat | Seema | |
| Ek Aadmi | | |
| Libaas | Seema | Not released commercially |
| La Nuit Bengali | Indira Sen | |
| Pestonjee | Jeroo | |
| 1989 | Ek Din Achanak | Neeta | |
| Oonch Neech Beech | Tulsi | Delayed release |
| Rakhwala | Journalist Kiran | |
| Main Azaad Hoon | Subhashni Saigal | |
| Picnic | Mother | Television |
| Sati | Uma | |
| 1990 | Amba | Amba | |
| Disha | Hansa Sarpat | |
| Muqaddar Ka Badshaah | Advocate Sharda Singh | |
| 1991 | Jhoothi Shaan | Krishna | |
| Antarnaad | | |
| Ek Doctor Ki Maut | Seema | |
| Fateh | | |
| 1992 | City of Joy | Kamla Pal | |
| Adharm | Mamta Verma | |
| Dharavi | Kumud | |
| Immaculate Conception | Samira | |
| 1993 | Son of the Pink Panther | Queen | |
| In Custody | Imtiaz Begum | |
| 1994 | Patang | Jitni | |
| 1995 | Daughters of This Century | Kadambini | |
| 1996 | Fire | Radha | |
| 1997 | Mrityudand | Chandravati | |
| Saaz | Bansi | |
| 1998 | Earth | Narrator | Voice only |
| Side Streets | Chandra Bipin Raj | |
| Bada Din | Lilian | |
| 1999 | Godmother | Rambhi | Winner, National Film Award for Best Actress |
| 2000 | Gaja Gamini | Premchand's Nirmala | Guest appearance |
| Hari-Bhari: Fertility | Ghazala | |
| 2002 | Makdee | The witch | |
| Meghla Akash | Virology Doctor | Special appearance (Bangladeshi Bengali film) |
| 2003 | Tehzeeb | Rukhsana Jamal | |
| 2004 | Morning Raga | Swarnlatha | |
| 2005 | 15 Park Avenue | Anju Mathur | |
| Waterborne | Heera Bhatti | |
| 2006 | Umrao Jaan | Khanum Sahib | |
| 2007 | Positive | Mrs.Soni | Short film |
| Dus Kahaniyaan | | (Anthology film) story Rice Plate |
| Om Shanti Om | Herself | Special appearance in song, Deewangi Deewangi |
| Loins of Punjab Presents | Rrita Kapoor | |
| Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. | Nahid | |
| 2008 | Sorry Bhai! | Mother Gayatri | |
| 2009 | Luck by Chance | Herself | Cameo |
| 2010 | It's a Wonderful Afterlife | Mrs Sethi | |
| 2011 | A Decent Arrangement | Preeti Mehta | |
| 2012 | Midnight's Children [2] | Naseem | |
| 2013 | Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola | Chaudhary Devi | |
| The Reluctant Fundamentalist | Ammi | |
| 2015 | Jazbaa | Garima | |
| 2016 | Neerja | Rama Bhanot | Winner, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| Chalk n Duster | Teacher Vidya | |
| 2017 | Sonata | Bengali Widow | |
| Signature Move | Parveen | |
| The Wishing Tree | Tree Goddess | [3] |
| The Black Prince | Maharani Jind Kaur | |
| 2020 | Kaali Khuhi | Satya Maasi | Netflix film |
| 2022 | What's Love Got to Do with It? | Aisha Khan | [4] |
| 2023 | Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani | Jamini Chatterjee | [5] |
| Ghoomer | Anina's grandmother | [6] |
| 2025 | Lahore 1947 | Mai | |
