Top 10 Bollywood Dames

Bollywood now represents India at the International level. Here is a list of few high profile Bollywood actresses and some of their achievements in the Indian Film Industry and Hollywood.

Aishwarya Rai: born on November 1, 1973 into a tradition South Indian (Kannadiga) family, she is a model turned actress and a former Miss World 1994; referred to as the ‘Queen of Bollywood’. Her début film was ‘Iruvar’ by Mani Ratnam. Her box office hits include ‘Jeans’, ‘Hum Dil De Chukke Sanam’, ‘Mohabbatein’ and ‘Jodha Akbar’. Her International films include ‘Pink Panther2’, ‘Mistress of Spice’, ‘Bride and Prejudice’. Her 7 minutes special appearance for the song ‘Kajra re’ in ‘Bunty aur Babli’, along with Abhishek and Amitabh Bachchan is unforgettable. Her recent movie is by Mani Ratnam, titled ‘Ashokavanam’ where she plays Sita, the wife of Lord Ram, portrayed by her husband Abhishek Bachchan. The Hindi version is named ‘Raavan’

In 2004, she was hailed ‘the World’s 100 most influential people’ by the Time magazine. According to Julia Roberts, the Hollywood star, she is ‘the world’s most beautiful woman’. A tulip in Netherlands was named ‘Aishwarya Rai’ in 2005. Her wax statue at Madame Tussaud’s museum was revealed in 2004, making her the second Bollywood personality to receive this honour. In 2009, she received ‘Padma Shri’ award for her contribution to Indian Cinema.

She is the highest paid Bollywood actress.

In 2007, she married Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan.

Rani Mukherji: born on 21 March 1978 in Calcutta into a film oriented family. She is the cousin of actress Kajol. Her debut Bollywood movie is ‘Gulam’, which was not a box office hit but noticed for its ‘Aati kya Khandala’ song, sung by Amir Khan himself. Thus she got the name ‘Khandala Girl’. Some of her super hit movies are ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, Bunti Aur Babli’, ‘Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna’, ‘Paheli’ and ‘Black’.

Kareena Kapoor: born on September 21, 1980 into the so called’ first family of Bollywood’, the Kapoor family. Her grand father is the famous Raj Kapoor and Great Grandfather is PrithviRaj Kapoor. Her father Randhir Kapoor and mother Babita were both Bollywood actors. She is fondly called ‘Bebo’. Her sister Karishma Kapoor is also an actress. Her debut film is ‘Refugee’, opposite Abhishek Bachchan, for which she bagged the Filmfare Best debut actress. Her other hits include ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham’, ‘Ajnabee’, ‘Aitraaz’, ‘Hulchul’ and ‘Jab we met’. Her role in the film ‘Chameli’ as a prostitute won her the Filmfare’s special performance award and great appreciation. According to Rediff polls, she is Bollywood’s ‘Best dressed Actress’ and ‘Most Beautiful Actress’.

She is currently seeing Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan.

Priety Zinta: born on January 21, 1974 in Shimla. This criminal psychology graduate turned model made her debut in Bollywood through the film ‘Dil Se’, directed by Mani Ratnan. She has films like ‘Soldier’, ‘Kya Kehna’, ‘Dil Chahta Hai’, ‘Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna’, ‘Koi Mil Gaya’, ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’, and ‘Salaam Namaste’ to her credit. Her clear and distinct dimple is her most attractive feature. The press has appreciated her straight forwardness and has described her as the bubbliest actress and even tagged her as ‘the only man in Bollywood’.

Sushmita Sen: She was born on November 17, 1975 in Hyderabad into a Bengali family. Her ‘essence of a woman’ answer won her the Miss Universe 1994 title, before she became a Bollywood actress. She was Femina Miss India 1994, beating Aishwarya Rai. Her debut Bollywood film was ‘Dastak’ which was a flop. Her biggest hits are ‘Biwi No.1’, ‘aankhen’, ‘Main Hoon Na’, and ‘Sirf Tum’. She has also acted in Tamil movies like ‘Ratchagan’ and ‘Marmayogi’ which are hits.

She has an adopted daughter Renee.

Priyanka Chopra: She was born on July 18, 1982 in Jharkhand. She was Miss World 2000 before she took to acting. Her debut Bollywood film was ‘Hero: the love story of a spy’. Her hits include ‘Andaaz’, ‘Muchse shaadi Karogi’, ‘Aitraaz’, ‘krissh’ and ‘Don: the chase begins again’.

Frieda Pinto: born on October 14, 1982 in Mumbai. She hails from Mangalore. Her debut film is ‘Slum Dog Millionaire’ which won the Academy Award for the best film in 2009. She was nominated for the BAFTA Award for the best actress in a supporting role. The film is about how a Mumbai slum kid contesting in a ‘Who wants to be a millionaire’ Quiz goes on to be a millionaire; his successful love story is also set in the backdrop. Pinto plays the lover girl Lathika in the movie.

Pinto has been cast in Woody Allen’s next film set in London. She is also likely to become the new face of L’Oreal. She is currently dating her costar Dev Patel of the ‘Slum dog’ fame.

Pinto has really gone International with her good looks and acting skills.

Asin: She wasborn on October 26, 1985 in Cochin; she is considered the most popular South Indian actress. Her debut Malayalam film ‘Narendran Makan Jayakanthan Vaka’ was a flop. Her Bollywood debut film is ‘Ghajini’, opposite Amir Khan, in which her acting skill was highly appreciated by the Hindi audience. Her role in ‘Ghajini’ as Kalpana Shetty bagged the Filmfare Best Hindi Debut Award, the Star Screen Best Female Newcomer Award, and the Stardust Female Super Star of Tomorrow Award. Her current Bollywood assignment is ‘London Dreams’, opposite Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan.

Her name is a mix of Sanskrit and English; ‘A’ in Sanskrit means ‘without’; thus symbolizes someone pure.

These Bollywood damsels continue to charm us with their good looks and acting talents. It is indeed difficult to choose the best from the list.