An era that began with romance, drama, dance, music, action, and continued to do films with suspense and thriller or anything more that we can imagine, It is only because of these most beautiful women in the Hindi Film Industry who have brightened the Hindi Cinema screens over many decades , we bring together some of the finest and most gorgeous female stars of the Bollywood Industry in celebration of the 100 glorious years of the Indian Cinema.
She could be the breathtaking vamp or a simple girl next door or an apsara who has managed to create a niche for herself in the male dominated industry. Some of our actresses have managed to carry the entire film on their shoulder and have touched the Box office superhits. They have graced the celluloid with their dedication work and simplicity. A tribute to some of the greatest Indian actresses of all times we bring you this wide range that will appeal to you..
Madhubala
One of the best looking woman in Indian cinema, Madhubala though had a short life gave us a lot to remember her . A superstar who gave us hits after hits with some of the leading men of her time. An actress who portrayed her roles effortlessly and emerged to be known as the Screen Goddess and was compared to Marlyn Monroe. Her name was just enough for her fans to light up their face . Remembered for her films like Mr & Mrs. 55 and Mughal-E-Azam, she went on to be one of the top stars of that era.
Meena Kumari
The Tragedy Queen of Bollywood who ironically died early and we lost one of the most beautiful actress of that era. Her willingness to play the most difficult character of a neglected alcoholic wife and the Chhoti bahu in Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam or a courtesan dancer in Pakeezah in which she gave us an unforgettable performance. One of the finest leading lady whose roles had been crafted specially keeping her in mind. She was just 39 when she died of liver cirrhosis.
Suchitra Sen
Suchitra Sen the Bengali beauty was already married and with a kid when she joined the Film Industry . However that didn’t come in her way of her being on the top and she went on to forge a career that was a huge success . Her fans couldn’t get enough of her . Suchitra mostly did her best roles with actor Uttam Kumar and together they churned out films like Saptapadi, Sagarika and Harano Sur. Her most memorable role was opposite Dilip Kumar in the film Devdas wherein she plays the role of his lover Paro. One of the first few Indian actresses who have won the International Best Actress Award for Saat Paake Bandha. She did only a few films in Hindi but went on to become a name that got carved in the Indian Cinema.
Nargis
The Mother India who won the hearts of all and one of the first film actress to have won the Padma Shri Award had quite a stint in the film industry . Remembered for her amazing roles from Andaz to Awaara to Shree 420 , Chori Chori, the talented actress essayed her character in a wide range with style, grace and had an incredible screen presence. Paired mostly with Raj Kapoor, Nargis was truly a leading lady to celebrate as one of the finest female mega star of Bollywood and the Nation mourned when she died young with cancer. She remains immortal with the iconic black and white rain soaked frame with Raj Kapoor a woman with style, grace and incredible screen presence. Nargis truly was a leading lady and we celebrate her life.
Nutan
The ever glowing actress who could easily be called one of the most talented actress of the mainstream films. She went on to win five awards richly deserved by her for Best Actress Awards for her films , Seema, Sujata, Bandini, Milan and Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki which was her one of the last few films. With a simple look of the girl-next-door she had the persona of an earthy beauty yet played the non-unconventional roles that paved her status as one of the top heroines of the Indian Cinema.
Vyjayanthimala
Vyjayanthimala was one of the first few South Indian Actresses to have made it big in the Bollywood Industry. A first dancing star who introduced the Bharatnatyam in the Hindi films which was her forte . Not many actresses would turn down a Filmfare Award for her first critical success as well as refusing her Best Supporting Acress Award for playing Chandramukhi in Bimal Roy‘s Devdas as she felt it was not a supporting role but a pivotal one. She thereafter appeared in many blockbuster films like Sangam, Jewel Thief, Nagin , Madhumati, Sadhna , Naya Daur , Ganga Jamuna. A critically acclaimed heroine of Bollywood Industry and one of the most successful superstar.
B.Saroja Devi
B.Saroja Devi has acted in over 200 films during the 50 years period that she was in the film industry. One of the leading ladies who acted in several languages, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Hindi films. She mostly worked with NTR, Sivaji Ganesan and MGR who were the three leading superstars of the South Indian films. B. Saroja Devi was one of the most beautiful actress who worked with Shammi Kapoor in films like Preet Na Jane Reet and Pyaar Kiya to Darna Kya.. Later she became the Chairperson for the Karnataka Film Development Corporation and was at her peak as the female lead between the period 1958 to 1985.
Devika Rani
Devika Rani widely acknowledged as the first lady of the Indian Cinema has had a successful film career that spanned over 10 year. She was very active on the big screen between 1930 and 1940 and ruled the Hindi film industry in the female roles. Her early years were spent mostly in London and had studied architecture . In 1928 she had met Himanshu Rai a film producer whom she married later during the film A throw of Dice for which she was assisting him with costume designs and art direction. The couple together established the Bombay Talkies one of the very first few production studios. They produced women centric films and mostly she essayed the intense roles and became popular in the star cast with actor Ashok Kumar. She mostly played the unconventional roles and was awarded the Padma Shri in 1958 and Dada Saheb Phalke Award in 1970. She was also awarded the Soviet Land Nehru Award in 1990. Devika Rani was Rabindranath Tagore‘s great grand niece .
Waheeda Rehman
Waheeda Rehman noted for her contribution to the Indian cinema having worked in different genres of films from the year 1950 to 1970 . She was handpicked by veteran actor Gurudutt to play the role of a vamp in Raj Khosla‘s film CID. She played the role with such wickeness with sparkling eyes that though it was a negative role to start with , it beckoned her to sign in many more films . With her irresistible screen charm in the films like Pyaasa, Kagaz Ke Phool Chaudhvi Ka Chand, Guide, Neel Kamal , Sahib Bibi Aur Gulam, Kohra, Bees Saal Baad . Waheeda Rehman rose to her stardom to become one of the top actresses of the Hindi Films.
Waheeda has also acted in Tamil and Telugu films . She has received a Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality . She won the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award, a National Film Award for Best Actress and two Filmfare Awards for Best Actress. Waheeda Rehman is known as Bollywood’s Most beautiful actress. Her most recent was Lamhe in which she has a delightful role
Hema Malini
The legendary Dream Girl of Bollywood Cinema started her career in Tamil films but was quick to establish herself in the Hindi Cinema as one of the most sought after heroines. A breath of fresh air to the Industry the actress drew her audience with films like Seeta Aur Geeta and Sholay that left her trademark .Truly a woman with grace personified. Hema Malini an actress, director, producer, dancer and a politician went on to feature in more than 150 films . She played both comic and dramatic roles as well as that of a dancer with ease on the screen and her most memorable films were opposite her husband Dharmendra, Rajesh Khanna and Dev Anand.
Rekha
Rekha one of the most versatile and an enigmatic leading lady of the Bollywood started, her career in the film industry started as a child actress in Telugu film and she did her debut in Bollywood with the film Sawad Bhadon. Rekha thereafter did several films but got her recognition in the late 70’s as one of the finest actress of Hindi Cinema. Rekha has acted in over 180 films in a career span of 40 years and often played the role of a strong female character carrying the film entirely on her shoulders. She not only was one of the superstars of the mainstream Bollywood but also did some Art house films . She is remembered for her roles in Khubsoorat, Khoon Bhari Maang, Ghar, and her portrayal of a classical courtesan in Umrao Jaan that won her the National Film Award as Best Actress. Her transformation as the Diva of the Hindi Cinema began with the films opposite Amitabh Bachchan and the pair sparked off together to do several films together . Their most popular films together were Do Anjaane, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar and Silsila.She is one of the few actresses who has won the Padma Shri by the Government of India. Rekha became an iconic actress who redefined the Bollywood Heroine.
Sabitri Chatterjee
One of Bengali Cinema’s most enduring icons for over half a centurly Sabitri Chatterjee is known for her work and her career span across more than 50 years . She mostly starred with Uttam Kumar and their combination was a hot favourite for the Bengali cinegoers . She also featured in the Hindi films Raat Bhore , Upahaar in 155 , Punar Milan, Anupama, Lakh Taka, Kalyani to name a few. Born in British India which is now called Bangla Desh, this actress in 2013 was awarded the Highest Civilian Award Banga Bibhushan by Government of West Bengal and the Padma Shri Award in 2014 which is the fourth Highest Civilian Award by Government of India.
Sridevi
The Indian Superstar among females, actress Sridevi ‘s career is unique. She started her career with films in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and went on to reign in the Hindi film cinema as well . She was called the first Female Superstar of Hindi Cinema.
Across Pan-India she captured the hearts of Bollywood fans with her blockbuster films like Himmatwala, Judaai, Sadma, Gumrah, Nagina, Chandni, Chaalbaaz, Lamhe , Mr. India . Her aura was such that directors would write scripts around her character and one of the few actresses who started the trend of woman oriented films in a male dominated Bollywood. She returned to the Silver screen after 15 years in a blockbuster film English-Vinglish that truly gave her a successful comeback. She will now be seen again in a dynamic intense role in the film ‘ MOM‘ to be released soon.
Shabana Azmi
Shabana Azmi a television and a theatre personality , daughter of the famous poet Kaifi Azmi and stage actress Shaukat Azmi went on to be one of the finest film actresses of Indian Cinema. She made her debut in the film Ankur by Shyam Benegal and her performance in the role of a villager portrayed her extraordinary talent . The new wave of arthouse directors grabbed the opportunity to sign her in the films and she holds the record for the highest number of National Awards . She also soon became one of the leading actresses of Parallel Cinema. Azmi performed effortlessly in films of different genres regardless that it earned her praises and awards , several international honours, Filmfare Awards and was also honoured as the Women in Cinema at the 30th International Film Festival of India. In 1988, the Government of India bestowed upon her the Padma Shri which is the fourth highest civilian honour of the country. Shabana Azmi the elegant star of the Bollywood screen has acted in over 120 Hindi and Bengali films in both . the independent cinema as well as the mainstream. She has also done several foreign projects. A social and women rights activists she is the wife of the poet and screen writer Javed Akhtar and the Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Population Fund. She was nominated membership for the Rajyasabha as well .
Smita Patil
Smita Patil one of the most versatile and talented actresses of the Indian Cinema had a relatively short career,sadly her life was short-lived and she died at the age of 31 in child birth complications. Though she had a short stint in the film career, she was regarded as one of the finest stage and film actresses of her times. She appeared in over eighty films in Hindi and Marathi. She created a wave in the cinema with her films like Manthan, Bhumika, Mirch Masala, Bazaar. Smita Patil was so young when she received the Best Actress National Award twice for Bhumika and the film Chakra. She also received the Filmfare Awards and was recipient of the Padma Shri in 1985 which is India’s fourth highest Civilian honour. An actress who became popular with her roles in the parallel cinema her performance has been highly acclaimed and she is remembered till date for her roles that were mostly women oriented.
Smita Patil was an active feminist and a member of the Women’s Centre which was committed to the women’s issue and she endorsed films which explored the roles of women in the Indian society. She was married to actor Raj Babbar and her son Prateik Babbar is a film actor who made his debut in films too.
Jaya Bhaduri Bachchan
Jaya Bhaduri Bachchan one of the most recognised actresses of the Hindi film Industry and the finest actresses of her time. Known for her natural style of acting, a simple girl next door looks. She won eight Filmfare Awards which included three for Best Actress . In 2007 she was awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award and in 1992 she was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India.
Jaya did her film debut with Satyajit Ray‘s Mahanagar in 1963 and then her first adult role was in Guddi in 1971 by Hrishikesh Mukherjee that won her several accolades and thereafter she went on to collaborate in some of the most promising films like Uphaar, Koshish, Kora Kagaz, Zanjeer, Abhimaan, Chupke Chupke , Mili and Sholay and all these were super hit blockbuster films. Following her marriage to the superstar Amitabh Bachchan she quit the film industry to raise her two children and returned back to the film industry for a cameo role in Silsila in 1981. Her petite frame often got her roles in the middle class sensibility films . She did some glamorous roles in Jawani Diwani and Anamika. After a long sabbatical she returned to films in 2000 in Fiza, 2001 with Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, , Kal Ho Na Ho in 2003 all which have garnered her with the appreciation and critical acclaim that she deserved for each role she portrayed .
Madhuri Dixit
Madhuri Dixit one of the brightest and biggest star of the Hindi cinema with just her name the films went on to become the blockbusters. Her first blockbuster being Tezaab where in her song, ‘ Ek Do Teen’ and ‘ Ding-Dong-Ding had Indian fall head over heels in love with her. She became India’s biggest star ever and one of the best dancers in the showbiz. Some of her most popular films were Parinda, Tezaab, Beta, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Mrityudand , Gajagamini , Devdas, Dil to Pagal Hai, Ram Lakhan, Anjaam after which she did some very intense roles in Lajja, Gulab Gang that received wider public recognition . She established herself as one of the best Indian actresses and went on to receive six Filmfare Awards. She was awarded the Padma Shri , India’s fourth highest civilian award by the Government of India in 2008. As an actress she has done it all and after raising her children she did a comeback with the musical Aaja Nachle in 2007 and Dedh Ishqiya.
Kajol
Kajol a predominantly one of the finest and considered to be one of the most talented actresses of the Hindi Cinema born to the yesteryear actress Tanuja and Shomu Mukherjee. Kajol is India’s most successful and highest paid actresses when she was in her prime she held the record as an actress who won the most awards at the Filmfare . In 2011 she was awarded the Padma Shri for her contribution to the Hindi Film Industry.
Kajol made her debut in the Bekhudi in a romantic film of 1992 and followed up with a successful thriller film Baazigar in 1993 from then on she rose to her prominence by becoming the leading actress of India . She acted mostly in the top grossing films like Dilagi, Ishq, Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya, Pyaar Toh Hona Hi Tha, Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain , Gupt . Her film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge of 1995 was a super blockbuster followed by many more like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai , Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham , Fanaa. Some of these films garnered her with the Best Actress Awards after which she took a sabbatical for five years and returned to play a role We are Family, U Me Aur Hum and Dilwale in 2015. She is mostly paired with the superstar Shah Rukh Khan with whom she has a perfect online chemistry making them the most popular star couple on screen. Married to Actor Ajay Devgn since 1999 she has two children .
Rani Mukherjee
Rani Mukherji a very high profile Hindi film actress also belonged to the Mukherji family in Bollywood like actress Kajol who is her cousin. She had started her career working in Bengali films as a supporting role produced by her father .She later acted in Hindi films like Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat, Biyer Phool and is remembered for her role opposite Aamir Khan in the film Ghulam. She earned her recognition for her supporting role in the romantic film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in 1998 and after her initial success she continued to do some woman oriented roles as well. Her career prospects shot up with her staring in Yash Raj film Saathiya in 2002. By then Rani had established herself as one of the most sought after and talented female stars of the Hindi Film Industry. She did some leading roles in the films Hum Tum, Yuva, Veer-Zaara, Black , Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna , No one Killed Jessica , Talaash and Mardani in 2014.
She is married to the filmmaker Aditya Chopra and has a daughter. Rani Mukherji has been a natural actress who did mediocre role but was noticed in every film as one of the finest actress. Some of the best films to her credit that got its popularity due to her as the leading actress were Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, Laga Chunari Mein Daag, Mujse Dosti Karoge, Paheli and many more.
Aishwarya Rai
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan the winner of Miss World 1994 Pageant has had a successful acting caree
