1. Suraiya
Highest paid female star of the 40s, she had an edge over her contemporaries because she was not only an actress, but a singer too! The first Melody Queen of the industry, she was applauded by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for putting “life in the soul of ‘Mirza Ghalib’ (1954).”
2. Nutan
Miss India winner at the age of 16, Nutan was another beauty, known for her unconventional roles and powerful performances that won her several awards and accolades. Many actresses took her up her their role model, and with good reason too! They don’t make actresses like her anymore – we didn’t say it, Sanjay Leela Bhansali did.
3. Meena Kumari
The Tragedy Queen of the 60s – both in reel and real life, Meena Kumari is another actress who has gained cult status in pop culture for her beauty and acting. Hers is a story that began with her not wanting to do movies and ended with excess drinking and death by liver cirrhosis. In between were her memorable movies ‘Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam’, ‘Pakeezah’ and many more
4. Madhubala
One of the most charismatic figures of the 40s and 50s, Madhubala could have made her entry into Hollywood under Frank Capra’s direction if it not were for her protective father. Even then, her beauty was adored world over, with her appearing for many American magazines.
5. Nargis
‘Mother India’ Nargis, the first recipient of the National Film Award for Best Actress in 1968 was also the first patron of the Spastic Society of India. She is most remembered for her role in Mother India, and was rumored to have been in a love affair with Raj Kapoor, with who she had acted with in several films.
6. Helen
The original item girl of Bollywood, Helen was a beauty par excellence who has inspired books and movies. Anglo-Burmese in descent, she brought in a breath of fresh air into the industry with her exotic looks, and first got her break in the song “Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu” in ‘Howrah Bridge’
7. Vyjayanthimala
One of the first South Indian actresses to make it big in Bollywood, she is more than what meets the eye. Carnatic singer, golfer and Parliamentarian, she earned the title ‘Twinkletoes’ for her superhit dance numbers.
8. Tanuja
Marathi by birth, married to Bengali and having done movies in both languages as well as Gujarati and Hindi – this erstwhile beauty is pan-Indian, to say the least. She took over the big screen with performances in ‘Jewel Thief’ and ‘Paisa Ya Pyar.
9. Sadhana
A trendsetter, Sadhana was nicknamed The Mystery Girl for her roles in a number of suspense thriller movies. From her tight churidar-kurtis to her bangs, the actress dripped fashion! After she retired from Bollywood, she has closeted herself in Santa Cruz and refuses to be photographed. She wants to remember herself just the way she was.
10. Sharmila Tagore
Great-great-grand niece of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, this UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador was the first Indian actress to wear a bikini onscreen in the 1967 hit ‘An Evening in Paris’. This set off a trend in Bollywood, and she became a sex symbol. Controversies aside, she achieved cult status for her other films as well – ‘Aradhana’ and ‘Mausam’ to name a few.
11. Waheeda Rahman
A Southern beauty that ruled Bollywood in the 60s, Waheeda Rahman is well remembered for many performances in award-winning movies. One of these iconic movies would be ‘Guide’, where she was paired with Dev Anand, with who she had acted in a number of films.
12. Simi Garewal
Actor, producer, director and chat-show hostess, Simi Garewal is more versatile than her contemporaries in her days of acting. One of her movies ‘Siddhartha’ (1972) could not be released in India because of her nude scene with Shashi Kapoor and kicked up quite a controversy.
13. Shabana Azmi
FTII alumni, women’s rights activist and Parliamentarian, Shabana Azmi’s fame precedes her wherever she goes. She has received the National Film Award for Best Actress five times – the highest for any actor.
14. Hema Malini
Bollywood’s ‘Dream Girl’ Hema Malini is still as ravishing as in her heydays. Accomplished Bharatnatyam dancer and married to Dharmendra, she continues to act and has now marked her territory in politics also.
15. Mumtaz
Next on our list is Mumtaz, whose parents were Iranian. She was one of the highest paid actresses at the peak of her career and has a number of excellent movies to her credit – ‘Aaina’, ‘Patthar Ke Sanam’ and ‘Aap Ki Kasam’ being some of them.
16. Zeenat Aman
Beauty queen and erstwhile journalist, Zeenat Aman was one of the sexiest stars of her era, her song ‘Dum Maro Dum’ in the movie ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’ gained cult status over the years. Her mysterious beauty went on to get her on the cover of all the glamour magazines like Stardust and Cine Blitz.
17. Parveen Babi
One of the most beautiful, albeit most troubled actresses in Indian cinema, Parveen Babi is remembered for her roles in ‘Deewar’, ‘Shaan’ and other hits of the 70s. But unfortunately, she will be more remembered for her liaisons and her tragic death 8 years ago
18. Neetu Singh
Neetu Singh is most known for the song ‘Lekar Hum’ in ‘Yaadon Ki Baarat’ (1973). She was type-casted into usually playing the cheerful girlfriend or daughter. She has appeared in 11 films with her husband and actor Rishi Kapoor.
19. Smita Patil
Feminist and leading actress in the Indian New Wave cinema, Smita Patil was not a run-of-the-mill beauty. Her unconventional look and superior acting skills landed her a number of awards, including the National Film Award.
20. Rekha
Rekha has long been depicted as a sex symbol of Bollywood. Daughter of actor parents, she proved her acting finesse in movies like ‘Umrao Jaan’ and ‘Khoon Bhari Maang’. She is one of the few actresses who kept reinventing herself for newer movies and looks.
21. Moushumi Chatterjee
This Bong actress is most famous for her award-winning role of a rape survivor in the movie ‘Roti Kapada Aur Makaan’. She has done both Hindi and Bengali movies, besides dabbling in crossover movies and politics as well.
22. Tabu
Leggy South Indian beauty Tabu is known for her discerning choices in taking up movie projects. She has excelled in arthouse, low budget movies – while she has done some mainstream movies which are quite memorable. ‘Chandni Bar’ and ‘Maqbool’ were her best performances.
23. Juhi Chawla
The bubbliest of actors, former beauty queen and actress for movies in many Indian languages – Juhi Chawla is most known for her earlier romantic movies like ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak’ and later arthouse movies like ‘I Am’. She is next going to be seen in ‘Hum Hai Raahi Car Ke’, a quirky misnomer of one of her hits ‘Hum Hai Raahi Pyar Ke’.
24. Aishwarya Rai
Possibly the most beautiful face in not only Indian cinema, but the world – if her beauty pageant wins are anything to go, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is the clear winner this side of the century. Uncredited muse of Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Aishwarya has her share of good movies, bad movies and controversies to her name. After the birth of her baby, she has taken a hiatus from work – ‘Guzaarish’ was her last movie, for which she was nominated by Filmfare for Best Actress.
25. Lisa Ray
Although Canadian, we Indians have claimed Lisa Ray for our Bollywood. She is probably best known for the video to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s song ‘Afreen Afreen’. She continues to act in English movies and host TV shows like ‘Top Chef Canada’
26. Manisha Koirala
Controversy’s child, as she is called for her bold views off-screen, Manisha Koirala’s Bollywood success story has been dwindling for quite sometime now, despite her still being active in films in other languages. This Nepali actress had given powerful performances in ‘Dil Se’, ‘Bombay’ and many more.
27. Madhuri Dixit
The best thing to happen to the 90s in Bollywood, commonly regarded as the leanest phase of the industry, was the ‘Dhak Dhak’ girl Madhuri. A 100-watt smile, superb dance moves and top-notch acting, Madhuri continues to set the screens ablaze, and will be seen in a guest appearance in the upcoming movie ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’.
28. Kajol
One of the finest actors in Bollywood, Kajol went against the grain by playing a negative role in ‘Gupt’ and a powerful avenger in ‘Dushman’ and being highly appreciated for them. This is at a time when actresses usually stuck to playing it safe. And unlike most of them, she remains a dedicated social activist for the cause of child education and widows’ rights.
29. Mahie Gill
A class apart from the regular Bollywood beauties, Mahie Gill’s somber look won her the Critics Award for Best Actress in ‘Dev.D’. Since then, she has been noted for doing offbeat, yet hugely successful films like ‘Gulaal’, ‘Not a Love Story’ and ‘Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster’.
30. Preity Zinta
Degree in criminal psychology, has been a columnist, now raking in the IPL moolah – there are many sides to the bubbly Preity Zinta. She will be seen next in ‘Ishkq in Paris’.
31. Chitrangada Singh
Best known for ‘Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi’, Chitrangada is a model-actor who was last seen in ‘I, Me Aur Main’. Married to Indian golfer Jyoti Randhawa, she bears an uncanny resemblance to yesteryear star Smita Patil – who is also featured on this list!
32. Vidya Balan
One of the best actresses of our times, Vidya Balan is the critic’s favorite for her taking up challenging roles and then accomplishing them effortlessly – ‘Ishqiya’, ‘No One Killed Jessica’, ‘The Dirty Picture’ and ‘Kahaani’ being the most famous ones. On the downside, she has been under the scanner of the fashion police for her dressing sense off-the-screen.
33. Sushmita Sen
Former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen is beautiful in more ways than one. She had the audacity to adopt a child as a single mother at the age of 25 – something that had taken the nation by storm at that time.
34. Konkona Sen Sharma
One of the leading actresses of contemporary parallel cinema, Konkona has wowed audience in mainstream movies also. Her earthy looks and fine acting have helped her get a number of awards, for both her Bollywood and Bengali films.
35. Kareena Kapoor
Fiery, perfectionist and yes, beautiful – Kareena Kapoor made her successful debut in ‘Refugee’ 13 years ago, and there has been no looking back. Kareena has been in as many successful movies as box-office horrors, but today she is one of Bollywood’s top-paid actresses today.
36. Bipasha Basu
Model and actress Bipasha Basu is another beautiful Bengali on this list. Bold and attractive, Bipasha is known as much for her brilliant acting in ‘Corporate’ and ‘Apharan’ as for her other box-office hits and sizzling item numbers.
37. Lara Dutta
Another Miss Universe and wife of Mahesh Bhupathi, Lara is not an actor par excellence. She has done mostly romantic comedies, and will next be seen in ‘Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai’.
38. Dia Mirza
With skin like porcelain and the smile of a doll, Dia Mirza is our next choice towards the fag end of this list. Although her film career was never really successful, she continued to dabble in writing and community services, and lately – spiritual courses!
39. Kangna Ranaut
Initially a theatre actor, Kangna Ranaut was spotted by Anurag Basu in a Mumbai cafÃÃ�� – which launched her into Bollywood. After receiving her best debut award for ‘Gangster’, she is on a roll – to be next seen in ‘Shootout at Wadala’.
40. Priyanka Chopra
Some of the newer beautiful women in this list have undergone plastic surgery to accentuate their features – and one of them is Miss World Priyanka Chopra. Singer and columnist, she is the highest paid actress today – having been paid a whopping 9 crores for the upcoming ‘Zanjeer’ remake!
41. Deepika Padukone
Daughter of badminton star Prakash Padukone,Deepika keeps the paparazzi on its toes with her romantic liaisons. Presently dating Ranveer Singh after Siddharth Mallya and Ranbir Kapoor – this diva will be next seen in ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’.
42. Katrina Kaif
British Indian actress and model, Katrina Kaif is one of the most successful, and needless to say, beautiful faces in Bollywood today. That she has a Barbie doll named after her is a tribute to her beauty. And is the fact that, as of 2013, she is the brand ambassador for 17 brands!
43. Sonam Kapoor
Celebrity kid and fashionista, Sonam Kapoor must figure on this list before it ends! This lady is one of the best-dressed celebs in tinsel town, and looks like a million dollars in every movie – regardless of how it does in the box office! She will next be seen in ‘Raanjhnaa’.
44. Anushka Sharma
The last to make this list is the burgeoning star among the young Bollywood brigade – Anushka Sharma. While she has also been rumored to have undergone a lip job done, this effervescent girl is nonetheless a treat to the eyes of her fans. Probably the only redeeming factor in the YRF disaster ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’, her next movie is a Raj Kumar Hirani political satire ‘P.K’.
45. Saira Banu
This actress had one dream when she entered Bollywood, and that was to marry the then superstar Dilip Kumar. This she did – and much more! ‘Padosan’ and ‘Junglee’ were two of the most memorable movies that we remember her from. Poised and ever-so-graceful, Banu never had classical training in dance or even acting when she became an actress, unlike her contemporaries. But that did not matter a bit – she still set the screens on fire!
