These Bollywood phuljharis are still burning bright

A true star never fades away, they say. These ladies certainly prove that you don't have to be twenty-something to be beautiful in Bollywood. Sridevi, Madhuri, Ash and gang have lost none of the dazzle and glow they brought to showbiz way back when they first began their careers.
Turn off the lights please.

Just when we thought she had settled for a quiet life of domesticity with husband Boney Kapoor and her two daughters, Sridevi stunned us with her comeback film English Vinglish which has been one of the most talked about films this year. At 49, the Queen Bee looks even better than she did when she was in her prime as an actress.

A loving wife, a doting mother, a talented actress and a successful businesswoman- Sridevi will always light up our lives with her dazzling eyes and beautiful smile.

Dhak Dhak girl Madhuri Dixit, who relocated to India last year after living in the US for almost a decade, still manages to cause hearts to flutter in her role as judge on the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa. The actress recently matched her former on-screen rival Sridevi step-for-step on the same show.

After virtually ruling Bollywood for a decade with hits such as Tezaab, Beta, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and Dil Toh Pagal Hai , the talented actress with the million dollar smile is now readying for her comeback and has signed films like Gulab Gang and Dedh Ishqiya.

We wish you luck Madhuri.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's maternity leave hasn't dimmed her appeal one bit. Ash, who just turned 39, has wasted little time in getting back to work after the birth of daughter Aaradhya on November 16, 2011. In May this year, Ash made a series of stunning appearances at the Cannes Film Festival where she's been a red carpet regular since 2002. She then made an appearance in London for the opening party of the Bulgari Hotel, appeared as the face of Kalyan Jewellers in commercials, inaugurated a showroom for the jewellery brand in Kochi, recited a Sanskrit shloka at UN Peace Day, was named ambassador of UNAIDS and just recently received a French civilian honour on her birthday.

And if that's not enough, Ash says she's started reading scripts as well.

One of Bollywood's most gifted actresses, Kajol was Bollywood's reigning queen until she consciously opted for a life away from the grease-paint and arc-lights. The actress, who gave showbiz some of its most long-lasting hits- such as Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, continued to work off and on after her marriage to Ajay Devgn in 2001. Her last film was My Name Is Khan, and if rumours are to be believed, she may be seen opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Karan Johar's next venture.

We are waiting Kajol.

Karisma Kapur, who became the nation's darling with Raja Hindustani, made a much-awaited comeback to the silver screen after a gap of nine years with Dangerous Ishhq. The actress married Delhi-based industrialist Sunjay Kapur at the peak of her career in 2003. The couple went on to have two children but the actress continued to face tough times with persistent rumours of divorce and infidelity.

But Karisma seems set for a second innings in Bollywood. Hope we get to see a lot of her on the big screen in the year ahead.

The dimpled beauty shot to the limelight with her stunning performances in films like Kya Kehna, Mission Kashmir and Dil Se and continued to play the lead in films such as Koi Mil Gaya, Kal Ho Na Ho and Veer Zara. She later drifted away from Bollywood and acquired the ownership rights of the IPL cricket team Kings XI Punjab with her beau Ness Wadia. The actress is now making a comeback on the big screen with her home production Ishkq in Paris.

Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna Preity.

Manisha Koirala, whose innocent looks first stole our heart with 1942: A Love Story, was much sought after through the ‘90s with films such as Bombay, Dil Se and Akele Hum Akele Tum to her credit. The last few years have been troubled with rumours of a rocky marriage and a career in decline. However, her star seems to be in the ascendanrt once more and the actress, who recently made her comeback with Bhoot Returns, has revealed she has more films in her kitty.

We Dil Se want you to entertain us with your films for all times to come Manisha.

The National Award winning actress chose marriage and motherhood over Bollywood with her wedding to film distributor Anil Thadani. It seems that having one half in the filmi business was more than enough for the couple and the actress took a major sabbatical after Sandwich (2006) which was a box-office disaster.

Raveena subsequently made her comeback with an item number, Chandigarh Di Star, in Bbuddah...Hoga Tera Baap and was honoured at the Indian Film Festival of Houston for her performance in Shobhna's Seven Nights.

Hailed as one of the most gifted actresses of Bollywood, Tabu burst into the Bollywood scene with her film Vijaypath opposite Ajay Devgn. Success in commercial cinema has never ceased to elude her with films like Maachis, Chandni Bar, Maqbool and Cheeni Kum being cases in point. But the actress has continued to remain extremely selective about her films preferring low budget, artistic films which give her "acting experience."

Cut to 2012, the 40-year-old National award Padma Shri winner will be seen in Oscar-winning director Ang Lee's film Life of Pi.

No wonder they say slow and steady wins the race.

From Miss Universe to Bollywood star to single mother, Sushmita Sen's life has been an eventful one. The actress, who has been missing from the big screen for over two years recently said she would be returning to movies soon.

The 36-year-old was last seen in the 2010 box office flop No Problem and says she did not take up movies after that because she was busy with her beauty pageant organisation, I Am She, which she started in 2010. The Biwi No 1 star is also producing and directing "her most ambitious project" Jhansi Ki Rani.

Sonali Bendre can still make hearts skip a beat when you look at her. The yummiest mummy on the Bollywood block was last seen in the 2001 film Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega.But she opted for a life outside films after her marriage to filmmaker Goldie Behl in 2002. In 2003, she made a special appearance as Shah Rukh Khan's doctor in Kal Ho Naa Ho.

The 37-year-old can still give heroines a run for their money if she wishes to and will soon be seen in the sequel of the 2010 film Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai.