On International Women's Day, here's a look at India's enduring beauties - powerhouses of talent who have mesmerised India and the world- over decades.
On International Women's Day, here's a look at India's enduring beauties - powerhouses of talent who have mesmerised India and the world- over decades.
When Suchitra Sen was hospitalised for chest infection and breathlessness, an anxious nation followed every medical bulletin issued by her doctors. She returned home but remained as unapproachable as ever.
Suchitra Sen: Suchitra Sen was easily the most popular actress that Bengali cinema has ever seen. Her ethereal beauty coupled with her phenomenon screen presence and immense box office popularity, particularly her on-screen pairing with the late Uttam Kumar, gave her a legendary cult status in Bengal.
Here's a look at the everlasting beauties who have graced the silver screen in India.
Seeta Devi: Actress Seeta Devi was the first actress to have kissed on screen, which was in the movie A Throw of Dice in 1929.
Devika Rani: Despite being an actress of the 1930s, Devika Rani was the most accomplished and modern in every sense. Devika Rani is also accredited for having acted in the longest kissing scene in the movie world with her husband Himanshu Rai in Karma (1933). It was four minutes long and very controversial in the then culturally orthodox India.
Nadia: Better known as Fearless Nadia, Nadia was the super star of Indian film industry from 1930s- 40s. Nadia's film career lasted four decades. She was associated romantically with several men and got married twice. She was also known as India's Original Stunt Queen, since she did a lot of action movies.
Geeta Bali: As Geeta Bali danced to the tunes of "Shola Jo Bhadke, Dil Mera Dhadke", she made many hearts skip a beat.
Madhubala: Madhubala's enigmatic screen presence and beauty still manages to seduce men. She was one of the most sought after actresses of her time.
Meena Kumari: Tragedy queen Meena Kumari was one of the most beloved actresses of all times in Bollywood cinema and she continues to live deep into the hearts of people even today. Her beauty, her acting skills, her voice - mesmerised her fans.
Helen: The cabaret queen of Bollywood Helen was known for playing vamps and raunchy item numbers. During the 50s, filmmakers made it a point to cast Helen in their movies to ensure that their movies did well a the box office.
Waheeda Rehman: Waheeda Rehman was one of the most prominent actresses of her time. Her beautiful looks mesmerised everyone including Guru Dutt. A classic beauty, Waheeda Rehman has also won accolades for her acting skills.
Vyjayantimala: Vyjayanthimala was the first South Indian actress who made it as a national star and was one of the biggest ever Hindi film female stars in a career lasting almost two decades.
Mumtaz: Despite her bulky figure actress Mumtaz was loved by all during her heydays. A great dancer, Mumtaz was also appreciated for her beautiful looks and acting skills.
Sharmila Tagore: Sharmila Tagore established herself as a popular Hindi film actress with Shakti Samanta's Kashmir Ki Kali in 1964. In 1967, Sharmila sported a bikini in the movie An Evening in Paris (1967), she was one of the few Indian actresses to do so. This not only shocked conservative Indian audiences but also set a trend. Wearing a bikini put her name in the Indian press as one of Bollywood's ten hottest actresses of all time.
Hema Malini: The dream girl of Bollywood Hema Malini was the second actress after Vyjayantimala to make it big in Bollywood. Hema with her beauty had her share of admirers. Both Jeetendra and Sanjeev Kumar proposed marriage to her but it was Dharmendra who wooed and won her.
Rekha: Rekha is certainly one of the most talented actresses of Bollywood. Who can forget this dusky beauty's seductive act in movies like Umrao Jaan and Utsav. She truly is the original diva of Bollywood.
Dimple Kapadia: After creating waves with her bold act in the movie Bobby, Dimple again sizzled on screen after almost a decade in Saagar. The elegant actress still continues to enthrall her fans.
Zeenat Aman: Zeenat Aman: Bollywood's sex symbol of the 1970-80s surprisingly, as a teenager, was "dismayed and shocked" with her body and would take great pains to keep herself completely wrapped up at all times. But her pics don't seem to say the same thing.
Parveen Babi: Known for her seductive screen presence, Parveen Babi was the first Indian actress to have featured on the cover of the Time magazine. She was the heartthrob of millions of Indian audience.
Smita Patil: Classic beauty Smita Patil was deeply committed to the advancement of women's issues, and gave her endorsement to films which sought to explore the role of women in traditional Indian society, their sexuality, and the changes facing the middle-class woman in an urban milieu.
Rati Agnihotri: Rati Agnihotri rose to fame with Ek Duje Ke Liye opposite Kamal Haasan which went on to become a superhit. A former model Rati was Bollywood's hot property.
Tina Munim: Former model Tina Munim shot into fame in 1978 when she represented India at the International Teen Contest in Aruba. She won the Miss Photogenic and Miss Bikini awards. She was discovered by Dev Anand who cast her as his leading lady in Des Pardes. She then went on to become one of the hottest actresses of Bollywood.
Moon Moon Sen: Moon Moon Sen's daring role in her debut movie Andar Bahar created a storm of controversy. Even though she could never match up to the success of her mother Suchitra Sen, Moon Moon always remained a glam doll for the Indian film industry.
Mandakini: Mandakini created waves when she dared to bare in Raj Kapoor's Ram Teri Ganga Maili.
Kimi Katkar: The Jumma Chumma De De girl Kimi Katkar was one of the boldest actresses of her time.
Sonam: She first entered India's Hindi film industry Bollywood after being launched by Yash Chopra in the 1988 film Vijay. Sonam shot to fame in the 1989 film Tridev with the song Oye Oye... She was always known as the sex symbol of Bollywood.
Sridevi: Bollywood's sensational diva Sridevi made men go weak in their knees with her bold act. Who can forget her in the sensous moves in the song Kaate Nahi Kat Te from Mr India, where she swerved in a blue chiffon saree.
Madhuri Dixit: Dhak dhak girl Madhuri Dixit with her million dollar smile ruled many hearts during her heydays.
Mamta Kulkarni: Mamta Kulkarni was way too bold for her time. The actress made headlines when she appeared topless on the cover of a magazine.
Shilpa Shirodkar: Shilpa Shirodkar enjoyed a period of popularity in the 1990s. Shilpa made her debut with the 1989 film Bhrashtachar. In which she played the role of a blind girl, her rape scene in the film create lot of buzz in media. Later she did Kishan Kanhaiya, in which she bathed under a water-fall wearing white cloths, but it was presented beautifully.
Pooja Bhatt: Mahesh Bhatt's daughter Pooja Bhatt was known for her bold attitude during her times.
Raveena Tandon: This mast mast actress of Bollywood was the hottest of all the actresses of her time.
Karisma Kapoor: Her perfect figure, hot dance moves and of course her passionate kiss with Aamir Khan in the movie Raja Hindustani made Karisma a hot property in Bollywood.
Shilpa Shetty: Miss Body Beautiful Shilpa Shetty has become a hot property in Bollywood ever since she won the reality show Big Brother. Not much can be said about her acting prowess, but who can forget her sexy moves in the song UP Bihar lootne from the movie Shool. Recently, she was seducing the likes of John Abraham and Abhishek Bachchan in the 2008 hit Dostana. The actress who recently got married to her long-time beau Raj Kundra has also launched her Spa and Yoga CDs.
Anu Agarwal: When she made her debut in Aashiqui opposite Rahul Roy, no one expected the film to do well. But Anu Agarwal's hot avatar in the movie was appreciated by one and all.
Pooja Bedi: The kamasutra girl has done quite a few bold roles in movies like Vishkanya and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar.
Manisha Koirala: ILU ILU girl Manisha Koirala made headlines for her bold avatars in films like Dil Se and Agnisakshi.
Urmila Matondkar: Rangeela girl Urmila Matondkar has enjoyed being a sex siren for almost a decade in Bollywood.
Sonali Bendre: Petite and pretty Sonali Bendre was a model before she entered Bollywood. Even though she couldn't do much to prove her acting prowess in the Indian Film Industry, Sonali is still remembered for her hot image.
Kajol: Bollywood's sweetheart Kajol looked her sexiest best in her initial movies like Baazigar, Karan Arjun and Yeh Dillagi. But after the release of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge people started liking Kajol more for her extraordinary screen presence and acting. Still, this list would be incomplete without her.
Aishwarya Rai: Eternal beauty Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's popularity has grown ever since she tied the knot with Abhishek Bachchan. With a handful of endorsements and an international project with Sir Ben Kingsley, the actress is certainly a hot property in Bollywood as well as Hollywood. Ash has represented India at the Cannes Film Festival for many years now. She has also appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show twice.
Sushmita Sen: Sultry siren Sushmita Sen is in true sense the diva of Bollywood. Her persona, her body language and her style spells class. The former Miss Universe has been a hot property not only in Bollywood but also in the ad world. She has been the brand ambassador of brands like Tag Heuer, Olay and Kiah.
Bipasha Basu: This list will be incomplete without mentioning the sultry Bengali beauty Bipasha Basu. The model-turned-actress, who redefined the word "sexy" in Bollywood is considered as the eternal style diva of film industry. Bips also takes the credit for reviving micro-minis, in an industry where leading actresses would shy away from sporting the same. Her co-star in Bachna Ae Haseeno Ranbir Kapoor had once called her the 'Most Sexiest Actress' in Bollywood.
Kareena Kapoor: With her size-zero figure and beautiful looks, Kareena is the most sought after actresses in Bollywood. The actress has never gone wrong with her style sense be it Indian or western wear.
Lara Dutta: Ex Miss Universe Lara Dutta spells style in whatever she does. With a perfect 10 figure and a million dollar smile, this sexy gal is a beauty with brains. She made heads turn in her very first movie Andaaz. She looked her sexiest best in the movie Blue.
Neha Dhupia: Former Miss India Neha Dhupia is one of the few actresses who have never shied away from doing hot scenes.
Chitrangada Singh: Often compared to the legendary actress Smita Patil, this dusky beauty surely knows how to be mysteriously sexy.
Sherlyn Chopra: This sex symbol, who had sent shockwaves across Bollywood with her comments on sex and her sex life has always been in news for the wrong reasons. Sherlyn had recently appeared in Yash Raj's Dil Bole Hadippa alongwith Shahid Kapoor has also done a few B-grade movies like Time Pass, Red Swastik and Game.
Celina Jaitley: Ex-Miss India Celina Jaitley is yet to prove her acting prowess, but this light-eyed beauty certainly needs a mention in this list. The hottie has campaigned for PETA and has also appeared on the cover of Maxim.
Deepika Padukone: Model-turned-actress Deepika Padukone was awarded the Model of the Year at the fifth annual Kingfisher Fashion Awards in 2006. Shortly afterward, she was chosen as one of the models for the Kingfisher Swimsuit Calendar for 2006 and won two trophies at the Idea Zee Fashion Awards: Female Model of the Year - (Commercial Assignments) and Fresh Face of the Year. This leggy beauty has also bagged some good offers in Bollywood, starting with Om Shanti Om opposite Shah Rukh Khan.
Mallika Sherawat: Bollywood's sex symbol Mallika Sherawat has been voted as one of Asia's 100 most beautiful people by the Hong Kong based fashion and beauty magazine, Cover. The actress who made her onscreen debut was in Lak Tunoo, a music video by Surjit Bindrakhia, got noticed in the 2003 movie Khwahish. Post that she has appeared in movies like Murder, Pyaar Ke Side Affects and an international flick, The Myth with Jackie Chan. Her sizzling item numbers in Guru and Dasavatharam were widely appreciated.
Vidya Balan: Classic beauty Vidya Balan might have received bad feedback for her dressing sense, but none can disagree that she is the most sensuous actress in Bollywood these days.
Priyanka Chopra: Bollywood's current hot favourite Priyanka Chopra is the first Indian actress to have beaten the Khans in endorsements. The actress, who has her kitty full with big banners, has worked hard on her figure and now is seen as a fashion icon in Bollywood. The former Miss World is these days experimenting a lot with her hairstyles.
Katrina Kaif: Bollywood's reigning beauty Katrina Kaif deserves to be on the number one position on this list. Ever since she appeared on the Kingfisher Calendar in 2006, Katrina grabbed eyeballs instantly. With five hits in a row in 2008, she became the most bankable actress in Bollywood. The beautiful lady has been voted as the Sexiest Women not once but twice by FHM magazine. She is also the most searched Bollywood star on Google, leaving behind the likes of Shah Rukh and Aishwarya Rai. Recently, Katrina sizzled in a hot rain sequence with Akshay Kumar in De Dana Dan.
