Bollywood Beauties, Then And Now
As Bollywood took it's baby steps in the 1930s it was helped along by these pioneering actresses, heroines in every sense of the word.
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1930s: As Bollywood took it's baby steps in the 1930s it was helped along by these pioneering actresses, heroines in every sense of the word.
Seeta Devi was the first actress to have an onscreen liplock in the movie A Throw of Dice in 1929. Shobhana Samarth was among the most beautiful actresses of her time. She started out in Marathi movies and then moved to Hindi cinema. She's best remembered as Sita in Ram Rajya.
Devika Rani was Bollywood's first dream girl and was modern and accomplished despite living in more conservative times. She holds the record for the longest filmi kiss, clocking 4 minutes, with her husband Himanshu Rai in Karma (1933).
Superstar Fearless Nadia's career spanned four decades. She set the standard as an action heroine and did all her own stunts. She also led a colourful life with affairs galore and two marriages.
Before Lalita Pawar switched to villainous roles, she had a promising career as a leading lady. An accident on set put an end to that but she did play the heroine in movies like Himmat-e-Marda. -
1940s: It was the era of black and white but these ladies brought every shade of colour to their screen roles. Kanan Devi was among the early singing stars of Indian cinema. Hospital, Banphool and Rajlakshmi were some of her well-known films.
Renowned singer and actress Noorjehan's career spanned over seven decades. She debuted as the lead opposite Pran in Khandaan.
Legendary singer-actress Suraiya, who ruled the screen in the 1940s and 1950s with hits like Pyar Ki Jeet and Dillagi, chose Garbo-esque seclusion after years in the limelight. Rumour has it, she never got over her failed relationship with heartthrob Dev Anand.
Kamini Kaushal started out on stage and then made movies like Neecha Nagar and Biraj Bahu. She worked with the top heroes of her time including Ashok Kumar, Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar. She has also appeared on television, making her one of the most versatile actresses ever
The svelte and the sexy Begum Para was the most glamorous actress of her time. She came to Mumbai in 1945 from Jalandhar and starred in movies like Sohini Mahiwal, Mehendi, Shama, Pedro, Dada and Dara.
Durga Khote was the other bright star of the black and white generation. She worked in Hindi and Marathi cinema and also remained actively involved in theatre. She is famous for playing Jodhabai in K Asif's Mughal-e-Azam (1960) and as Kaikeyi in Bharat Milap (1942). She received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1983. -
Eternal beauty Nargis is regarded as one of the greatest actresses in the history of Indian cinema. One of her most memorable performances has been the classic Mother India. She was hugely popular not just on home ground but also in Russia, as a screen couple with Raj Kapoor
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1960s: The swinging 60s saw Bollywood's leading ladies go places. Sadhana was equally famous for her trendsetting hairstyle as for her movies. In her shortlived career she set the natio's hearts beating faster. She retired, all too soon, in the next decade.
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Child artist Asha Parekh turned actress in Dekho Dekho and there was no looking back for her. She brought her dancing skills to Teesri Manzil and her acting chops to Kati Patang. Rumour has it she fell in love with director Nasir Hussain – true or not, she never married anyone else.
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Shashi Kapoor declared actress Nanda his favourite heroine, a compliment she returned as well. Together, they made movies like Jab Jab Phool Khile. Nanda's engagement to director Manmohan Desai ended when a he committed suicide. She never married after that.
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Jaya Bhaduri was a legitimate star with movies like Guddi to her credit when a certain Angry Young Man appeared on the scene. She appeared with husband-to-be Amitabh Bachchan in Zanjeer, Chupke Chupke, Abhimaan, Sholay and Silsila. She won 3 Filmfare Awards for Best Actress and 3 for Best Supporting Actress.
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Neetu Singh's sizzling dance number in Yaadon Ki Baarat brought her so much attention that she was immediately offered lead roles. In most films, Neetu was cast as the fun-loving daughter or the bubbly girlfriend. She acted with the top stars of her day, especially her future husband Rishi Kapoor with whom she appeared in 11 films.
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Classic beauty Smita Patil was deeply committed to social issues and picked roles that explored the place of women in society, their sexuality and the changing face of middle-class women. She was synonymous with parallel cinema and is remembered for her earthy and luminous beauty.
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The light-eyed Raakhee showcased her talent in Sharmilee, Kabhi Kabhie, Trishul, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar and Jeevan Mrithyu. She's the only actress to have played Amitabh Bachchan's love interest and his mother on screen. She's won 2 Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Actress as well as a National Award for Bengali film Shubho Mahurat.
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1980s: The Eighties were a time of big hair and bad fashion, but that didn't dim the beauty of Bollywood's babes. Southern beauty Jaya Prada is known as Jeetendra's heroine. The actress turned politician has starred in many South Indian films as well and won acclaim for her role as a mute dancer in Sargam
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Former model Tina Munim won Miss Photogenic and Miss Bikini at the International Teen Contest in 1978. She was discovered by Dev Anand who cast her as his leading lady in Des Pardes. She went on to become Bollywood hot property before finally marrying businessman Anil Ambani.
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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.
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Shilpa ‘The Body' Shetty has been around for a while but made it truly big after winning Big Brother in the UK. We don't have a lot to say about her acting talent 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 a Spa and Yoga CDs.
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Bollywood's current 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.
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Flavour of the month Katrina Kaif grabbed eyeballs when she appeared on the Kingfisher Calendar in 2006. 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.
