Indian cinema @100: The girls next door

Suchitra Sen as Paro in Devdas (1955): A role played by many actresses, including Aishwarya Rai, Paro is the ultimate girl-next-door, who puts honour and pride over love. Bengali superstar Suchitra Sen's portrayal of Paro, her first Hindi film role, is our top pick. Dilip Kumar played the lovelorn Devdas in Bimal Roy's version of the film. Vyjayanthimala played Chandramukhi and turned down a Filmfare Best Supporting Actress award.

  • Suchitra Sen as Paro in <i>Devdas</i> (1955): A role played by many actresses, including Aishwarya Rai, Paro is the ultimate girl-next-door, who puts honour and pride over love. Bengali superstar Suchitra Sen's portrayal of Paro, her first Hindi film role, is our top pick. Dilip Kumar played the lovelorn <i>Devdas</i> in Bimal Roy's version of the film. Vyjayanthimala played Chandramukhi and turned down a Filmfare Best Supporting Actress award.
    Suchitra Sen as Paro in Devdas (1955): A role played by many actresses, including Aishwarya Rai, Paro is the ultimate girl-next-door, who puts honour and pride over love. Bengali superstar Suchitra Sen's portrayal of Paro, her first Hindi film role, is our top pick. Dilip Kumar played the lovelorn Devdas in Bimal Roy's version of the film. Vyjayanthimala played Chandramukhi and turned down a Filmfare Best Supporting Actress award.
    • Advertisement
  • Vidya Balan as Lalita in <i>Parineeta</i> (2005): In her debut performance, Vidya's depiction of the feisty heroine dealing with social and economic hurdles is even more luminous than that of Meena Kumari in Bimal Roy's 1953 version.
    Vidya Balan as Lalita in Parineeta (2005): In her debut performance, Vidya's depiction of the feisty heroine dealing with social and economic hurdles is even more luminous than that of Meena Kumari in Bimal Roy's 1953 version.
  • Suchitra Krishnamoorthi as Anna in <I>Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa</I> (1994): Happy-go-lucky Sunil, played by Shah Rukh Khan, does his best to drive a wedge between his best friend and the girl of both their dreams. TV star Suchitra's endearing portrayal of the befrocked and hair-band-wearing Anna made it her breakthrough role, a break she entirely failed to cash in on.
    Suchitra Krishnamoorthi as Anna in Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994): Happy-go-lucky Sunil, played by Shah Rukh Khan, does his best to drive a wedge between his best friend and the girl of both their dreams. TV star Suchitra's endearing portrayal of the befrocked and hair-band-wearing Anna made it her breakthrough role, a break she entirely failed to cash in on.
  • Rati Agnihotri as Sapna in <I>Ek Duuje Ke Liye</I> (1981): North and South collided head on when Vasu, played by Kamal Haasan, fell in love with Sapna from next door. There is no happy ending in store for them, but Sapna gave Bollywood lexicon a moment to remember when she burns Vasu's photo, mixes the ash into a cup of tea and drinks it.
    Rati Agnihotri as Sapna in Ek Duuje Ke Liye (1981): North and South collided head on when Vasu, played by Kamal Haasan, fell in love with Sapna from next door. There is no happy ending in store for them, but Sapna gave Bollywood lexicon a moment to remember when she burns Vasu's photo, mixes the ash into a cup of tea and drinks it.
    • Advertisement
  • Saira Banu as Bindu in <I>Padosan</I> (1968): A rather glamorous girl-next-door, Saira Banu was wooed by two men, each placed in the most comic situations. The film was a turning point in her career, and Bindu was remarkable for the stylish clothes she wore and the bubble baths she took.
    Saira Banu as Bindu in Padosan (1968): A rather glamorous girl-next-door, Saira Banu was wooed by two men, each placed in the most comic situations. The film was a turning point in her career, and Bindu was remarkable for the stylish clothes she wore and the bubble baths she took.
  • Nutan as Sulekha in <I>Tere Ghar Ke Samne</I> (1963): Despite being a rich man's daughter, Sulekha is a demure, sensible girl in this satire on class and wealth, co-starring Dev Anand.
    Nutan as Sulekha in Tere Ghar Ke Samne (1963): Despite being a rich man's daughter, Sulekha is a demure, sensible girl in this satire on class and wealth, co-starring Dev Anand.
  • Juhi Chawla as Rashmi in <I>Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak</i> (1988): Juhi Chawla, winner of the Miss India pageant, played the sweetly pretty but decidedly un-glam Rashmi in her breakthrough film. Co-starring Aamir Khan, the film was a desi version of Romeo and Juliet. With her plaited hair and modest outfits, Rashmi ensured that former beauty queen Juhi was most often cast as the ?cute girl.?
    Juhi Chawla as Rashmi in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988): Juhi Chawla, winner of the Miss India pageant, played the sweetly pretty but decidedly un-glam Rashmi in her breakthrough film. Co-starring Aamir Khan, the film was a desi version of Romeo and Juliet. With her plaited hair and modest outfits, Rashmi ensured that former beauty queen Juhi was most often cast as the “cute girl.”
    • Advertisement
  • Deepti Naval as Neha in <I>Chashme Buddoor</I> (1981): As the the <I>Chamko</I> detergent sales girl in this cult comedy, Deepti Naval became the flashpoint of the lives of three young students and roommates, played by Farooque Shaikh, Rakesh Bedi and Ravi Baswani. Her look in the film, typical of an urban, middle-class girl, included midi skirts and hair neatly tied with ordinary black rubber bands and clips.
    Deepti Naval as Neha in Chashme Buddoor (1981): As the the Chamko detergent sales girl in this cult comedy, Deepti Naval became the flashpoint of the lives of three young students and roommates, played by Farooque Shaikh, Rakesh Bedi and Ravi Baswani. Her look in the film, typical of an urban, middle-class girl, included midi skirts and hair neatly tied with ordinary black rubber bands and clips.
  • Vidya Sinha as Prabha in <I>Chhoti Si Baat</I> (1975): Clad in printed chiffon saris, Vidya Sinha inspired a shy, socially awkward Amol Palekar to buy a motorbike to compete with rival Asrani's scooter on which he always offered Vidya a ride to and from work.
    Vidya Sinha as Prabha in Chhoti Si Baat (1975): Clad in printed chiffon saris, Vidya Sinha inspired a shy, socially awkward Amol Palekar to buy a motorbike to compete with rival Asrani's scooter on which he always offered Vidya a ride to and from work.
  • Zarina Wahab as Geeta in <I>Chitchor</I> (1976): The role of simple, sari-clad, small-town belle Geeta, who falls in love with a young engineer from Mumbai ? played by Amol Palekar - in a case of mistaken identity, was one of the highlights of Zarina Wahab's character.
    Zarina Wahab as Geeta in Chitchor (1976): The role of simple, sari-clad, small-town belle Geeta, who falls in love with a young engineer from Mumbai – played by Amol Palekar - in a case of mistaken identity, was one of the highlights of Zarina Wahab's character.
    • Advertisement
  • Tina Munim as Nancy in <I>Baaton Baaton Mein</I> (1979): With her neat dresses, pinafores and full skirts, Nancy is a typically middle-class girl looking for love despite her mother's insistence on a rich husband, and finds it in the equally middle-class Tony, played by Amol Palekar.
    Tina Munim as Nancy in Baaton Baaton Mein (1979): With her neat dresses, pinafores and full skirts, Nancy is a typically middle-class girl looking for love despite her mother's insistence on a rich husband, and finds it in the equally middle-class Tony, played by Amol Palekar.
  • Jaya Bhaduri as and in <I>Mili</i> (1975): Despite a debilitating disease, Jaya Bhaduri's endearing Mili is permanently cheerful and upbeat, shaking her new neighbour ? played by Amitabh Bachchan ? out of a drunken and depressed phase.
    Jaya Bhaduri as and in Mili (1975): Despite a debilitating disease, Jaya Bhaduri's endearing Mili is permanently cheerful and upbeat, shaking her new neighbour – played by Amitabh Bachchan – out of a drunken and depressed phase.
  • Urmila as Vidya in <I>Satya</I> (1988): A decidedly less glamorous role than her breakthrough film Rangeela, Urmila's Vidya falls in love with the boy next door, played by J D Chakravarthy, unaware that he is a gangster.
    Urmila as Vidya in Satya (1988): A decidedly less glamorous role than her breakthrough film Rangeela, Urmila's Vidya falls in love with the boy next door, played by J D Chakravarthy, unaware that he is a gangster.