Top 10 actresses of 2011

Vidya Balan: She started the year with a stellar performance as the deglamorised, strong-willed Sabrina Lall in the real-life inspired No One Killed Jessica and featured in cameos in Thank You, Dum Maaro Dum and Malayalam film Urumi.

But for the 33-year-old 'bombaat' actress, 2011 ended with a bang with her sizzling portrayal of dancing star “Silk”, in The Dirty Picture. She owned the box-office with her powerhouse performance and turned out to be the real hero of The Dirty Picture. Watch out for Vidya raking in the awards for 2011.

Kareena Kapoor: Two films and both hits! After over a decade in the industry, Kareena stood out among her contemporaries with the record-breaker Bodyguard opposite Salman Khan, and Shah Rukh Khan's mega-production RA.One. She also proved her dancing mettle once again with Chammak challo, which went on to be a huge chartbuster.

Priyanka Chopra: After an average 2010, Priyanka Chopra sprang back into action by carrying out seven different looks in Vishal Bhardwaj's critically-acclaimed 7 Khoon Maaf. In the character of a serial spouse-killer, Sussanna, the actress has displayed why she is a National Award winner at such a young age. She will round off the year as Shah Rukh Khan's 'Junglee Billi' in the much-awaited Don 2: The King Is Back.

Katrina Kaif: As a free-spirited, independent girl in the multi-starrer Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, as a sexy item girl in Bodyguard or as the effervescent Dimple Dixit in Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, Katrina Kaif showed how she's evolved as an actress this year.

Kalki Koechlin: With four diverse films, Shaitan, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, That Girl in Yellow Boots and My Friend Pinto - Kalki has been on a roll this year. Her easy and fluid portrayal of a mentally disturbed girl, a nagging girlfriend, a girl in search of her father and a lost girl abandoned by her boyfriend, have reassured cine-buffs of her capacity as a new age, commercially-viable actress, who dares to choose different roles.

Kangana Ranaut: Year 2011 saw Kangana in a new avatar. As a bindaas Kanpur girl in Tanu Weds Manu, she gave her most desi performance ever. She followed it up with the role of a cop in Game, a supporting act in comedy films Double Dhamaal and Rascals, and featured in Miley Naa Miley Hum, which went unnoticed. However, Kangana's standing in the industry remains quite unaffected, as she has managed to bag a plum role in Krrish 3.

Rani Mukerjee: Rani returned to the big screen in No One Killed Jessica. As a bold journalist, who gets the public together to demand justice for a cause, Rani delivered an image-breaking performance, notching up heaps of praise from even those who had written her off.

Anushka Sharma: There's something that clicks about this Yash Raj Films find, despite average earners like Patiala House and Ladies VS Ricky Bahl in 2011. Anushka's vivaciousness, million-dollar smile and perfect dancing skills have catapulted her into an young actress with promise.

Deepika Padukone: While she made headlines more for sharing a public kiss with Sidhartha Mallya than for her films in 2011, Deepika's tattooed waist shimmying to Dum Maro Dum made news too. While Deepika held her own playing Amitabh Bachchan's daughter in Prakash Jha's Aarakshan, comedy flick Desi Boyz added nothing to her report card for the year.

Mahie Gill: Her films, Utt Patang, Not A Love Story and Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster this year didn't mint enough money at the box office, but her performance, like always, was well noticed. The critically acclaimed actress continues to choose offbeat films and garners appreciation galore.