Bollywood and beauty go hand in hand. The tinsel town has been home to some of the most gorgeous and talented actresses in the country, if not the world. Here’s our list of 10 evergreen Bollywood actresses.
Madhubala – born as Mumtaz Jahan Begum Dehlavi, Madhu Bala was one of the best loved and most beautiful actresses of the 1950s and 1960s. Her role as Anarkali in Mughal-e-Azam (1960) was probably her most acclaimed appearance on the silver screen. Often regarded as the “Venus of Indian Cinema” Madhubala’s mystique is heightened by the tragic life she led and her death caused quite a few heartbreaks.
Sadhana – Sadhana Shivdasani, known only as Sadhana, was not only Bollywood’s golden girl of the 1960s and 1970s but also one of the yesteryears best known style icons. Sadhana gave her adoring audience hit after hit such as Mere Mehboob (1963), Woh Kaun Thi? (1964), Waqt (1965), Mera Saaya (1966). Her Mona Lisa like smile, her signature fringe hair cut (which is still known as Sadhana cut), and her beauty remain a haunting memory.
Waheda Rehman – Unconventional beauty combines with exceptional talent when we speak her name – Waheeda Rehman from Pyaasa (1957), Kagaz Ke Phool (1959), Guide (1965), Neel Kamal (1968), Sahab Bibi Aur Ghulam (1953), Kala bazar (1960) and many such superhit films had an entire generation mesmerized. No one else could have immortalized Chaudvin Ka Chand like she did.
Meena Kumari – Born Mahjabeen Bano, reigned the silver screen as Meena Kumari, led a life of heartbreak and tragedy, and died at the age of 38 – that is the meteoric rise and fall of one of the most beautiful actress of the 1950s and 1960s. From Do Bhiga Zameen (1953), Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai (1960), Baiju Bawra (1952), Dil Ek Mandir (1963), Sanjh Aur Savera (1964), Bheegi Raat (1965), and her last but best Pakeezah (1972) – Meena Kumari made us fall in love each time she appeared on the screen.
Hema Malini – This sultry south Indian beauty’s nickname – Dream Girl – defines her position in the hearts of Bollywood fans. Her beauty, her naivety, her chatty bubbly demeanour, and her fine dancing skills made her one of the best loved heroines of her times and won her numerous awards. The fact that she married one of the hunky Bollywood heroes only made her a darling of the masses. We still drool over her occasional appearances on TV or as a Lok Sabha MP.
Rekha – The real Diva of Bollywood, the super seductive and beautiful Rekha has ruled the hearts and souls of Bollywood fans over the past few decades. From her most acclaimed performance as and in Umrao Jaan, to box office hits such as Basera, Utsav, Khubsoorat, Ijaazat, Silsila, and Khoon Bhari Maang, her beauty and grace kept Rekha in our hearts.
Sri Devi – She may have started her career as a child artist in south Indian cinema but Sri Devi certainly grew into the undisputed queen of Bollywood through the 1980s and 90s. Her sheer versatility and the different roles she has enacted on screen remain unparalleled. Remember the different roles in Mr. India (1987), Chandni (1989), Sadma (1983), Nagina (1986), ChaalBaaz (1989), Lamhe (1991), Khuda Gawah (1992), and Judaai (1997), English Vinglish (2012)?
Madhuri Dixit – Vibrant and graceful Madhuri Dixit is an excellent actress and a wonderful dancer as well. No wonder most of her best roles on screen such as Devdas, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Dil Toh Pagal Hai, and Aaja Nachle involved some great dance sequences. She did break quite a few hearts when she moved out of the country but now that Madhuri is back we look forward to more of her magic.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan – Admittedly the blue eyed girl of Bollywood. No, her eyes aren’t really blue but she definitely has the most Googled eyes of any celebrity (living) in the world. When this former Miss World entered Bollywood film industry we were glad enough. And then came her epic performances on the silver screen – Taal (1999), Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), Mohabbatien (2000), Raincoat (2004), Jodha Akbar (2008), Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016) – to her Cannes appearances, to Hollywood flicks like Pink Panther 2 (2009), Provoked (2006), and The Last Legion (2007) Aishwarya has remained in the spotlight. And now as a member of the Bachchan family, she remains evergreen.
Priyanka Chopra – She may be new and contemporary but evergreen she certainly is! The former Miss India and Miss World won her share of fame in Bollywood with the release of Krrish (2006), Don (2006), Barfi (2012), Bajirao Mastani (2015), and Mary Kom (2014), Chopra has also gone ahead and taken Hollywood by storm. From the top rated television series, Quantico to Baywatch and her appearance at various premier events, this suave and swanky gal is here to stay.
