By: Lakshmi Kumar 

Bollywood produces so many movies every year. Each year has a new actress or actor turning up and an older one saying goodbye that's the way the industry works. You have to be among the best, have a lot of hits, and win awards. Not all can make it, even if they tried like Antara Mali in MAIN MADHURI DIXIT BANNA CHAHTI HOON, but the ones who did are remembered forever. In this article we remember some of the actresses of their times who made an impact on us.

In the 50's

South Indian heroines often look at Bollywood for their next progress in the film industry. All with the hopes that they may become timeless like the ever-graceful Vyjayanthimala. She made dancing a treat for the eyes. Remember JEWEL THIEF'S "Hothon pe aisi baat", wonderfully shot with minimal cuts. Her fluid, energetic classical dances in AMRAPALI are simply magical. But it was only with pure acting talent that she strove her way to Mumbai filmdom with films.

One unforgettable character she played was as Chandramukhi in DEVDAS. Audiences were thrilled as she portrayed a multitude of expressions in her character. As Dhanno in GANGA JAMUNA, Radha in SANGAM and a courtesan in AMRAPALI, her portrayals were always brilliant.

60's

 Nutan is one of the most sensitive and attractive actresses Bollywood has ever seen and will ever see. She filled her character with much emotion and grace. This Ex-Miss India model was at one stage considered ugly and skinny! It took her a while to get recognized in the industry as films.

One of her best performances would be in SEEMA. On screen, her eyes could convey much more than words could. Multi-talented, Nutan could also sing very well as she proved with 'Aye Mere Humsafar' for the movie CHHABILI.

After marriage she still continued with acting this went on even after her son was born. That's when her brilliant performances showed through in BANDINI, MILAN, SUDAGAR, SARASWATI CHANDRA, and others, which won her numerous awards. She worked for nearly two decades into the 80s with movies such as KARMA with Dilip Kumar.

70's

 Another South Indian heroine makes it big in Bollywood. Hema Malini has played a romantic heroine in over a hundred Hindi films. Few other heroines, like Rekha, can boast of this feat. She is till date the most successful heroine Bollywood has seen. Though she met with failure in the beginning in the Tamil industry her perseverance led her to Bollywood. She got her break with SAUDAGAR opposite Raj Kapoor, and the Dream Girl cliché stuck. JOHNNY MERA NAAM with Dev Anand became a blockbuster and Hema was right at the top.

She took to roles, which were risky and demonstrated her immense talent with ANDAAZ (as a widow) and LAL PATTHAR (as a vengeful mistress). Some Dream Girl! She dominated the Box office with miracles like five hits in one year alone (1975). After so many years she returned with the hyped BAGHBAN opposite the Big B and was still brilliant!

80's

 Sridevi started her film career in Hindi cinema as a child artist in JULIE, but when she tried her hand at acting professionally with SOLWA SAVAN she failed. It took a lot of Himmat and with HIMMATWALA opposite Jeetendra, her stars started rising. Her dance sequences became very popular. Soon with hits such as THOFA and MAWALI, Sridevi with her twinkling smile took on from Hema Malini and Rekha.

She produced hits constantly from 80s to the 90s. How can one forget her performance in MR. INDIA or as she swayed snake dances in NAGINA? As her career started to downslide she married Boney Kapoor and settled as a homemaker and now is mother to two kids.

90's

 "Gode jaise chaal haathi jaise dhum,,oh saawan raja kaha se aaye tum" So far the only heroine to produce hits in most years, to such an extent that she could make even movies which were not up to the mark into hits, with her appearance!

Her first role in ABODH was forgettable. But Godfather Ghai walked into her life and soon KHALNAYAK, RAM LAKHAN AND TEZAAB shot her to stardom. Her dazzling smile and expressions and great dance movements helped her take home many awards.

This family girl didn't stop after her marriage and came back vivaciously with DEVDAS. And now she is again back after delivering a baby boy.

Now...

 Hollywood and Bollywood are talking about her. She has taken the world by storm with just her beauty...Aishwarya Rai or Ash as she is called by millions of her fans started out as a model at a very young age. Starting with IRUVAR in Tamil by Mani Ratnam, this lady had gone places. Initially, she was blamed for acting poorly. But soon she displayed her talent with mega hits like TAAL and HUM DIL DE CHUKE SANAM.

She has acted with the best of directors and in some very challenging roles, such as Paro in DEVDAS. Roles in English movies are BRIDE AND PREJUDICE with director Gurinder Chadha. A striking global career has just begun for Ash.

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