The outsiders in Bollywood

She had no connections in the film industry when she was crowned Miss World 1994. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, born into a middle-class family to — Krishnaraj Rai, a marine biologist and Vrinda Rai, a writer — made a foothold in the industry with sheer talent and determination.
For the Mangalore-born Bunt girl, her mother Vrinda Rai was a great influence as she was instrumental in moulding her pretty daughter into a beautiful human being as well. The actress started her film career with a Tamil film Iruvar (1997). Apparently, she faced the barbs of the critics who claimed her to be ‘wooden’ until her portrayal of a forlorn lover in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) proved them all wrong.
The actor has been quite experimental too. Early in her career, in 2003, along with her brother Aditya Rai, she co-produced the film, Dil Ka Rishta that was written by her mother. Shunning the comforts, she also tried her hand in English films like The Mistress of Spices, The Pink Panther 2 among others.
Unlike many other actresses of her time, Bachchan has always been fierce and independent. She went on film shoots alone and even signed contracts on her own. In fact, even when it came to handling controversies in her life, she has been at ease and has handled it with dignity.
No wonder then that the actor who is now happily married to Abhishek Bachchan with a daughter (Aaradhya), manages to create a buzz even for a small appearance, that too at a time when she is on a sabbatical. Aishwarya is quite a perfect fit for Bollywood’s first family, as she is an achiever in her own right.
The actor is slated to make a comeback with Sanjay Gupta’s Jazbaa very soon.

Anushka Sharma

Lucky Charm

Anushka Sharma

At a time when a new crop of talent makes an entry into the film industry every now and then, Anushka Sharma, has set her own path. The model-turned-actress after making a dream debut alongside Shah Rukh Khan in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008), has now ventured into film production with an action thriller — NH10 — under her banner Clean Slate Films along with Phantom Films.
Born in Uttar Pradesh and brought up in an Army background in Bangalore, luck has worked in Anushka’s favour as she signed a three-film deal with Yash Raj Films at the beginning of her career. Praised by critics for her confident performance in her first film, the actress was forgotten for a bit until Band Baja Baarat released in 2010 and she won accolades for playing a Punjabi girl from Delhi with elan. She even bagged the Screen Award for the Best Actress for it.
The young actor has played down reports about her personal life, focussing more on her career. With four big films including PK, NH10, Bombay Velvet, and Dil Dhadakne Do, in her kitty slated to hit the screens soon, the actresses is only climbing the ladders of success.

Bipasha Basu

Racing ahead

Bipasha Basu

The dusky damsel has worked in the film industry on her on terms. The actress, who stepped into the showbiz as a model in her teenage years (at 17), was courageous enough to turn down films opposite star sons even when she had no connections to bank upon in the industry. She not just fought against all odds, but also dared to make an entry in films with a grey character in Ajnabee (2001) along side Akshay Kumar, followed by a dare-bare act in the erotic Jism and later Race.
Basu’s tall and sensual physique worked in her favour as she just did not become a supermodel with some of the plum projects from the fashion industry, she also bagged good films and has performed on some unforgettable item songs like Billo Rani, Bidi Jalaile and Touch Me Touch Me.…
She has been intelligent enough to cash in on her perfect body by launching a series of fitness DVDs. She continues to keep the hotness quotient high with films like the Raaz franchise and Creature 3D.

Deepika Padukone

Fire brand

Deepika Padukone

Deepika Padukone has held her head high with pride ever since she lashed at one of the leading Mumbai newspapers with an open letter when it published an article about her cleavage showing. In her open letter, she wrote, “YES!I am a Woman. I have breasts AND a cleavage! You got a problem!!?? Don’t talk about Woman’s Empowerment when YOU don’t know how to RESPECT Women!”
The actor, who, in the last two years, has given back-to-back hits, got support from almost the entire film industry for her bold stance. Her contemporaries including Priyanka Chopra, Huma Qureshi, Kangana Ranaut, among many others, came out in full support for the actor. A former badminton player and model, the actor who has confessed to being socially awkward as a kid in various interviews, has managed to make it big in the film industry’s social circuit just on the basis of her talent.
While fame was not new to her, owing to her father Prakash Padukone’s (who is a badminton player of international repute) popularity, Deepika had to take quite a bit of criticism in her stride before becoming one of the most sought after actresses, beating her contemporaries who are to the manor born.

Genelia Deshmukh

Building a brand

Genelia Deshmukh

Growing up in the serene lanes of Bandra in Mumbai, Genelia D’Souza had hardly thought of entering in to the film industry until she was spotted in a bridesmaid costume at a marriage and got a commercial opposite Amitabh Bachchan for Parker pens.
Born into a Mangalorean Catholic family, her mother worked in an multinational corporation and father was with Tata Consultancy Services in Mumbai, while Genelia completed her graduation in Management Studies. The commercial opened new avenues for the actress, who went on to bag the film, Tujhe Meri Kasam in 2003 and later establishing herself in the Telugu film industry. She has also endorsed many brands eversince including Virgin Mobiles, Fanta, Margo among others.
Genelia, who is now married to actor Ritiesh Deshmukh, turned to production with the Marathi film, Lai Bhaari that became a blockbuster.

Huma Qureshi

Breaking stereotypes

Huma Qureshi

With her power-packed performances, Huma Qureshi has been riding high on the critical acclaims for her acting skills. Surprisingly, the Delhi girl, who was quite actively involved in theatre during her college and after that, never thought of entering Showbiz unless she started assisting a documentary film-maker and later was called by a friend to Mumbai to audition for a film. While that film never got made, Qureshi landed up with a two-year modelling deal with Hindustan Unilever which further led the way for films.
Belonging to a business family in Delhi as her dad, Saleem Qureshi, runs a popular chain of restaurants — Saleem’s — in the capital, films were a far-flung dream for the actor. Her only contact in the industry was her brother Saqib Saleem, who too was struggling when she moved to Mumbai. But the actor was spotted by Anurag Kashyap and signed on to do Gangs Of Wasseypur for which she was praised.
There has been no looking back for Qureshi who besides her acting has also been applauded for her unapologetic stance on her big frame that she carries with much aplomb.

Jacqueline Fernandez

Sea  change

Jacqueline Fernandez

From a reporter in Sri Lanka reporting on political issues to taking up modelling assignments and going on to become Miss Sri Lanka Universe, Jacqueline Fernandez, has quite a bit of experience to back her. But it wasn’t easy for the Sri Lankan beauty to make a mark in the film industry even while bagging Sujoy Ghosh’s fantasy drama Aladin. Apparently, while she added an oomph factor to the second installment of Murder in 2011, she couldn’t manage to turn the tide in her favour until recently when she played the lead in Sajid Nadiadwala’s Kick which became a blockbuster.
Though she entered with no Godfather in the industry, currently, she is Salman Khan’s favourite and has also bagged a three-film deal with Nadiadwala Productions. Besides, the actress also has few other interesting projects that includes Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Roy and Brothers — a remake of Warriors.

Juhi Chawla

For eternity

Juhi Chawla

She is probably one of the first few actresses of her generation who after winning the beauty pageant — the Miss India title in 1984 — excelled in the film industry. From an Army background, actor Juhi Chawla gained a foothold in the industry on her on accord with spectacular performances in films like Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Bol Radha Bol, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke among others, establishing herself as one of the top-notch actresses of the 90s alongside Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi. Interestingly, she has pulled off alternate cinema like I Am and My Brother Nikhil with as much elan as the commercial ones in the latter part of her career.
Not just that, after ruling the silver screen for more than two decades, the actress turned to business with a production company — Dreamz Unlimited — along with co-actor and friend Shah Rukh Khan and Aziz Mirza. While the attempt wasn’t that successful, she has made it big as the co-owner of the IPL team, Kolkata Knight Riders along with Khan under his company Red Chillies Entertainment.

Kalki Koechlin

Bending the rules

Kalki Koechlin

In 2009, when the film industry was witnessing a few changes with off-beat films making a mark and coming into the mainstream, Anurag Kashyap’s Dev.D released also bringing into light Kalki Koechlin — who portrayed the character of a prostitute with aplomb. While her acting prowess was praised, it was her unconventional looks that was noticed more. Despite her good performance, many were apprehensive about her future in the industry because of her looks, add to that her absence from films for more than a year. Even when she returned, it was with Kashyap’s (her beau then) The Girl In Yellow Boots.
However, the actress knew how to turn the tides. Though in supporting roles, she became a part of two commercially successful films — Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani — which not just brought her amid the masses but also won her critical acclaim.
The Ooty-born actress Of French descent has studied drama and theatre in London. It’s her theatre background that has helped her carve a niche. Alongside her film career, she dabbles in writing and acting for the stage as well. In fact, her theatre stints have won her quite a few accolades from critics.

Kangana Ranaut

Queen of hearts

Kangana Ranaut

Hers is the story of tremendous transformation. After receiving critical acclaim for her work in her first film, Gangster in 2006, Kangana Ranaut was typecast for a long time in emotionally intense characters in films like Woh Lamhe (2006), Life In A Metro (2007) among others including Fashion for which she also won a National Award.
She changed the course by taking up a rom-com, Tanu Weds Manu in 2011. As she got noticed all over again, the till now bumbling Ranaut, who was stuck amid relationships that went awry (with Aditya Pancholi and Adhyayan Suman), was becoming more self-assured. Her new self was revealed in this year’s Queen, which not just got her rave reviews but also many plum projects.
A self-confessed nerd and shy girl from the hills of Himachal Pradesh, Ranaut hardly knew anyone in the industry when she decided to make an entry that too against the wishes of her family. But over the years, she has evolved not just as an actress but also as a person. From working on her spoken English for which she was often criticised to making a point with her fashion statement, she has rediscovered herself and proved a point not just to her critics but also her family.
After experimenting with roles, now she is also exploring various avenues like writing and wants to direct a film too.

Katrina Kaif

With a Bang

Katrina Kaif

Starting with an unsuccessful venture like Boom in 2003 that bombed at the box-office, Katrina Kaif — from an English descent — has come a long way in the last one decade. The actor who was written off soon after her first release because of her strong European accent and bad Hindi diction, worked her way up as she learned the language to make a mark in the industry.
Her hard work paid off when she started getting good offers and tasted commercial success with Namaste London. Critical acclaim came her way with Kabir Khan’s New York. There has been no looking back as even her recent outing — Bang Bang — has entered the coveted 100-crore club in just five-days of its release.
Though Kaif entered the industry with no connections as it was Kaizad Gustad’s (the director of Boom) keen eyes that noticed her at a fashion show in London, her svelte, chiselled look worked in her favour. The actress has confessed to have got unprecedented support from former beau Salman Khan in her journey to make it to the top.
Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani was another landmark film for the actress as her chemistry with Ranbir Kapoor was much talked about.
The actress has often been criticised for not exploring character oriented roles. But even if it is on the back of glamourous roles, Kaif has certainly made it big in the industry with her sheer determination.

Madhuri Dixit-Nene

Reigning queen

Madhuri Dixit-Nene

In an industry that has always been ruled by men, it is quite an achievement for a 17-year-old with no backing in the film industry to enter into films and win rave reviews too. Madhuri Dixit debut film, Abodh (1984), may have failed at the box-office but not without getting her critical acclaim. Though the failure at box-office continued for a considerable period, once Dixit established herself and became a sensation with the Ek Do Teen dance number in Tezaab, there was no looking back at all.
Eversince, the 47-year-old has done various kinds of roles — some have been praised and some have met with criticism — but she remains a reigning queen.
Her dancing prowess is a talent to reckon with. While choreographer Saroj Khan has called her a choreographer’s delight, Pandit Birju Maharaj, a Kathak exponent, who trained her for the song Kaahe chhed gayo in Devdas refers to her as “the best Bollywood dancer”.
Interestingly, struck by her beauty, artist M.F. Husain even made her his muse and directed a film — Gaja Gamini.
The actor, who enjoyed a sabbatical for quite a long time after settling down with Dr Shriram Nene in London, made a comeback recently. The magic of her charm was quite evident from the interest that her comeback film — Dedh Ishqiya — created among the audience earlier this year. Her name in the cast was enough to promote the film.

Manisha Koirala

Natural beauty

Manisha Koirala

Born into a political family in Nepal, Manisha Koirala is the daughter of Cabinet Minister Prakash Koirala, while her grandfather, Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala was the Prime Minister of Nepal during the late ’50s and early ’60s. Koirala, however had little interest in politics and preferred artistic pursuits to the grimy world of politics. Armed with talent—Koirala is an accomplished Bharatnatyam and Manipuri dancer— the actress decided to pursue her dreams and took the flight to Bollywood. With only her talent to speak for herself, through sheer dint of hard work and single-minded pursuit towards her goal, she landed her first Bollywood film with Subhash Ghai’s Saudagar in 1991. Noted for her performance and the box-office success, Koirala was well on her way to chart a successful career in Hindi films, with 1942: A Love Story (1994), Bombay, Akele Hum Akele Tum (both 1995), Khamoshi: The Musical and Agni Sakshi (1996), Gupt (1997), Dil Se.. (1998) and Company (2002). But even as her career zoomed upwards, controversy began dodging her footsteps. She sued the director of Ek Chotisi Love Story for using a body double to shoot some love scenes without her consent.
The downslide in her career as well as personal life began soon thereafter. The actress became notorious for her innumerable relationships and substance abuse. Koirala married Samrat Dahal, a Nepali businessman in 2010, in a traditional ceremony but soon divorced in 2012. With a non-existent career and failing health, Koirala was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the same year and had to undergo a year long treatment in the USA. Completely cured, the actress bounces back in Deepti Naval’s debut directorial venture, Do Paise Ki Dhoop, Chaar Aane Ki Baarish in which she plays the role of a single mother, struggling against all odds to take care of her physically challenged child. Perhaps, her comeback film epitomises the spirit of the actress who is an active crusader for the prevention of violence against women and human trafficking of Nepali girls into prostitution.

Neha Dhupia

Bold act

Neha Dhupia

Neha Dhupia’s bold act in Julie (2004) was her calling card jettisoning her to instant fame. A former Miss India, Dhupia was born in Kerala to a Punjabi Sikh family. Her father served in the Indian Navy while her mother is a housewife. After completing her formal education in Delhi, she started her career as a model. She made her film debut in the 2003 Bollywood film Qayamat: City Under Threat. While the film did little to boost her career, Dhupia struggled to find a niche for herself. With Kyaa Kool Hai Hum (2005) and Shootout at Lokhandwala (2007), Singh is King (2008), she managed to find a foothold in the industry. Dhupia who has also become the style manager of the online fashion store, Limeroad has over the years established herself as a style icon, with several brand endorsements like Ambi Pure, Gitanjali jewels, Jaquar among others.

Parineeti Chopra

Triple delight

Parineeti Chopra

She is a self-cofessed laid back person, who needs a push to propel her forward. While Parineeti Chopra has only her cousin sister Priyanka Chopra to lean on this Chopra girl stepped into movies quite by accident. The 26-year old Punjabi girl who has a a triple honours degree in business, finance and economics from Manchester Business School, worked as the public-relations consultant at Yash Raj Films.
Working in an environment surrounded by film culture, the acting bug soon bit her. While other actresses who did not belong to the industry struggled to find a place for themselves, for Chopra it was relatively a cake-walk, when director Maneesh Sharma, roped her in Ladies vs Ricky Bahl (2011). Ishaqzaade (2012) followed next and Chopra was well on her way to stardom. With a number of films in her kitty, the actor will be next seen in Kill Dil.

Preity Zinta

Dimpled beauty

Preity Zinta

Her small but significant role in the critically-acclaimed Dil Se.. followed by a lead role opposite Bobby Deol in Soldier in 1998, directly catapulted Preity Zinta into the mainstream. The dimpled beauty was gutsy enough to take up a film like Kya Kehna (2000) that spoke about teenage pregnancy at a time when most of the actors played safe.
As the film went on to become a hit, Zinta got rave reviews for her performance and went on to become one of the most sought after actresses of the early 2000 as she did some of the most successful movies of the time including Kal Ho Na Ho, Salaam Namaste and Veer Zara.
The actress who has been involved with different charitable organisations, has managed to be in the news for various reasons. When she was testified against the Indian mafia during the shooting of Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, unlike many others, she did not turn hostile. She received the Godfrey’s Mind of Steel Award at the annual Red and White Bravery Awards for the ‘courageous act’ of standing against the Mumbai Underworld.
However, as her charm as an actress declined, the vibrant actress took on the role of the co-owner of the IPL team, Kings XI Punjab and also turned a producer with PZNZ Media as she acted in and produced, Ishkq in Paris.

Priyanka Chopra

The trendsetter

Priyanka Chopra

Priyanka Chopra, who entered the film industry on the back of her Miss World crown in 2000, never hesitated in calling herself a ‘Daddy’s lil girl’. In fact, she even got it tattooed on her wrist. Coming from a family of doctors in the Indian Army, the Jamshedpur-born actress is a trendsetter. Her cousins — Parineeti Chopra and Meera Chopra — followed in her footsteps after she made it big in the industry.
Interestingly, success came to her quite early in her career when she won rave reviews for one of her initial films, Andaaz.
There has been no looking back for Chopra eversince who has proved her mettle in not just acting but even singing with two singles — In My City (2012) and Exotic (2013) — that charted in the United States and Canada.
Currently, she is riding high on the success of her film Mary Kom in which her power-packed performance won her critical acclaim besides the film being a box-office success.
In over a decade-long career, Chopra has grown strength to strength. Apparently, the actress was written off after a series of flops that included films like Love Story 2050, Drona, among others. But she bounced back with a thunderous performance in Fashion in 2008 for which she even won the National Award for Best Actress. It was followed by the critically-acclaimed Kaminey and there has been no looking back.

Richa Chadda

New avatar

Richa Chadda

Her fiery portrayal in Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur in which she shows a range of emotions, playing a 16-year-old to a 60 year Nagma Khatoon, got her instant recognition. No wonder then, that she was awarded the soubriquet of Ms. Fire.
The actor who is from Delhi, hails from an academically inclined family. Her father owns a management firm while her mother is a professor in a Delhi college. That Chadda was inclined towards the fine arts became apparent when she participated in several cultural activities in school and college. After completing her education and a brief stint on the stage, Chadda decided to make acting her career and moved to Mumbai. Her debut film Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! though not a commercial success, brought her recognition and she was roped in GOW earning her critical acclaim.

Urmila Matondkar

On her own

Urmila Matondkar

Remember Urmila as the little girl in Kalyug and Masoom? The actress has tried to maintain that image ever since, with the way she talks and behaves. Even when she did serious films like Satya, she never really managed to come out of that mould. The actress is known to be the muse of director Ram Gopal Varma. He was her only connection to the film industry which was otherwise an alien land for her though she had started out as a child artiste.
The turing point in her career came when she acted opposite Aamir Khan in Rangeela in 1995, which helped to revive her flagging career. She is said to bear a striking resemblance to late actress Geeta Bali.
Though she is not very active in the industry, preferring to keep a low profile, she has ventured into the regional space with the Marathi film Ajoba last year.

Vidya Balan

Perfect choice

Vidya Balan

With her simple, quintessential looks and a healthy frame, film-makers never took Vidya Balan seriously, and the actor struggled to find a place for herself. Starting her career with television, in Hum Paanch, Balan had to struggle very hard to find her place in the industry. Her moment of reckoning came when she was signed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra for Parineeta. The film proved to be a game changer for the actress who received several accolades for her role of a seedhi saadhi much-in-love girl.
However, Balan who has a master’s degree in sociology from Mumbai University, was initially criticised for her dressing sense. But her talent overshadowed the flaws when she acted in films like The Dirty Picture, Paa, Ishqiya, Kahaani that took her into the league of top actresses.
Coming from a close knit Tamil family, it is Balan’s father who has been instrumental in shaping up her career. The Mumbai girl, besides films, promotes humanitarian causes and supports the empowerment of women. Like every actor, Vidya too was not spared and was romantically linked with most of her heroes. Right from Saif Ali Khan to Shahid Kapoor but all the rumours were laid to rest when she tied the knot with Siddharth Roy Kapur, the Managing Director of Disney India.