| Despite the fact that Bollywood exceeds Hollywood | | | | only the second woman ever to win that award. She |
| in film output, Bollywood has a much smaller star | | | | appeared with Shahrukh Khan in the hit remake of |
| system, which means Indian actors appear in far | | | | the Hindi classic Don (2006), played the ambitious |
| more films than their American counterparts-some | | | | starlet in the wonderful Salaam-E-Ishq (2007) |
| doing as many as five movies a year. Luckily, that | | | | opposite Salman Khan, and won the Filmfare Best |
| makes it easier for new fans to figure out who's | | | | Actress Award for her turn as a troubled model in |
| who. The following, while by no means | | | | Fashion (2008). She will undoubtedly win more awards |
| comprehensive, is a rundown of the biggest and | | | | for her performance as an unglamorous spitfire in her |
| brightest female stars in the Bollywood universe. | | | | 2009 film, the edgy drama Kaminey. She has been |
| Aishwarya Rai Bachchan | | | | romantically linked with her Kaminey co-star Shahid |
| Often called "the most beautiful woman in the world," | | | | Kapoor. |
| Aishwarya, also known as "Ash," is a former Miss | | | | Deepika Padukone |
| World. She appeared in Tamil-language films before | | | | Deepika exploded on the scene in 2007 with her |
| making her Bollywood debut in 1999 in Hum Dil De | | | | debut in Om Shanti Om, playing opposite Shahrukh |
| Chuke Sanam, opposite Salman Khan, for which she | | | | Khan. She has since appeared in Bachna Ae Haseeno |
| won the Filmfare Best Actress Award. In 2002, she | | | | (2008) with her offscreen boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor, |
| appeared in Devdas, which was screened at the | | | | and Love Aaj Kal (2009), alongside Saif Ali Khan. She |
| Cannes Film Festival, and she became the first Indian | | | | is one of Bollywood's top "it" girls at the moment. Her |
| actress to serve as a Cannes jury member. She | | | | father is a famous badminton player, and in her |
| went on to appear in such hits as Dhoom 2 (2006) | | | | teens, Deepika was a tough competitor in the sport, |
| and Jodhaa Akbar (2008). She is the first Indian actor | | | | which she abandoned for a career in modeling that |
| to significantly crossover in the West, appearing in | | | | then led to acting. |
| The Mistress of Spices (2005) with Dylan McDermott, | | | | Bipasha Basu |
| The Last Legion (2007) with Colin Firth and Ben | | | | One of the sexiest women in the world and unafraid |
| Kingsley, and Pink Panther 2 (2009) with Steve | | | | to take on racy roles, Bipasha, or Bips as she's |
| Martin. She has also garnered more high-profile | | | | known, has been burning up the screen since her |
| publicity in the West than any other Bollywood actor, | | | | debut in Ajnabee in 2001, playing a married woman |
| having appeared on Oprah, the Late Show with David | | | | on an adulterous mission. From Jism in 2003 (in which |
| Letterman, and 60 Minutes. Following turbulent | | | | she appeared with her boyfriend John Abraham) to |
| relationships with actors Salman Khan and Vivek | | | | Race in 2008 (opposite Saif Ali Khan), Bipasha doesn't |
| Oberoi, Aishwarya married into Bollywood royalty in | | | | flinch from getting hot and heavy with her co-stars |
| 2007 when she wed India's most eligible bachelor, | | | | (by Bollywood standards, that is). She's tried her hand |
| Abhishek Bachchan, son of screen legend Amitabh | | | | at sweet and innocent characters and troubled |
| Bachchan. | | | | damsels in distress, but those are hard to pull off |
| Kajol | | | | when you're as strong and smoking as she is. She |
| Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Humphrey Bogart | | | | was born for roles like the one she played in Bachna |
| and Ingrid Bergman, Shahrukh Khan and Kajol-the | | | | Ae Haseeno (2008), that of a driven superstar who |
| most beloved onscreen couples of all time. And Kajol | | | | might be hurt by heartache but can't be stopped by |
| is a one-of-a-kind who needs no last name. She | | | | anything. |
| starred in her first film, Bekhudi, in 1992, and first | | | | Preity Zinta |
| appeared with Shahrukh in Baazigar in 1993. Two | | | | Preity is much like many of the characters she plays: |
| years later, the pair made history together in the | | | | a proud, independent woman of great warmth and |
| landmark film, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. She later | | | | depth. She made her acting debut in Dil Se (1998) and |
| co-starred with actors Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Anil | | | | won her first Filmfare Best Actress Award for Kal Ho |
| Kapoor, and Ajay Devgan, whom she married in | | | | Naa Ho (2003), both opposite Shahrukh Khan. Her hits |
| 1999. Kajol appeared with Shahrukh again in Kuch | | | | include Koi...Mil Gaya (2003), Salaam Namaste (2005), |
| Kuch Hota Hai in 1998 and in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie | | | | and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006). In 2003, she |
| Gham in 2001. She then took a five-year break from | | | | testified against the mob after receiving extortion |
| acting and had a daughter in 2003. She made a | | | | threats-she was the only one of 13 prosecution |
| successful comeback in 2006 in Fanaa, opposite | | | | witnesses, including other celebrities, who did not |
| Aamir Khan, and won her fourth Filmfare Best | | | | retract earlier statements, and she was commended |
| Actress Award for her performance. In 2008, she | | | | by the public for her courage. Recently, she has |
| appeared in U, Me Aur Hum, her husband's directorial | | | | ventured into art film, appearing with Amitabh |
| debut. She will reunite with Shahrukh for the first | | | | Bachchan in The Last Lear, which premiered at the |
| time in nearly a decade in their highly-anticipated film, | | | | Toronto International Film Festival in 2007. She won |
| My Name is Khan, in early 2010. From the feisty | | | | the Best Actress award at the 2008 Chicago |
| tomboy of her early career to the radiant woman | | | | International Film Festival for her role in the Canadian |
| she is today, Kajol keeps getting better with time. | | | | film, Heaven on Earth, which was based on the true |
| Rani Mukerji | | | | story of a battered wife in Canada's Punjabi |
| Shahrukh Khan has said that he owes much of his | | | | community. When, in 2008, she purchased an |
| success to two of his famous co-stars-Kajol and Rani | | | | ownership stake in the professional Indian cricket |
| (who is Kajol's second cousin). Therefore, it's only | | | | team, the Kings XI Punjab, she was the youngest |
| fitting that one of King Khan's favorites has a first | | | | owner (she was born in 1975) and the only female |
| name that means "queen." However, while Rani is a | | | | owner in the league. In 2009, she ended a four-year |
| leading Bollywood actress, she's always had a shaky | | | | relationship with businessman Ness Wadia. |
| claim to the top. She started in film in 1996 and had | | | | Vidya Balan |
| her first big hit in 1998 with Shahrukh and Kajol in | | | | Vidya's girl-next-door looks and vulnerable sweetness |
| Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Her other successes include | | | | have made her a well-loved actress. She started out |
| Saathiya (2002), Chalte Chalte (2003), Veer-Zaara | | | | doing TV commercials and soap operas, got into film |
| (2004), Bunty Aur Babli (2005), and Kabhi Alvida Naa | | | | with a Bengali-language movie in 2003, and then had a |
| Kehna (2006). She's been critically praised for her | | | | strong Bollywood debut in the award-winning drama |
| exceptional performances in such films as Yuva | | | | Parineeta (2005), in which she played the female lead |
| (2004) and Black (2005), and she's won many awards | | | | opposite Saif Ali Khan. She followed it up with the hit |
| throughout her career. However, she's had her fair | | | | comedy, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, with Sanjay Dutt, in |
| share of bombs as well. The spirited, adorable actress | | | | 2006. The year 2007 was a busy one for her: she |
| has been romantically linked with many, but she | | | | was critically praised for her performances in Guru, |
| refuses to discuss her private life. | | | | Salaam-E-Ishq, and Eklavya, and she appeared in two |
| Kareena Kapoor | | | | hits, Heyy Babyy and Bhool Bhulaiyaa. Her last big |
| Kareena, or Bebo as she's known, comes from a | | | | movie, Kismat Konnection (2008), alongside Shahid |
| storied film family. She's the granddaughter of | | | | Kapoor (with whom she was romantically linked at |
| legendary actor Raj Kapoor and the niece of actor | | | | the time), failed to do well, despite high expectations. |
| Rishi Kapoor. Both of her parents were actors as | | | | Madhuri Dixit |
| well, but her father didn't believe acting was a seemly | | | | In an industry filled with talented dancers, Madhuri is a |
| profession for women and he disapproved of | | | | cut-above the rest-and she can act to boot. She |
| Kareena and her older sister Karisma carrying on the | | | | debuted in 1984 and became a star as the lead in |
| family tradition, so her mother left him and the two | | | | Tezaab in 1988. She won her first Filmfare Best |
| girls became stars (Karisma is now retired). Kareena | | | | Actress Award for her performance opposite Aamir |
| made her acting debut in 2000 in Refugee, alongside | | | | Khan in the smash-hit romantic drama Dil in 1990-and |
| then-newcomer Abhishek Bachchan (who was once | | | | many more hits and awards followed. She has |
| engaged to Karisma), which she followed up with | | | | danced to many of the most famous Bollywood |
| roles in Asoka, with Shahrukh Khan, and Kabhi Khushi | | | | songs ever, including "Maar Daala" from the lush |
| Kabhie Gham, opposite Hrithik Roshan-both in 2001. | | | | drama Devdas (2002), in which she appeared with |
| After a string of unremarkable films, she delivered | | | | Shahrukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai. She married an |
| acclaimed performances in Dev (2004) and Omkara | | | | Indian-American doctor in 1999 and moved to |
| (2006). She won a Filmfare Best Actress Award in | | | | Denver, where she currently lives with her husband |
| 2007 for her role in the blockbuster Jab We Met | | | | and two sons. After a long hiatus, the 40-something |
| (2007), in which she was paired with her | | | | actress made a comeback in 2007 in Aaja Nachle-a |
| then-boyfriend Shahid Kapoor. She's currently dating | | | | mediocre film, but in it, she proved she's still got the |
| Saif Ali Khan, her co-star in Tashan (2008). | | | | moves. |
| Katrina Kaif | | | | Shilpa Shetty |
| One of India's top stars doesn't even hail from India. | | | | Controversy seems to follow this Bollywood beauty, |
| Katrina, who has a Kashmiri father and a British | | | | often overshadowing her film career. In 2003, her |
| mother, was born in Hong Kong and raised in Hawaii | | | | parents were allegedly linked to members of |
| and London, where her family currently lives (she is | | | | organized crime. In 2007, American actor Richard |
| one of eight children). She was modeling in London | | | | Gere caused an international uproar when he kissed |
| when she was discovered by a Bollywood filmmaker | | | | Shilpa at an AIDS awareness event, prompting |
| who cast her in Boom in 2003. She moved to Mumbai | | | | protests and legal action because such public displays |
| to pursue a film career, even though she couldn't | | | | are considered obscene by many. Later in 2007, she |
| speak Hindi (she learned it on the fly). She had a small | | | | appeared on the British reality TV show, Celebrity Big |
| role in the Godfather-remake Sarkar (2005) and then | | | | Brother, and her fellow contestant Jade Goody was |
| appeared as the lead in Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya | | | | accused of racism toward Shilpa and evicted from |
| (2005), opposite Salman Khan, with whom she has a | | | | the show. (Shilpa was voted the winner.) Through it |
| rocky romantic relationship. She has since appeared | | | | all, she's maintained a respectable track record in film. |
| with Akshay Kumar in Namastey London (2007) and | | | | Some of her notable pictures include her debut |
| Singh is Kinng (2008), Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye | | | | Baazigar (1993), with Shahrukh Khan and Kajol, Phir |
| Khanna in Race (2008), John Abraham in New York | | | | Milenge (2004), and Life in a...Metro (2007). In 2009, |
| (2009), and boyfriend Salman Khan in Partner (2007) | | | | Shilpa became a part-owner of the professional Indian |
| and Yuvvraaj (2008). She is the model for Mattel's | | | | cricket team, the Rajasthan Royals. She once dated |
| Bollywood Barbie. | | | | Akshay Kumar and is now engaged to British-Indian |
| Priyanka Chopra | | | | businessman Raj Kundra. Her younger sister Shamita |
| The year 2000 was a big one for Indian beauty | | | | Shetty is also an actress. |
| pageant contestants-Lara Dutta and Dia Mirza won | | | | Sonam Kapoor |
| Miss Universe and Miss Asia Pacific respectively (and | | | | Sonam is the daughter of veteran actor Anil Kapoor. |
| both went on to become Bollywood actresses) and | | | | The fledgling actress has only appeared in two films |
| Priyanka won Miss World, becoming the fifth Indian | | | | so far-Saawariya (2007) and Delhi-6 (2009)-but her |
| ever to win the title, and it's easy to see why-she's | | | | promising potential is already apparent. She was |
| the picture of perfection. She debuted in 2003, and | | | | recently chosen as the face of cosmetic giant L'Oreal |
| for her performance in Aitraaz the following year, | | | | in India, replacing Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, whom |
| she won the Filmfare Best Villain Award (don't you | | | | Sonam has ruffled by referring to her in the press as |
| wish the Oscars had categories like that?)-and she's | | | | "aunty-ji"-an Indian term of respect for one's elders. |