Hansal Mehta’s Favourite Female Indian Actors (Listed Alphabetically)

Alia Bhatt is an British actress of Indian descent. Born to filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and actress Soni Razdan. Known for her portrayals of women in challenging circumstances. One of the highest-paid actresses in India. She has received several accolades, including an National Award and seven Filmfare Awards. Her notable film includes Student of the Year (2012), Highway (2014), Udta Punjab (2016), Raazi (2018), Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022) and Darlings (2022). Time awarded her with the Time100 Impact Award in 2022 and named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2024. She has appeared in Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list since 2014 and was featured by Forbes Asia in their 30 Under 30 list of 2017. She is married to actor Ranbir Kapoor, with whom she has a daughter Raha Kapoor.

Bhatt took on a brief role in the Telugu-language period film RRR (2022), starring N.T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan. It emerged as one of the highest-grossing Indian film of all time. The song "Naatu Naatu" from the film also won the Oscar for Best Original Song at the 95th Academy Awards, making it the first song from an Asian film to win in that category. Bhatt expanded to American cinema with Heart of Stone (2023), a Netflix spy film co-starring Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan. Playing a villainous computer hacker, she performed her career's first action sequences while pregnant. Bhatt reunited with Johar for his directorial, the romantic comedy Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023), co-starring Ranveer Singh. Filming and release were delayed by a few months due to her pregnancy. It emerged as the year's seventh highest-grossing Hindi film. Also she won her fifth Best Actress award at Filmfare.

Amruta, an acclaimed Indian actress who works in films, television, and theater, most recently starred in Zoya Akhtar's Gully Boy. She is a graduate from the National School of Drama, New Delhi. She made a splashing debut with the National Award winning film and India's Oscar entry for the year, Shwaas. She has won a National Award and a Filmfare Award for role in Astu, as a supporting actress. She has starred in numerous critically acclaimed films that have won different awards across the world, such as Crystal Bear at the Berlin Film Festival and Fedeora Award at the Venice Film Festival. She is also a trained classical singer who has lent her voice to various Marathi films. For her playback singing, she's won awards like Maharashtra Government State Award for the film Nital. Recently, she starred in Selection Day, a Netflix Original and Chausar opposite Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Amruta was a part of the recently released Sacred Games S2 where her role as raw agent was praised particularly.

Deepika Padukone, born 5 January 1986 in Copenhagen, Denmark, is an Indian model and actress. She is the daughter of former badminton champion Prakash Padukone. Her mother tongue is Konkani. Deepika has a younger sister named Anisha.

She has been modeling appearances in print and television advertising campaigns for Liril, Close-Up toothpaste and Limca, receiving many prestigious modeling offers, including brand ambassadorship of the Jewels of India, an annual jewelry exhibition. She hit the international scene when Maybelline made her their new international cover-girl face.

At the fifth annual Kingfisher Fashion Awards, for Indian models and designers, she was awarded the title of Model of the Year. Shortly after wards, she was chosen as one of the models for the Kingfisher Swimsuit Calendar for 2006, thus cementing her reputation as a supermodel. She also bagged two trophies at the Idea Zee F Awards in 2006 - female Model of the year (Commercial Assignments) and Fresh Face of the year.

Born in a Gujerati-speaking family on June 8, 1957, oldest daughter to businessman, Chunnibhai and Betty (1939 - November 30, 2019), Dimple had two younger sisters, Simple (August 15, 1958 - November 10, 2009), Reem (1967 - March 27, 1991), and a younger brother, Munna (October 29, 1961 - December 25, 2009).

She was discovered by Raj Kapoor, who signed her up opposite his son, Rishi, in the 1973 hit 'Bobby'. The film made Rishi and her stars overnight, at the time of the film's she was just 16 years old.

Exactly 6 months before the release of 'Bobby' Dimple who was a mad fan of super-star Rajesh Khanna, met and married the actor. Rajesh was 15 years older than her. After her marriage she quit films.

On Rajesh's 32nd birthday, a daughter, Twinkle nicknamed as Tina, was born to them. Then on July 27, 1977, Dimple and Rajesh became parents of Rinke, who would later also become an actress in her own right.

Dimple and Rajesh separated in 1982, enabling her to make a come-back to the tinsel screen with 'Zakhmi Sher'. She continues to act and has over 69 movies to her credit, some of them the more popular ones being 'Saagar', 'Insaaf', 'Zakhmi Aurat', 'Ram Lakhan', & 'Batwara'.

Kareena was born to Sindhi-speaking Babita (nee Shivdasani) and Punjabi-speaking Randhir Kapoor in Bombay, India. She has an elder sister, Karisma.

She is born in a family that have been actors for generations, including her paternal great-grandfather, Prithviraj Kapoor; her grandfather, Raj Kapoor; her paternal uncles, Shammi, Shashi, Rishi, and Rajiv; as well as aunt, Neetu Singh, & Jennifer Kendall, the wives of Rishi and Shashi respectively. On her maternal side, her grandfather, Hari Shivdasani, and aunt, Sadhana, have been actors in their own rights.

As a child she studied in Jamnabai Narsee School in Juhu, Bombay, and thereafter was enrolled in Dehra Dun's prestigious Welham Girls' Boarding School. Then she re-located to Harvard for approximately 3 months to take a course in information technology and microcomputers. Upon her return to India, she joined the Government Law College in Churchgate, Bombay, but left it after one year, to enroll in the Kishore Namit Kapoor Acting School.

Her film debut was in the year 2000 with Refugee (2000) along with the debut of Amitabh Bachchan's son, Abhishek. She went on to appear in 31 other Hindi movies, and has thus far won four awards for her performances in Refugee (2000), Chameli (2003), Dev (2004), and Omkara (2006).

She is one of the most sought-after actresses in Bollywood, considered bankable, with an enviable A-listing and as of June 2007 is to appear in 'Tashan', 'Lajjo', 'Kismat Talkies' amongst others.

In 2012, she married actor Saif Ali Khan, son of actress Sharmila Tagore.

Konkona Sen Sharma is an awarding winning actress and the daughter of the celebrated actress and director Aparna Sen. Konkona is regarded as one of the most respected actresses in Bollywood with her memorable performances right from Mr. and Mrs. Iyer (2002) to Page 3 (2005), from Omkara (2006) to Life in a Metro (2007). Her singularly exquisite portrayal of a struggling actress in the undisputed hit Luck by Chance (2009) opposite Farhan Akhtar has also established her commercial success. Praising her performance in the film, noted film Critic Nikhat Kazmi of Times of India wrote, "The highpoint of the film are its performances, Konkona is a complete natural before the camera".

Madhuri Dixit is one of the most acclaimed actors and Kathak dancers Bollywood have ever witnessed. Born in a Marathi Brahmin Koknastha family to Mr. Shankar and Mrs. Snehlata, Madhuri Dixit has two sisters Rupa, Bharti, and brother Ajit. She performed decently well in her academics and aspired to become a Microbiologist which made her pursue the subject from Mumbai's Sathaye College, formerly known as Parle College; but within six months she opted out from college to pursue her career in Bollywood. Though she debuted with 'Abodh' in 1984, it's with 'Tezaab' (1988), a romantic thriller caste opposite Anil Kapoor, where she started garnering fame and popularity. She earned her first nomination of Filmfare Best Actress with this movie and it was also the highest grossing film in that year. Her performance in 'Ek Do Tin' made every heart groove to the beats of the song. During this time, Madhuri also got featured on Debonair and she was also featured as the cover girl on 1986 Filmfare edition. Since then she has graced more than 72 movies with her stupendous performances.

After 'Tejaab', Madhuri Dixit once again was paired with Anil Kapoor for Subhash Ghai's 'Ram Lakhan'(1989) which went on to be a super hit and the second highest grossing movie of the year. In her next 'Prem Pratigya' she received critical acclamation for her performance and earned her second nomination for Filmfare Best Actress Award. Dixit continued her success with her fourth pairing with Anil Kapoor in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's drama 'Parinda'. In 1990, Madhuri starred in the romantic drama 'Dil' opposite Aamir Khan. The film became the biggest box office hit of the year and made her one of the leading actresses of Bollywood. Her performance in 'Dil' also earned her the first Filmfare Best Actress Award of her career. She was also seen in the dramas 'Sailaab' opposite Aditya Pancholi and 'Kishen Kanhaiya' opposite Anil Kapoor. The following year in 1991, she starred in the super-hit movie 'Saajan' opposite Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt which also earned her the fourth nomination for the Filmfare Best Actress Award. In 1992, Dixit featured in the film 'Beta' once again opposite Anil Kapoor which won her the second Filmfare Best Actress Award. Following the film's success, Dixit became famously known as the "Dhak Dhak Girl" for her performance on the song "Dhak Dhak Karne Laga".

In 1993, Dixit starred in the super-hit film 'Khalnayak; opposite Sanjay Dutt and Jackie Shroff. Her portrayal of the police officer Ganga earned her critical acclaim and a sixth nomination for the Filmfare Best Actress Award and became the year's second highest grossing film. In 1994, Dixit starred in 'Anjaam', being paired with Shahrukh Khan for the first time. Dixit's performance of a revenge-seeking wife and mother earned her a seventh nomination for the Filmfare Best Actress Award. She was praised for her performance, even though the film was an average performer at the box office. Her next was 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun' opposite Salman Khan. The film became one of the biggest hits & the highest grossing Bollywood film after its theatrical run and held this record for 7 years till the release of 'Gadar: Ek Prem Katha' (2001). Madhuri was awarded her third Filmfare Best Actress Award for the film. 1995 witnessed Dixit star in the hit film 'Raja' opposite Sanjay Kapoor. The film became the fourth highest grosser of the year and its success was attributed to her immense popularity. Her next release was David Dhawan's 'Yaraana' opposite Rishi Kapoor, in which she played a dancer on the run from her abusive lover. Both films earned her nominations for the Filmfare Best Actress Award.

After a not so successful year in 1996 with films like 'Prem Granth' and 'Rajkumar'Madhuri Dixit bounced back with Prakash Jha's 'Mrityudand' in 1997 followed by Yash Chopra's 'Dil to Pagal Hai' (1997), opposite Shahrukh Khan and Karisma Kapoor. Her performance in 'Dil toh Pagal Hai' fetched her the fourth Filmfare Best Actress Award. The film also proved to be a success at the box office. However, her career growth slowed down with films like Wajood (1998) and Aarzoo (1999). In 2000, Madhuri starred in Rajkumar Santoshi's 'Pukar' opposite Anil Kapoor which earned her twelfth nomination for the Filmfare Best Actress Award. She then played the title character in 'Gaja Gamini' In 2001, Dixit starred in Deepak Shivdasani's love triangle 'Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke' opposite Ajay Devgan and Preity Zinta, followed by reuniting with Rajkumar Santoshi in the multi-starer 'Lajja' (2001). Dixit was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for Lajja. In 2002, Dixit starred in a lead role in the love triangle film 'Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam' opposite Shahrukh Khan and Salman Khan. Madhuri Dixit's next release was Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period romance 'Devdas', co-starring Shahrukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai. Devdas was chosen as India's official entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and received a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language. Dixit won the Filmfare Best supporting actress award for the film. It turned out to be her last film for a while as she shifted to Denver, U.S.A with her husband Dr. Shriram Madhav Nene, a Cardiovascular Surgeon. She subsequently became a proud mother of two sons (Arin and Ryan) in March 2003 and March 8, 2005, respectively.

In 2006, Dixit returned to India with her family and acted in Anil Mehta's dance film 'Aaja Nachle' (2007). It was her first release in five years and her performance was appreciated by critics and also earned her the nomination for the Filmfare Best Actress Award.

In 2008, she was also awarded the prestigious 'Bharat Ratna' for her contribution to Indian cinema by the Government of India. In 2011, Dixit was felicitated with the Filmfare Special Award for completing 25 years in the film industry.

In 2012, she was seen in the comedy 'Dedh Ishqiya' (2014), a sequel to Ishqiya (2010) opposite Naseeruddin Shah, Arshad Warsi, and Huma Qureshi. The film opened to a positive response from critics who called it "one of the year's most important releases". The film also earned her the fourteenth nomination for Filmfare Award for Best Actress. Her next release of the year was the debuted director Soumik Sen's 'Gulaab Gang' alongside Juhi Chawla.

Madhuri Dixit made her debut in Marathi cinema both as an actor & Producer in 2018. She played the lead in 'Bucket List' and produced "15th August" which is slated for a Netflix worldwide released in 2019. She has also lent her voice for the Netflix original 'Mowgli'.

In (2019) she was seen reunited with Anil Kapoor after 17years on screen in a comedy, action and adventure movie 'Total Dhamaal' the third sequel of 'Dhamaal' (2007). In the same year, she also a part of Dharma productions 'Kalank' a period drama film directed by Abhishekh Varman starring along with Sanjay Dutt, Varun Dhawan, Aditya Roy Kapur, Alia Bhatt, and Sonakshi Sinha.

Madhuri Dixit is also associated with various philanthropic activities. She is associated with UNICEF since 2014 to advocate the rights of children, prevent child labor and child trafficking. She was appointed as the brand ambassador for the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign by the Government of India in 2015 that aspires to create awareness and upgrade the efficiency of welfare services intended for girls.

Dixit made her first appearance on television as a host for India's first reality show Kahin Na Kahin Koi Hai on Sony TV followed by Jhalak Dikhla Ja & Dance Deewane.

Manju Warrier is an Indian actress, producer, classical dancer, and playback singer who appears in Malayalam cinema.

Warrier completed her primary education in Nagercoil at CSI Matriculation Higher Secondary School. After her father's transfer to Kannur, she continued her education there at Chinmaya Vidyalaya. She later attended Chovva Higher Secondary School.

Warrier started her career in the film industry with the movie Sakshyam (1995), directed by Mohan. The year after, she was the lead in the Malayalam movie Sallapam (1996), co-starring Dileep. Warrier and Dileep were married from 1998 until their divorce in 2015. The couple has a daughter named Meenakshi.

Between 1996 and 1999, Warrier acted in several films and portrayed a wide range of characters. She played a pivotal role in the romantic drama Thooval Kottaram (1996) alongside co-stars Jayaram and Sukanya. The film ran for about 300 days in theatres.

As a lead actor, her next two big screen ventures were Dilliwala Rajakumaran (1996) and Kaliveedu (1996), both of which starred Jayaram.

She was paired opposite Dileep in the romantic-thriller drama Ee Puzhayum Kadannu (1996). For this film, Warrier won the Best Actress Award at the Kerala State Film Awards in 1996. Warrier went on to act in films like Kudamattom (1997), Irattakuttikalude Achan (1997), Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu (1997), The Play of God (1997), Sammanam (1997), and Aaram Thamburan (1997). She also received the Filmfare Awards South for Best Actress (Malayalam) in 1998 for her performance in The Play of God (1997).

Soon after, she appeared in Pranayavarnangal (1998), followed by other films like Daya (1998), Kanmadam (1998), Summer in Bethlehem (1998), and Pathram (1999).

Her impressive performance in Kanmadam (1998) won her the Best Actress Award at the Filmfare Awards South (Malayalam) in 1999. She received her fourth consecutive Best Actress Award in 2000 at the Filmfare Awards South (Malayalam) for her performance in Pathram (1999).

Her last film to release in 1999 was Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu (1999). After that, Warrier took a long break from the silver screen.

Warrier ended her hiatus in 2014 and returned to cinema with the comedy-drama film How Old Are You? (2014). She won the Best Actress (Malayalam) Award for this film at the South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) 2015.

During the second phase of her career in the film industry, she continued her work in films like Ennum Eppozhum (2015), Rani Padmini (2015), Jo and the Boy (2015), Vettah (2016), Karingunnam 6's (2016), C/O Saira Banu (2017), and Udaharanam Sujatha (2017).

Her portrayal of a single parent in Udaharanam Sujatha (2017) won her the Best Actress Award at the Kerala Film Critics Association Awards 2017. She was also the recipient of the North American Film Awards (NAFA) 2017 in the Best Actress category for her movies Karinkunnam 6's and Vettah. She went on to win the North American Film Awards (NAFA) 2018 in the Best Actress (popular) category for her movies Udaharanam Sujatha and C/O Saira Banu.

Warrier starred in the title role of the biographical film Aami (2018), based on the life of author and poet Kamala Das. She won the Best Actress Award at both the Filmfare Awards South (Malayalam) in 2019 and the Asia Vision Awards 2018 for her performance in the film. Her next film was Mohanlal (2018), a comedy-drama directed by Sajid Yahiya.

Warrier's next release, Odiyan (2018), was a fantasy drama film featuring Mohanlal as the male lead released across 42 countries through QubeWire.

Warrier played a pivotal role in Lucifer (2019), co-starring Mohanlal and Vivek Oberoi. This political action thriller film grossed Rs. 100 crores worldwide. She won the Best Actress Award at the 9th South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) held in 2021 for her role in Lucifer.

In Asuran (2019), an action-drama film, Warrier paired up with Dhanush to play the lead role. It was well-received by the audience and critics alike. The film went on to collect over Rs. 100 crores, making it an enormous success.

Over the next couple of years, Warrier went on to do movies like Prathi Poovankozhi (2019), The Priest (2021), Chathur Mukham (2021), Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea (2021), Lalitham Sundharam (2022), Meri Awas Suno (2022), Jack N Jill (2022). In 2023, Warrier starred in the action heist movie Thunivu (2023), co-starring Ajith Kumar.

Nargis was born on June 1, 1929 as Fatima Rashid in Rawalpindi, British India, daughter to Jaddanbai and Uttamchand Mohanchand, a former Hindu Mohyal Brahmin who converted to Islam as Abdul Rashid. Her mother was a well-known dancer, singer, actor, composer, and director. This is what paved the way for Fatima to become a child artiste (Baby Nargis) as early as 1935. She was the half-sister of Bollywood actors, Anwar Hussain and Akhtar Hussain.

Nargis, and actor Raj Kapoor formed a reel romantic couple. It is well known that they had an off-screen romance. Raj, who was already married, refused to divorce his wife and marry Nargis.

After playing the mother of Sunil Dutt in the movie 'Mother India', she subsequently married him on March 11, 1958 . She had three children, namely Bollywood actor, Sanjay Dutt, and two daughters, Priya, and Anju. Her son Sanjay was married to actress Richa Sharma, who passed away due to cancer. They have a daughter named Trishala. His second wife was Rhea Pillai whom he subsequently divorced. He is now married to Manyata Dutt, formerly known as Dilnawaz Shaikh. They are the parents of twins, Iqra and Shahraan. Her daughter, Anju, is married to Bollywood actor, Kumar Gaurav, who is the son of actor Rajendra Kumar. Her husband, Sunil, Dutt, went on to win a seat in the Indian Parliament, and after his passing, their daughter, Priya, won his vacant seat.

Nargis passed away due to pancreatic cancer on May 3, 1981.

Nimisha Sajayan is an Indian actress working in the Malayalam film industry. While Nimisha was in the eighth standard, she earned a black belt in Taekwondo. She competed for Maharashtra state in Taekwondo at the national level.

Sajayan attended Carmel Convent School in Mumbai for her primary and secondary education before pursuing a degree in mass communication at the K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management, Navi Mumbai.

Sajayan started acting in Thondi Muthalum Driksakshiyum (2017), opposite Fahadh Faasil, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Alencier Ley Lopez and Sibi Thomas. She was next seen giving a stand-out performance in Oru Kuprasidha Payyan (2018) opposite Tovino Thomas and Anu Sithara.

Sajayan's next movie saw her playing the lead role in B. Ajithkumar's directorial debut Eeda (2018), starring Shane Nigam and Manikandan R. Achari. She played the role of a college student in the film.

Sajayan gave a commanding performance in her next film, The Great Indian Kitchen (2021). The movie was directed by Jeo Baby and starred Ajitha V.M. and Suraj Venjaramoodu.

Sajayan was then seen in Martin Prakkat's Nayattu (2021), Kunchacko Boban and Joju George and Mahesh Narayanan's Malik (2021), starring Fahadh Faasil and Vinay Forrt. The films were well-received, and Sajayan was recognised for her performance.

Sajayan received many awards for her performances. She won the Best Female Debut - Malayalam award at the South Indian International Movie Awards and the Best Debut Actress award at the Toronto International South Asian Film Awards for Thondi Muthalum Driksakshiyum (2017) . For her movie Oru Kuprasidha Payyan (2018), she won the Best Actress Award at the Kerala State Film Awards.

Nutan Samarth was born on June 4 1936 to poet Kumarsen Samarth and his actress wife 'Shobhana' as the eldest of their four children (a younger sister is the actress Tanuja Samarth). Her parents separated when she was a small child. 13-year-old Nutan made her debut in K. Asif's "Hamari Beti". She was a beauty queen as well, being crowned Miss Mussorie in 1952. Success at so young an age was trying, and Nutan temporarily quit films in the 50s to move to Switzerland. She returned, married Commander Rajnish Bahl, and began the most innovative and successful faze of her career. She made her mark as a versatile actress able to portray comedy, drama, and romance with equal skill. Nutan was awarded a record-breaking 5 Filmfare awards for Best Actress and one for Outstanding Performance. Her career declined during the 70s and 80s and she spent much of her time collecting rare artefacts and spending time with her family. Nutan died of cancer in February 1991.

Rasika Dugal was born in Jamshedpur and did her schooling from Sacred Heart Convent. She pursued a bachelors degree in Mathematics (Hons) from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi. After completing her bachelors, she attended the Sophia Polytechnic (Mumbai) for a Post Graduate Diploma in 'Social Communications Media' and then went on to pursue a Post Graduate Diploma in Acting at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII, Pune).

Rasika has played significant roles in films, original series and short films, exploring the nuances of diverse characters in artistically challenging and socially relevant productions. She is known for her performance in feature films 'Manto' (directed by Nandita Das), 'Hamid' (directed by Aijaz Khan), 'Qissa' (directed by Anup Singh), 'Kshay'( directed by Karan Gour), Lootcase (directed by Rajesh Krishnan) and short films 'Chutney', 'The School Bag' and 'Banana Bread'.

In digital series, her varied roles as the feisty Beena Tripathi in 'Mirzapur' (Amazon Prime), the idealistic cop Neeti Singh in 'Delhi Crime' (Netflix) have won her many accolades and much popularity amongst audiences. She was also seen in 'Out of love' (Hotstar) headlining the series as Dr Meera Kapoor.

She enjoys reading Urdu poetry, learning music and listening to podcasts. She lives in Mumbai.

Bhanurekha was born in the Tamil-speaking Ganesan household on October 10, 1954. Her dad was the popular Tamil actor, Gemini, while her mom was a popular Telugu actress, Pushpavalli. She has seven sisters and one brother. One of her sisters is Dr. Kamala Selvaraj, while another one, Radha, lives in San Francisco with a son named Naveed, who is being readied to act in Bollywood movies.

No stranger to the tinsel screen, Bhanurekha acted in a Telugu movie 'Rangula Ratnam' as Baby Bhanurekha along with her mom during 1966, which was subsequently re-made and released in Hindi during 1976 as Rangila Ratan (1976). She acted in one more Telugu as well as one Kannada movie (Amma Kosam and Goadalli CID 999 respectively) before re-locating to Bombay.

Due to her background, she ended up being very gloomy and pessimistic during her early years. She get a chance to debut in Bollywood movies during 1970 with Sawan Bhadon (1970) opposite Navin Nischol with a screen name of Rekha. Inability to speak Hindi, a dusky complexion as well as her weight did not exactly add to her assets in a predominantly fair-skinned, Hindi-speaking North-Indian film industry.

She decided to take matters seriously, took Yoga, shed those extra pounds, learned Hindi and dancing, and thus was born a new and much improved Rekha - who went on to deliver one box office hit after another for example Nagin (1976), Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), Mr. Natwarlal (1979), Khubsoorat (1980), Umrao Jaan (1981), Khoon Bhari Maang (1988) amongst others. In her later years she has taken up character roles and appeared as a mother, even a grandmother in Krrish (2006).

Her slim, slender looks got her many admirers, including well established Bollywood actors such as Kiran Kumar , Jeetendra, Vinod Mehra, and Amitabh Bachchan'. In 2004, in a television interview with Simi Garewal, she rejected a long-standing rumor that she was once married to Vinod Mehra. She referred to him as a well-wisher and stated that her only marriage was to a businessman, Mukesh Aggarwal. This marriage ended when Mukesh killing himself shortly thereafter, leaving her a widow. She has never remarried.

She likes to surf the Internet, has written biographies of actresses like Zeenat Aman, and Salma Agha on IMDb, likes to collect old photographs and postcards, mimic people, watch movies, and practices Yoga regularly, read comics like Archie and Dennie the Menace, and is a vegetarian. She now lives with her Secretary, Farzana, and pets in a self-owned bungalow in Bandra (West)in Mumbai.

Asha Kelunni, better known by her stage name Revathi, is a highly acclaimed Indian actress and director, recognized for her significant contributions to Tamil and Malayalam cinema, as well as her notable presence in Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada films. Born in Cochin (present-day Kochi) to Malank Kelunni Nair, a major in the Indian Army, from Palakkad, and Lalitha Kelunni, Revathi began her journey in the entertainment industry with a chance encounter that would change her life.

During her school days, Revathi participated in a fashion show, and a photograph of her from the event became the cover of a popular Tamil magazine. This caught the attention of director Bharathiraja, who was in search of a new heroine for his film "Mann Vasanai." This marked the beginning of her acting career, and her debut in the Tamil film industry with "Mann Vasanai" in 1983 was a silver jubilee hit, earning her a Filmfare Special Award - South.

Revathi continued to make waves in the industry, making her Malayalam debut with "Kattathe Kilikkoodu" in 1983, which also achieved great success. She ventured into Telugu films with "Seethamma Pelli" in 1984 and gained recognition for her roles in films like "Kai Kodukkum Kai" (1984) and "Vaidehi Kathirunthal" (1984). Her breakthrough role came in Mani Ratnam's "Mouna Ragam" (1986), where she portrayed the spirited and headstrong Divya.

Known for her versatility, Revathi took on diverse roles and portrayed strong, relatable women characters. She achieved critical acclaim for her performances in films like "Punnagai Mannan" (1986), "Kakkothikkavile Appooppan Thaadikal" (1988), and "Kizhakku Vaasal" (1990). Her remarkable acting skills were further recognized with a National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress in "Thevar Magan" (1992).

In the early 1990s, Revathi continued to deliver hits such as "Kilukkam" (1991) and "Marupadiyum" (1993). Her success extended to Hindi cinema with films like "Love" (1991), and she won a National Film Award for her role in "Thevar Magan." Revathi's golden era persisted until the late 1990s, marked by notable films like "Anjali" (1990), "Magalir Mattum" (1994), and "Thalaimurai" (1998).

Apart from her acting prowess, Revathi showcased her directorial skills with two feature films, "Mitr, My Friend" and "Phir Milenge." She also contributed to anthology films like "Kerala Cafe" and the unreleased "Mumbai Cutting."

Revathi's talent transcended regional boundaries, and she captivated Hindi audiences with her performances in "Margarita with a Straw" (2014) and "2 States" (2014). Her notable Tamil films include "Pa Paandi" (2017) and "Jackpot" (2019), while her impactful role in the Malayalam film "Virus" (2019) showcased her continued excellence.

In 2022, Revathi received the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress for her role in "Bhoothakaalam." She also portrayed Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan's mother, Dhanalakshmi, in the bilingual Telugu and Hindi film "Major."

Revathi's journey in the film industry is not only marked by her acting prowess but also by her directorial achievements and her ability to contribute significantly to cinema across multiple languages. Her enduring legacy is a testament to her talent and versatility.

Sai Pallavi is an actress and dancer who has established her presence in Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam films. Pallavi was born in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, to Senthamarai Kannan and Radha Kannan. She has a younger sister named Pooja Kannan, who is also an actor.

Pallavi grew up in Coimbatore and did her schooling at Avila Convent School. She completed her medical studies at the Tbilisi State Medical University in Georgia in 2016. Later, in 2020, she sat for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) in Trichy.

Pallavi's first brush with acting on the big screen took place in 2005 in an uncredited role in Kasthuri Maan (2005), in which she played the role of a college girl. She appeared in another uncredited blink-and-miss role in Dhaam Dhoom (2008), an action thriller starring Kangana Ranaut.

Pallavi made her official acting debut as the lead in Premam (2015), a romantic comedy directed by, Alphonse Puthren, in which she essayed the role of a teacher. She was approached for the movie while she was still studying medicine, and she shot for the film during her vacation. The film was released without any teasers, trailers, or pre-release interviews. It went on to become a huge hit at the box office, garnering appreciation from critics and audiences alike, and shot her to instant fame.

Pallavi bagged several awards for her performance in the film, including the Filmfare Awards South 2015 for the Best Female Debut - Malayalam, South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) 2015 for the Best Female Debut - Malayalam, and the Vanitha Film Awards 2016 for the Best Newcomer - Actress. She also won the Asianet Film Honour Special Jury Award in 2015.

With her second film Kali (2016), Pallavi once again proved her mettle as an actress. She played the role of a newly married girl dealing with the extreme anger issues of her husband. The action thriller directed by Sameer Thahir had Dulquer Salmaan playing the lead opposite her. The film was one of the biggest box office successes of 2016. It earned her a nomination for the Filmfare Awards South 2016 for Best Actress - Malayalam.

Her next project was Sekhar Kammula's romantic comedy Fidaa (2017), which marked her debut in Telugu cinema. Starring opposite Varun Tej, Pallavi stood out as a feisty village girl named Bhanumathi. Her performance in the film has been listed among the 100 Greatest Performances of the Decade, compiled by Film Companion. The film went on to become a huge commercial success. She won the Filmfare Award South 2018 for Best Actress - Telugu for her performance.

In MCA Middle Class Abbayi (2017), an action comedy directed by Venu Sriram, Pallavi appears onscreen with Nani. While the film received mixed reviews from critics, it turned out to be a successful venture at the box office.

Then, Pallavi explored the supernatural genre for the first time with Diya (2018), which was directed by A.L. Vijay and had Naga Shaurya as the lead opposite her. It was her debut in Tamil cinema in a lead role. Her next film was Padi Padi Leche Manasu (2018)(2018).

Her following silver screen appearance was in Maari 2 (2018), in which she starred opposite Dhanush. In this action comedy directed by Balaji Mohan, she portrays the role of an auto driver. While the film earned mixed reviews from critics, the song, 'Rowdy Baby', became one of the most-watched music videos from South India on YouTube.

In 2019, Pallavi appeared in Vivek's psychological thriller Athiran (2019) opposite Fahadh Faasil. To prepare for her role as an autistic girl, she met several people with autism and worked profoundly on her body language.

She followed it up with movies like NGK (2019) and the anthology drama Paava Kadhaigal (2020), which was released on Netflix.

In 2021, she had two releases, Love Story (2021) and Shyam Singha Roy (2021), both of which received a positive response at the box office. She won the Filmfare Award South 2022 for Best Actress - Telugu for her acting in Love Story and the Filmfare Critics Award 2022 for Best Actress - Telugu for her role in Shyam Singha Roy. She also won the SIIMA Award 2022 for the Entertainer of the Year (Female) - Telugu for her performance in both movies.

Pallavi was last seen in Gargi (2022), a legal drama directed by Gautham Ramachandran. She earned critical appreciation for her performance in the movie.

Seema Pahwa is an acclaimed Indian actor, writer, and director known for her powerful performances across film, television, and theatre. She is celebrated for bringing depth, realism, and effortless emotional nuance to every role she portrays. Beginning her artistic journey on stage, she later became a familiar face in Indian households through television, eventually establishing herself as one of the most versatile and respected performers in contemporary cinema.

With a career marked by memorable character-driven roles, Seema has earned widespread recognition for her natural acting style and her ability to portray complex human emotions with authenticity. She has also expanded her creative footprint behind the camera, directing films that reflect her keen understanding of storytelling and human relationships. Her contributions to Indian performing arts continue to inspire new generations of actors and filmmakers, making her an enduring and influential figure in the industry.

One of the leading lights of the 1965-1990's Indian New Wave, Shabana Azmi (alongside the late Smita Patil) was one of the main female actors who dominated the films of the so-called "Parallel Cinema" in India in the 1970s and 1980s. Born to noted Urdu progressive poet and lyricist Kaifi Azmi and theatre actress Shaukat Azmi, Shabana has acted in films by virtually all of India's most famous art-house directors including Shyam Benegal, Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Aparna Sen and others, as well as in commercial and middle-of-the-road Hindi films, where she has essayed several strong female characters (e.g., in The Death Sentence: Mrityu Dand (1997) and Godmother (1999)). Shabana Azmi was paired opposite Rajesh Khanna in 7 successful films.She is noted for her naturalness and intensity on-screen, matched by her fierce advocacy of the rights of women, minorities and slum-dwellers off-screen, both through activism and in her role as a Member of Parliament, where her consistent stand in defense of liberal values and the freedom of expression is noteworthy. She has also acted on stage to considerable acclaim, most notably in Tumhari Amrita with Farookh Sheikh. She is married to noted scriptwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar.

Shahana Goswami was born in New Delhi. Her father is an economist and mother an editorial consultant. Her elder brother and sister-in-law are physicists.She attended Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, Delhi and Sophia College, Mumbai. Goswami was the house captain and sports champion in her school. She secured second position at the National Artificial Wall Climbing Competition and has represented her school in athletics, badminton, basketball and volleyball at the zonal level.She also trained in Odissi for 10 years under Guru Padmashri Kiran Segal and has travelled and performed extensively with her dance troupe.

Shahana had a single-minded focus on professional acting since childhood. She moved to Mumbai to complete her graduation and to explore the possibility of taking up acting as a career. In Mumbai, her first steps in acting were at Jaimini Pathak's theatre group Working Title. There, she started off as a production assistant and then acted in their productions Seagull and Arabian Nights.

Through her theater circle she met talent consultant Shaanu Sharma who asked her to audition for a role in Naseeruddin Shah's directorial debut Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota. Subsequently, she stumbled upon the small role of Boman Irani's daughter in Reema Katgi's Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd., when she visited the production house for some other work. Meanwhile, a cinematographer who noticed her work in Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota recommended her and she auditioned for the lead role in Percept Picture Company's Ru Ba Ru, directed by Arjun Bali, with Randeep Hooda as her co-star. For Goswami, Ru Ba Ru happened while she was still in college completing her graduation. She gave her first shot for the film in Bangkok, much before she was signed on for Rock On.

Her friends Shaanu Sharma and Simran, who were in the middle of casting for Rock On, at that time suggested her name to Abhishek Kapoor (director of Rock On). Later, she auditioned for the film and got the big break in the role of Debbie. Her performance not only secured her a prominent spot on the Bollywood map, but also fetched her many awards, the most prestigious of them being the Filmfare Best Actress (Critics) award, which no supporting actress had won until then.

She then appeared in the music video for Dido's "Let's Do the Things We Normally Do" as a taxi driver in Mumbai. The video was shot by Siddharth Sikand. In between, she also featured in a Fevicol commercial set in a village in Rajasthan.

Goswami's first international project is Deepa Mehta's Winds of Change, an adaptation of Salman Rushdie's Booker Prize winning novel Midnight's Children. The film is expected to release in spring 2012.

A Bengali actress who achieved success young, Sharmila appeared in numerous Bengali classics before making the jump to Hindi cinema, which first made her a romantic actress and later a legendary actress thanks to her intense films opposite Superstar Rajesh Khanna. A distant relative of poet Rabindranath Tagore, she is also the wife of His Highness Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, Nawab of Pataudi, with whom she has three children, actor Saif Ali Khan born 16 August 1970, Saba and Soha Ali Khan, born 4 October 1978. Her pairing with Shammi Kapoor made her famous in the sixties but as an actress she evolved and became popular due to different films, each belonging to different genre, she did opposite the Superstar Rajesh Khanna.The pair gave 6 box office blockbusters and 3 unfortunate box office flops which were critically acclaimed films. Sharmila's pairing opposite male actors Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra and Shashi Kapoor was loved by the audiences, though Khanna-Sharmila pair remained the most popular with both critics and audience.

Shefali is a National Award-winning actress with a career spanning over two decades across various genres and formats. She has given power-packed performances in films such as "Satya", "Monsoon Wedding", "Gandhi, My Father", "Dil Dhadakne Do", and "Once Again". Shefali has won numerous awards including the Filmfare Award, Stardust Award, Tokyo International Film Festival Award and the Asian Academy Creative Award. She received the National Award (Best Supporting Actress) at the 55th National Film Awards for her work in "The Last Lear". Shefali was lauded for her restrained, layered performance in director Neeraj Ghaywan's short film "Juice", which won multiple awards, including the Filmfare Best Actress Award. She also lent her voice for the character of Raksha in the Hindi version of Jon Favreau's "The Jungle Book". Her performance in the Netflix Original "Delhi Crime" garnered wide critical acclaim with the show winning the Best Drama series at the 48th International Emmy Awards. Shefali recently donned the director's hat with her two short films "Someday" and "Happy Birthday Mummy Ji", both dealing with the theme of isolation. Audiences unanimously loved her characterizations of Natasha in "Ankahi", part of the "Ajeeb Daastaans" anthology on Netflix; Gauri Nath in "Human" and Rukhsana in "Jalsa". She was recently seen in multiple films and series such as "Darlings", "Doctor G", and "Delhi Crime" Season 2.

Smita Patil, born in Pune, Maharashtra, India, was a highly acclaimed Indian actress known for her exceptional performances in Hindi and Marathi cinema. Regarded as one of the finest actresses in Indian cinema, Smita Patil's career was marked by her ability to portray a wide range of characters with authenticity and depth.

Smita Patil began her acting career in Marathi theater before making her film debut with the Marathi film "Shyamchi Aai" (1974). She gained attention for her breakthrough performance in Shyam Benegal's "Manthan" (1976), which marked the beginning of her collaboration with the renowned filmmaker. Smita Patil went on to work in several of Benegal's films, including "Bhumika" (1977), for which she received the National Film Award for Best Actress.

Her impactful performances in films such as "Aakrosh" (1980), "Chakra" (1981), and "Umbartha" (1982) solidified her position as one of the leading actresses in Indian cinema. Smita Patil was known for choosing roles that challenged societal norms and highlighted social issues. Her ability to infuse realism into her characters and convey emotions with authenticity set her apart.

Smita Patil also made significant contributions to parallel cinema, working with directors like Govind Nihalani ("Ardh Satya," 1983), Shyam Benegal ("Mandi," 1983), and G. Aravindan ("Chidambaram," 1985). Her collaboration with commercial filmmakers, including Ramesh Sippy in "Shakti" (1982) and Prakash Mehra in "Namak Halaal" (1982), showcased her versatility across genres.

Beyond her acting career, Smita Patil was actively involved in social and political causes. She was known for her advocacy of women's rights and her commitment to addressing issues affecting marginalized communities.

Tragically, Smita Patil's life was cut short when she passed away on December 13, 1986, at the age of 31, shortly after giving birth to her son Prateik Babbar. Despite her short-lived career, Smita Patil's impact on Indian cinema remains enduring, and she is remembered as a trailblazer who elevated the art of acting with her remarkable talent and meaningful contributions.

Suchitra Sen was born on 6 April 1931 in Pabna, Bengal Presidency, British India [now in Pabna, Bangladesh]. She was an actress, known for Aandhi (1975), Saptapadi (1961) and Devdas (1955). She was married to Dibanath Sen. She died on 17 January 2014 in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Supriya Pathak Kapur (born 7 January 1961) is an Indian performer, destined to on-screen character Dina Pathak into an ethnic of Gujarati family, she was one of the extremely popular compelling performing artists, in Hindi Cinema, throughout the 1980s and 1990s, gaining two Filmfare Awards. In the early time of her existence, she acted in theatre, before making her introduction in 1981 Kalyug, which she won her first Filmfare Awards for Best supporting Actress. Later, rose to noticeable quality and accepted discriminating surveys for her part in 1982 Bazaar, which she again won a Filmfare Awards for Best supporting Actress. In 1988, Pathak showed up on a French wander, The Bengali Night, and in "blockbuster" Shahenshah (1988 film). In 1986, she wedded to performer executive, Pankaj Kapur, henceforth [...] stop her acting profession. In the early 2002, she starred in comedy Tv-Serial Khichdi, gaining Indian Telly Award for Best Actress in a Comic Role, and additionally got positive review[s] for her portrayal as Hansa Parekh. In 2013 she was part of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela for which she won Filmfare award for Best Supporting Actress.

Surekha Sikri, the revered actress, hailed from Uttar Pradesh, spending her formative years in the picturesque locales of Almora and Nainital. Born to a father in the Air Force and a mother who was an educator, Sikri's early life was shaped by a diverse and dynamic environment.

Married to Hemant Rege, her family expanded to include a son named Rahul Sikri, an accomplished artist based in Mumbai. Notably, Surekha Sikri's family ties extend to the world of cinema, as the acclaimed actor Naseeruddin Shah is her former brother-in-law. This familial connection arises from Naseeruddin Shah's first marriage to her step-sister Manara Sikri, also known as Parveen Murad.

Surekha Sikri's journey in the world of entertainment commenced with her debut in the 1978 political drama film "Kissa Kursi Ka." Her acting prowess found expression not only in Hindi and Malayalam films but also in the realm of Indian soap operas.

A graduate of the National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi, in 1968, Sikri's illustrious career earned her several accolades, including a Filmfare Award and three National Film Awards.

A stalwart of Hindi theatre, she earned recognition with her performances in the political drama "Kissa Kursi Ka" (1977) and went on to portray impactful supporting roles in various Hindi and Malayalam films, as well as Indian soap operas.

Surekha Sikri's remarkable contributions were acknowledged with the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress on three occasions, honoring her roles in "Tamas" (1988), "Mammo" (1995), and the acclaimed "Badhaai Ho" (2018). Her versatility also shone through in the television realm, where she received the Indian Telly Award for Best Actress in a Negative Role in 2008 for her portrayal in the prime-time soap opera "Balika Vadhu." Notably, she secured the Indian Telly Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for the same show in 2011.

Beyond the screen, Surekha Sikri's impact on Hindi theater was acknowledged with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1989. However, it was her compelling performance in "Badhaai Ho" (2018) that catapulted her to renewed acclaim. She garnered widespread recognition and appreciation, clinching three prestigious awards - the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress, and the Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress - all testaments to her enduring talent and contribution to Indian cinema.

Tabu is an Indian actress. She has mainly acted in Hindi films, though she has also starred in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi and Bengali-language films, as well as one American film. She has won the National Film Award for Best Actress twice, and holds the record for the most wins of Filmfare's Critics Award for Best Female Performer, with four. With few exceptions, she is best known for acting in artistic, low-budget films that go on to garner more critical appreciation than substantial box-office figures. Her appearances in commercially successful films were few, and her parts in these films were small, such as Border (1997), Saajan Chale Sasural (1996), Biwi No. 1 (1999) and Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1999). Her most notable performances include Maachis (1996), Virasat (1997), Hu Tu Tu (1999), Astitva (2000), Chandni Bar (2001), Maqbool (2003) and Cheeni Kum (2007). Her leading role in Mira Nair's American film The Namesake (2006) also drew major praise.

Regarded as one of the most talented Indian actresses of her generation, Tabu is known to be selective about her film roles. She was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award, in 2011 by the Government of India for her contributions towards the arts.