PHOTOS

Madhuri to Deepika Padukone, check Indian cinema’s iconic female stars!

The Indian film industry, which is now more than a hundred years old, has mostly been dominated by leading heroes, and the space provided to female actresses has not been much, especially when you see the talent they possess. However, things have begun to change with actresses being given more substantive roles to play, but even in the past, there have been actresses who stood on their own and did films that defied conventional wisdom prevalent at the time.

So here we will throw light on these evergreen leading ladies who have ruled millions of hearts and, at the same time, cemented their place in the film industry as great actors.

Zee Media Bureau|

Updated:Aug 06, 2022, 10:49 PM IST

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Nargis

Nargis began her career as a child performer and achieved her artistic peak in the 1957 Oscar-nominated film Mother India. With roles in movies like Andaaz and Awaara, she and superstar Raj Kapoor established themselves as the quintessential on-screen pair that would serve as a model for all subsequent couples.

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Hema Malini

In the 1970s, Hema Malini, Bollywood's Dream Girl, was the most commercially successful female performer. She was also the poster girl for the modern leading lady, one who wasn't just the Bollywood hero's arm candy and her performances in movies such as' Seetapur ki Geeta' ,' Kudrat ',' and 'Sholay' just prove that. She has also been one of the few actresses from yesteryear who has been able to work late in her career.

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Sridevi

For a leading lady, Sridevi experienced stardom that was unheard of. She was playing roles that had been specifically crafted for her in the biggest movies, and there were even films where she was paid more than her male co-star. Sridevi, the undisputed queen of Bollywood, was a rare example of a celebrity who had the same amount of support in both Bollywood and the South.

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Madhuri Dixit

Madhuri Dixit was the only actress to truly shine in the 1990s. She met all the requirements for a superstar in that she was perfect in every way. She was the most paid leading lady of the 1990s after delivering a string of blockbusters. She has always been a celebrity who knew what she wanted, as evidenced by her decision to leave show business at the height of her fame. She has recently started working again and has appeared in number of movies and reality shows.

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Rani Mukherjee

Rani Mukherjee made her debut in 1998 with the biggest hit of that year, "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai", in which she was paired with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Over the years, the actress has established herself as an actor noted for both her acting prowess and the commercial value of being part of movis such as Hum Tum, Veer Zaara, Bunty Aur Babli, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, and Black.

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Deepika Padukone

Deepika Padukone, the latest unstoppable female celebrity, has ruled as the Queen of Bollywood for nearly ten years. She has played many unconventional roles that had us all rooting for her, and while she made the biggest splash as a debutante in the blockbuster "Om Shanti Om," Deepika's career has been peppered with hits ever since. She has consciously taken decisions and been part of movies which are rich in content and have provided her with the space to enjoy creative freedom and explore her true potential, and judging by her choices of films such as 'Ramleela', 'Padmaavat', 'Chhappak', 'Gehraiyaan', among others, she has been quite successful at that.