Priyanka Chopra
December 18, 2006
Priyanka Chopra is one of the newest success stories of Bollywood.
After a good debut in Andaz, and a couple of hit films later, Priyanka has had an especially good 2006.
She starred in two of the most-awaited movies of the year, opposite two of the biggest stars -- with Hrithik Roshan in Krrish and Shah Rukh Khan in Don.
Priyanka also bagged good projects like Nikhil Advani's Salaam-E-Ishq and scriptwriter Rumi Jaffrey's God Tusi Great Ho, both opposite Salman Khan.
Bollywood is definitely going to see much more of her.
The queen bee
Rani Mukerji
December 18, 2006
Rani has evolved into one of the best actresses in the industry today, never mind her box office luck this year.
Both her 2006 releases -- Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna and Baabul -- saw her in author-backed roles. And the actress did justice to both.
Rani's climb on the Bollywood ladder is assured. After all, the actress is a favourite of one of the biggest banners in the industry -- Yash Raj Films. Her next film, Tara Rum Pum -- directed by Siddharth Anand (Salaam Namaste) -- will be produced by Yash Raj as well.
The diva!
Aishwarya Rai
December 18, 2006
Never mind Umrao Jaan, Aishwarya Rai deserves to be on this list only because of her breathtaking beauty and awesome figure in Dhoom:2.
When Ash exclaimed, 'I'm so hot' in her opening lines in the film, everyone agreed. Of course, one would have preferred if she kept her dialogues to a minimum, and not constantly shoot her mouth off like Sholay's Basanti.
But after making a terrific pair with Hrithik in the very fashionable Dhoom:2, the two will get together again in Ashutosh Gowarikar's period film, Jodha-Akbar.
The temptress
Bipasha Basu
December 18, 2006
Bipasha's done it all this year, and come out looking better than ever.
On one hand, she tried her hand at serious cinema, and did well in Madhur Bhandarkar's Corporate.
On the other, she took up an item number in Omkara's Bidi jalai le, and did full justice to it.
She got herself a big hit in Neeraj Vora's Phir Hera Pheri, the sequel to the Akshay Kumar-Suniel Shetty-Paresh Rawal blockbuster.
And to top it off, she was fab in Dhoom:2. There seems to be no stopping this Bengali actress.
The return of the star
Kajol
December 18, 2006
Kajol may prefer sitting home, taking care of hubby Ajay Devgan and daughter Nysa, but viewers definitely prefer otherwise.
She took a sabbatical from acting after Karan Johar's Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001), in which she almost stole the show, and won a few Best Actress awards.
Five years later, when she decided to do another film, it came as a surprise that she chose Aamir Khan as her co-star, as opposed to her close friend Shah Rukh Khan.
What did not come as a surprise, however, was her brilliant performance in Fanaa, and the fact that we fell in love with her all over again.
Entering the big league
Vidya Balan
December 18, 2006
Vidya Balan was the face of Parineeta, even though it boasted of a star cast like Sanjay Dutt and Saif Ali Khan.
And even though her second film revolved around Munnabhai (Sanjay Dutt) and Circuit (Arshad Warsi), Vidya made sure the nation said, 'Goooddd Morrrrning'.
Lage Raho Munnabhai has become a huge hit, and Vidya has joined the big league, with films like Mani Ratnam's Guru, Nikhil Advani's Salaam-E-Ishq and Rajkumar Santoshi's Halla Bol to her credit.
The bomb undergoes a makeover
Mallika Sherawat
December 18, 2006
In 2004 Mallika made the industry happy with the year's biggest hit, Murder.
This year, she has made the critics happy.
With Pyaar Ke Side Effects, Mallika proved she has more than just a good body, and that she has a great comic side as well. Looks like her new film, Fauj Mein Mauj promises to keep both her strong points in mind!
The talented contender
Kareena Kapoor
December 18, 2006
Kareena never looked quite as gorgeous in Omkara, in which she played Ajay Devgan's sweetheart.
Her next film, Don, may not have brought in rave reviews for her but then again, she wasn't trying to be like the graceful Helen from the original version.
She must definitely have something in her. It's not often that one of the most talented directors in the industry repeats you in two films. After Omkara, Kareena will star in Vishal Bharadwaj's Mr Mehta and Mrs Singh.
The big find
Kangana Ranaut
December 18, 2006
Kangana bowled us over in Gangster, in which she had people rooting for her even though her character had shades of grey.
She carried forward her brilliant act in Woh Lamhe, apparently playing 1970s' diva Parveen Babi.
Barely 20, this young actress shows a lot of spark.
An actress revealed
December 18, 2006
Ayesha Takia
may be still trying to establish herself in Bollywood. But she has stood tall in all her films till date.Though she gave two flops this year -- Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota and Shaadi Se Pehle -- her work in Nagesh Kukunoor's Dor was so phenomenal that it immediately got her a place among the top 10 actresses of 2006.
As a young Rajasthani widow, Ayesha instilled much pain, and hope, in her performance.
No wonder filmmakers are queuing up to sign her.
Courtsey Rediff
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