More beautiful Bollywood women with Tabu, Deepika Padukone, Mallika Sherawat and more
Since my last Bollywood actress article was so well received, I thought I would do another.
After all, there are plenty of beautiful Bollywood actresses to go around....
After all, there are plenty of beautiful Bollywood actresses to go around....
Mallika Sherawat
Mallika Sherawat
Mallika Sherawat reminds me of Angelina Jolie.
If you dig around the internet much, you'll see that people either love her, or hate her.
Mallika was born Reema Lamba in Karnal, Haryana, India on October 24th,1981.
She says that she took her screen name because there was already another actress named Reema, and Sherawat is her mother's maiden name.
In her first film appearance 2002's Jeena Sirf Merre Liye, she was credited as Reema Lamba.
Mallika doesn't turn out as many films as some Bollywood actresses, having only 17 as of this entry.
One of her more famous appearances was in the 2005 Hong Kong film The Myth, starring Jackie Chan. She played the Indian princess, Samantha in the film.
Mallika is in the US working on the film Hisss (aka Nagin) directed by Jennifer Chambers Lynch.
And like Priyanka Chopra, Mallika is a big Twitter user, with over 19,000 followers.
On 14th August,2009, she received a honorary citizenship to the City of Los Angeles.
If you dig around the internet much, you'll see that people either love her, or hate her.
Mallika was born Reema Lamba in Karnal, Haryana, India on October 24th,1981.
She says that she took her screen name because there was already another actress named Reema, and Sherawat is her mother's maiden name.
In her first film appearance 2002's Jeena Sirf Merre Liye, she was credited as Reema Lamba.
Mallika doesn't turn out as many films as some Bollywood actresses, having only 17 as of this entry.
One of her more famous appearances was in the 2005 Hong Kong film The Myth, starring Jackie Chan. She played the Indian princess, Samantha in the film.
Mallika is in the US working on the film Hisss (aka Nagin) directed by Jennifer Chambers Lynch.
And like Priyanka Chopra, Mallika is a big Twitter user, with over 19,000 followers.
On 14th August,2009, she received a honorary citizenship to the City of Los Angeles.
Mallika Sherawat in Bruno Mars' "Whatta Man" Video
Deepika Padukone
Deepika Padukone
Deepika Padukone was born on January 5, 1986 in Copenhagen, Denmark and her moved to Bangalore, India, when she was eleven months old.
Her father Prakash Padukone is the first Indian to have won the All England Open Badminton Championship.
Deepika's mother is a travel agent, and she has a younger sister, Anisha, born in 1991, who is aiming to become a pro golfer.
Deepika started out not as an actress, but as a model and was Maybelline's international spokesperson.
Moving from modeling to acting, she got her first role not in a film, but in a music video by Indian singer, Himesh Reshammiya.
She made her acting debut in the 2006 Kannada film Aishwarya.
Deepika then made her Bollywood debut in the blockbuster Om Shanti Om in 2007.
Her Bollywood debut got her the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award and her first Filmfare Best Actress nomination.
Like Mallika, she doesnt have a huge workrate, appearing in only seven films so far.
But hey, she didn't get started till 2006.
Her father Prakash Padukone is the first Indian to have won the All England Open Badminton Championship.
Deepika's mother is a travel agent, and she has a younger sister, Anisha, born in 1991, who is aiming to become a pro golfer.
Deepika started out not as an actress, but as a model and was Maybelline's international spokesperson.
Moving from modeling to acting, she got her first role not in a film, but in a music video by Indian singer, Himesh Reshammiya.
She made her acting debut in the 2006 Kannada film Aishwarya.
Deepika then made her Bollywood debut in the blockbuster Om Shanti Om in 2007.
Her Bollywood debut got her the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award and her first Filmfare Best Actress nomination.
Like Mallika, she doesnt have a huge workrate, appearing in only seven films so far.
But hey, she didn't get started till 2006.
Rani Mukerji (Rani Mukherjee)
Rani Mukerji (Rani Mukherjee)
Rani Mukerji (Rani Mukherjee) was born in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, on March 21, 1978.
She is the second cousin of Bollywood actress Kajol, so that also makes her part of the Mukherjee-Samarth family.
Even though the two cousins are not close, they are said to share tremendous respect for each other.
Rani's father is retired director Ram Mukherjee, one of the founders of Filmalaya Studios.
Her mother Krishna was a playback singer (a singer whose singing is prerecorded for use in movies).
Rani's first film was 1996's Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat, but her first actual screen appearance was a cameo in her father's Bengali film Biyer Phool back in 1992.
She has gone on to appear in over forty films.
The workrate of Bollywood actresses never ceases to amaze me.
Rani changed the spelling of her last name from Mukherjee to Mukerji several years ago, some say it was because of Numerology, but Rani says it was because her name had been put down as Mukerji on her passport.
She is the second cousin of Bollywood actress Kajol, so that also makes her part of the Mukherjee-Samarth family.
Even though the two cousins are not close, they are said to share tremendous respect for each other.
Rani's father is retired director Ram Mukherjee, one of the founders of Filmalaya Studios.
Her mother Krishna was a playback singer (a singer whose singing is prerecorded for use in movies).
Rani's first film was 1996's Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat, but her first actual screen appearance was a cameo in her father's Bengali film Biyer Phool back in 1992.
She has gone on to appear in over forty films.
The workrate of Bollywood actresses never ceases to amaze me.
Rani changed the spelling of her last name from Mukherjee to Mukerji several years ago, some say it was because of Numerology, but Rani says it was because her name had been put down as Mukerji on her passport.
Tabu
Tabu
Bollywood actress Tabu was born Tabassum Hashmi on November 4, 1973 in Hyderabad, India.
Besides Bollywood films, she has appeared in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali and one American film (The Namesake in 2006) .
Tabu tends to aim more for films that get critical praise rather than make a huge box office.
And that has paid off for her as she has gotten the National Film Award for Best Actress twice and the Filmfare's Critics Award for Best Female Performer a record four times.
Her film debut was in Hum Naujawan (1985) at the age of fifteen.
Tabu's workrate is amazing, she is approaching seventy films!
Besides Bollywood films, she has appeared in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali and one American film (The Namesake in 2006) .
Tabu tends to aim more for films that get critical praise rather than make a huge box office.
And that has paid off for her as she has gotten the National Film Award for Best Actress twice and the Filmfare's Critics Award for Best Female Performer a record four times.
Her film debut was in Hum Naujawan (1985) at the age of fifteen.
Tabu's workrate is amazing, she is approaching seventy films!
Preity Zinta
Preity Zinta
Preity Zinta was born on January 31, 1975, in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India.
She has not only acted in Bollywood films, but also Telugu, Punjabi and English language films.
And she has something else that separates her from other actresses I have done entries on, she has a degree in criminal psychology.
Preity started out in modeling, went to commercials, and then the big screen.
Her first role was in 1998's Dil Se, directed by Mani Ratnam.
She has gone on to appear in over thirty films.
Preity is not only famous on screen, but off as well.
She is a co-owner of the Indian Premier League cricket team Kings XI Punjab (along with her ex-boyfriend, Indian entrepreneur and businessman Ness Wadia) .
And she even tangled with the Indian Mafia in real life.
In 2003, she testified against the Indian mafia even after some of her other colleagues (notably Salman Khan and Shahrukh Khan) retracted statements they had made.
For standing up against the Mumbai underworld, she received the Godfrey's Mind of Steel Award at the annual Red and White Bravery Awards.
She has not only acted in Bollywood films, but also Telugu, Punjabi and English language films.
And she has something else that separates her from other actresses I have done entries on, she has a degree in criminal psychology.
Preity started out in modeling, went to commercials, and then the big screen.
Her first role was in 1998's Dil Se, directed by Mani Ratnam.
She has gone on to appear in over thirty films.
Preity is not only famous on screen, but off as well.
She is a co-owner of the Indian Premier League cricket team Kings XI Punjab (along with her ex-boyfriend, Indian entrepreneur and businessman Ness Wadia) .
And she even tangled with the Indian Mafia in real life.
In 2003, she testified against the Indian mafia even after some of her other colleagues (notably Salman Khan and Shahrukh Khan) retracted statements they had made.
For standing up against the Mumbai underworld, she received the Godfrey's Mind of Steel Award at the annual Red and White Bravery Awards.
Preity Zinta at Amazon
Lara Dutta
Lara Dutta
Lara Dutta was born on April 16, 1978, in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.
She is not only a Bollywood actress, but also a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and former Miss Universe (2000).
2000 was the same year that Priyanka Chopra won Miss World and Dia Mirza won Miss Asia Pacific, giving India a "hat-trick".
And Lara made a 9.99 score in her finalist interview, the highest individual score in any category in the history of the Miss Universe contest!
Lara's first film was the Tamil language film, Arasatchi made in 2002, but it wasn't released until 2004, making the 2003 Bollywood film, Andaaz her debut.
In Andaaz, she co-starred with the former Miss World, Priyanka Chopra and she and Priyanka jointly won the 2004 Filmfare Best Female Debut Award.
Since then, Lara has gone on to appear in 30 films.
Lara married on Indian tennis player, Mahesh Bhupathi on February 16th, 2011 in a civil ceremony in Bandra and later in a Christian ceremony on February 20th, 2011 at Sunset Point in Goa.
On August 1st, 2011, Lara announced that she was pregnant with their first child.
She is not only a Bollywood actress, but also a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and former Miss Universe (2000).
2000 was the same year that Priyanka Chopra won Miss World and Dia Mirza won Miss Asia Pacific, giving India a "hat-trick".
And Lara made a 9.99 score in her finalist interview, the highest individual score in any category in the history of the Miss Universe contest!
Lara's first film was the Tamil language film, Arasatchi made in 2002, but it wasn't released until 2004, making the 2003 Bollywood film, Andaaz her debut.
In Andaaz, she co-starred with the former Miss World, Priyanka Chopra and she and Priyanka jointly won the 2004 Filmfare Best Female Debut Award.
Since then, Lara has gone on to appear in 30 films.
Lara married on Indian tennis player, Mahesh Bhupathi on February 16th, 2011 in a civil ceremony in Bandra and later in a Christian ceremony on February 20th, 2011 at Sunset Point in Goa.
On August 1st, 2011, Lara announced that she was pregnant with their first child.
Amrita Rao
Amrita Rao
Amrita Rao was born on June 7, 1981, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Like a lot of other Bollywood actresses, she started out as a model.
Her modeling led to commercials, and that caught the attention of Bollywood film directors.
Amrita's film debut was in 2002's Ab Ke Baras. The film was also the debut of Arya Babbar, the son of Hindi and Punjabi film actor, Raj Babbar.
Since her debut, Amrita has gone on to appear in seventeen films.
She has also racked up an impressive list of awards and nominations.
Like a lot of other Bollywood actresses, she started out as a model.
Her modeling led to commercials, and that caught the attention of Bollywood film directors.
Amrita's film debut was in 2002's Ab Ke Baras. The film was also the debut of Arya Babbar, the son of Hindi and Punjabi film actor, Raj Babbar.
Since her debut, Amrita has gone on to appear in seventeen films.
She has also racked up an impressive list of awards and nominations.
Rakhi Sawant
Rakhi Sawant
Rakhi Sawant was born on November 25, 1978, again in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Unlike most of the Bollywood actresses I have done entries on, Rakhi started out as a cabaret dancer.
And Rakhi has had several run-ins with the the law in India which is odd considering that her father was a Mumbai policeman and she has said in interviews that she is a follower of Jesus Christ and reads the Bible.
Well, you know what they say about preachers sons/daughters, maybe it applies to policemen as well.
Anyway, she had her acting debut in 1999 in Dil Ka Sauda and has gone on to appear in over twenty films.
Rakhi made the news recently when she appeared on the reality TV show, Rakhi Ka Swayamwar, and chose her future husband, Canadian businessman Elesh Parujanwala, from seventeen contestants.
The couple was supposed to marry immediately, but they decided to postpone the marriage for an indefinite period of time.
But since the recently publicized kiss between Rakhi and singer Mika Singh, it looks like the wedding might be off.
Unlike most of the Bollywood actresses I have done entries on, Rakhi started out as a cabaret dancer.
And Rakhi has had several run-ins with the the law in India which is odd considering that her father was a Mumbai policeman and she has said in interviews that she is a follower of Jesus Christ and reads the Bible.
Well, you know what they say about preachers sons/daughters, maybe it applies to policemen as well.
Anyway, she had her acting debut in 1999 in Dil Ka Sauda and has gone on to appear in over twenty films.
Rakhi made the news recently when she appeared on the reality TV show, Rakhi Ka Swayamwar, and chose her future husband, Canadian businessman Elesh Parujanwala, from seventeen contestants.
The couple was supposed to marry immediately, but they decided to postpone the marriage for an indefinite period of time.
But since the recently publicized kiss between Rakhi and singer Mika Singh, it looks like the wedding might be off.
Kangana Ranaut
Kangana Ranaut
Kangana Ranaut was born on March 23, 1987 in Bhambla, Himachal Pradesh, India.
She started out as a model, then moved onto theatre in with the Asmita Theatre Group in Delhi.
In 2005 she was actually spotted having coffee in a cafe by Hindi film-maker Anurag Basu, and he offered her a leading role in his movie, Gangster.
(It may have been Bollywood, but it sounds like a Hollywood story to me)
Gangster came out in 2006 and was a smash hit with critics and at the box office.
Kangana was so good in Gangster that she won the...Asian Festival of First Films, Best Actress, Filmfare Best Female Debut Award, Filmfare Fairever Fresh Face of the Year Award, IIFA Best Female Debut Award, Star Screen Award for Most Promising Newcomer - Female, Zee Cine Award for Best Female Debut, Stardust Superstar of Tomorrow - Female, Bollywood Movie Award - Best Female Debut...and that was just her first movie!
Kangana followed up Gangster with nine more films, and has five more set for 2010.
She started out as a model, then moved onto theatre in with the Asmita Theatre Group in Delhi.
In 2005 she was actually spotted having coffee in a cafe by Hindi film-maker Anurag Basu, and he offered her a leading role in his movie, Gangster.
(It may have been Bollywood, but it sounds like a Hollywood story to me)
Gangster came out in 2006 and was a smash hit with critics and at the box office.
Kangana was so good in Gangster that she won the...Asian Festival of First Films, Best Actress, Filmfare Best Female Debut Award, Filmfare Fairever Fresh Face of the Year Award, IIFA Best Female Debut Award, Star Screen Award for Most Promising Newcomer - Female, Zee Cine Award for Best Female Debut, Stardust Superstar of Tomorrow - Female, Bollywood Movie Award - Best Female Debut...and that was just her first movie!
Kangana followed up Gangster with nine more films, and has five more set for 2010.
Prachi Desai
Prachi Desai
Prachi Desai was born on September 12th, 1988, in Gujarat , India.
Although she is a Bollywood actress, she is probably best known for her role as Bani Dixit (Bani Walia) in the Hindi television drama Kasamh Se.
Pracchi also appeared on Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, the Indian version of Britain'sStrictly Come Dancing.
As far as Bollywood fims go, she made her debut in 2008's Rock On!!(the movie won seven Filmfare awards) and followed it with 2009's Life Partner (with Govinda, Genelia D'Souza, Fardeen Khan and Tusshar Kapoor).
So far Prachi has appeared in seven TV series and eight films.
Although she is a Bollywood actress, she is probably best known for her role as Bani Dixit (Bani Walia) in the Hindi television drama Kasamh Se.
Pracchi also appeared on Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, the Indian version of Britain'sStrictly Come Dancing.
As far as Bollywood fims go, she made her debut in 2008's Rock On!!(the movie won seven Filmfare awards) and followed it with 2009's Life Partner (with Govinda, Genelia D'Souza, Fardeen Khan and Tusshar Kapoor).
So far Prachi has appeared in seven TV series and eight films.
Esha Deol
Esha Deol
Esha Deol was born on November 2nd, 1980, also in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Both of Esha's parents are actors. Her father is Dharmendra, possibly one of the greatest Bollywood actors of all time, and her mother is Hema Malini, an Indian actress, director and producer and Bharatanatyam dancer-choreographer, whose career spanned over forty years and one hundred and fifty films.
Before becoming an actress, Esha was a state level soccer player and was selected for the Indian national team.
Besides soccer, she is a skilled Odissi dancer.
(Odissi is one of the eight classical dance forms of India)
Esha's first film was 2002's Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe, a Hindi remake of Julia Robert's Sleeping with the Enemy.
She has gone on to appear in over 20 more films.
Both of Esha's parents are actors. Her father is Dharmendra, possibly one of the greatest Bollywood actors of all time, and her mother is Hema Malini, an Indian actress, director and producer and Bharatanatyam dancer-choreographer, whose career spanned over forty years and one hundred and fifty films.
Before becoming an actress, Esha was a state level soccer player and was selected for the Indian national team.
Besides soccer, she is a skilled Odissi dancer.
(Odissi is one of the eight classical dance forms of India)
Esha's first film was 2002's Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe, a Hindi remake of Julia Robert's Sleeping with the Enemy.
She has gone on to appear in over 20 more films.
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