Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century

We’ve seen them in so many avatars; the chiffon clad temptress dancing round trees, the mysterious, touch-me-not ice queen, the breathtaking nymph, the sexy vamp, and the suave contemporary lass with the beachy waves in skinny jeans. There’s something irresistible about Bollywood beauties. As we celebrate 100 years of Indian cinema, there’s no better time to drool over 50 of Hindi cinema’s most celebrated icons.

Indeed the Hindi film heroine has come into her own, no longer willing to play second fiddle to the leading man (think Sridevi in English Vinglish, Rani Mukerji in Mardaani or Vidya Balan in Dirty Picture). Nor is she willing to be considered arm candy or a beautiful prop. As Nykaa’s Beauty Book celebrates its 100th issue, we are proud to present fifty of the most celebrated Bollywood heroines who’ve left their mark on the beauty world forever.

Devika Rani

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 1

Movies: Janma Bhoomi, Karma

Years: 1920s –1950s

Beauty highlight: Neutral natural eyes

Seetha Devi (Renee Smith)

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 2

Movies: 20s Silent Movies (Prem Sanyas) (1925)

Years: 1925 - 1945

Beauty highlight: Matte skin texture

Nargis

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 3

Movies: Tamanna

Years: 1940s to the 1960s

Beauty highlight: Nude eye shadow

Meena Kumari

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 4

Movies: Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam

Years: 1940 - 1970

Beauty highlight: Forever watering eyes!

Madhubala

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 5

Movies: Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, Mughal-E-Azam

Years: 1940 - 1960

Beauty highlight: Flawless skin

Nutan

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 6

Movies: Tere Ghar Ke Samne, Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki, Anari

Years: 1940s - 1970s

Beauty highlight: Naturally flushed and shaded lips

Vaijayanti Mala

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 7

Movies: Bahar , Nagin , Ladki

Years: 1949 - 1970

Beauty highlight: Graphic eyeliner

Geeta Bali

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 8

Movies: Ghayal (1951), Kavi (1955)

Years: 1950s

Beauty highlight: Center parted curly hair

Nimmi: (born 18 February 1933)

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 9

Movies: Sazaa, Aandhiyan, Banwara and many more

Years:1950s and early 1960s

Beauty highlight: OTT Eyelashes

Saira Banu

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 10

Movies: Junglee, Deewana

Years:1950s and 1960s

Beauty highlight: Black thick hair

Helen

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 11

Movies: Imaan Dharam, Don, Dostana

Years:1950s

Beauty highlight: Drop front fringe

Waheeda Rehman

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 12

Movies: Khamoshi, Lamhe

Years:1950s – 2000s

Beauty highlight: A glossy smile

Sadhana

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 13

Movies: Woh Kaun Thi , Waqt

Years:1960s

Beauty highlight: The Sadhana Cut

The half-way forehead head slanting fringe

Nanda

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 14

Movies: Hum Dono, Gumnaam, Jab Jab Phool Khile

Years:1960s and early 70s

Beauty highlight: Dramatic Egyptian Eyeliner

Sharmila Tagore

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 15

Movies: Evening in Paris

Years:1960s to date

Beauty highlight: Graphic liner, big lashes

Farida Jalal

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 16

Movies: Taqdeer (1967)

Years:1960s to date

Beauty highlight: Moisturized skin

Bina Rai

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 17

Movies: Anarkali, Taj Mahal

Years:1960s

Beauty highlight: Arched eyebrows

Nanda

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 18

Movies: Gumnaam, Teen Deviyan

Years:1960s

Beauty highlight: Bright flushed cheeks

Asha Parekh

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 19

Movies: Teesri Manzil, Love in Tokyo

Years:1960s

Beauty highlight: Perfectly shaped winged liner

Simi Garewal

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 20

Movies: Mera Naam Joker

Years:1960s and 1980s

Beauty highlight: Straight smooth hair

Mumtaz

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 21

Movies: Sawan Ki Ghata, Suraj

Years:1960s

Beauty highlight: Natural coral lips

Babita

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 22

Movies: Anjaana, Hasina Maan Jayegi, Kismat

Years:1960s

Beauty highlight: Colored eye shadow

Tanuja

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 23

Movies: : Mere Saathi (1971), Anubhav

Years:1960s - 2000

Beauty highlight: High cheek bones

Sridevi

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 24

Movies: Karma (1986), Mr. India (1987), Waqt Ki Awaz (1988), Chandni (1989)

Years:1960s till date

Beauty highlight: Exaggerated lashes

Aruna Irani

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 25

Movies: Khel Khel Mein, Angoor

Years:1960s till date

Beauty highlight: Graphic eyeliner

Parveen Babi

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 26

Movies: Deewar, Namak Halaal, Amar Akbar Anthony

Years:1970s and early 1980s

Beauty highlight: Bright lips

Jaya Bhaduri Bachchan

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 27

Movies: Chupke Chupke (1975), Mili (1975) and Sholay

Years:1970s

Beauty highlight: The sheer natural glow

Hema Malini

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 28

Movies: Dream Girl, Seeta Aur Geeta

Years:1970s and 1980s

Beauty highlight: Deep kajal lined eyes

Rekha

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 29

Movies: Khubsoorat (1980), Khoon Bhari Maang (1988) and Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (1996)

Years:1970s to date

Beauty highlight: Sultry smoky eyes with sweeping lashes

Dimple Chunnibhai Kapadia

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 30

Movies: Gardish (1993), Krantiveer (1994), Bobby

Years:1970s to date

Beauty highlight: Forever beautifully blow dried hair

Silk Smitha

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 31

Movies: Vandichakkaram

Years:1970s – 1990s

Beauty highlight: Bronzed dusky skin

Smita Patil

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 32

Movies: Bhumika, Aakrosh, Chakra

Years:1970s – 1980s

Beauty highlight: Dramatic kajal lined eyes

Shabana Azmi

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 33

Movies: Mandi, Masoom

Years:1970s-2000

Beauty highlight: Natural, soft look

Tina Ambani (nee Munim)

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 34

Movies: Fiffty Fiffty, Bewafai, Suraag

Years:1980s

Beauty highlight: Blow dried hair

Kimmi Katkar

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 35

Movies: Mera Lahoo, Dariya Dil, Gair Kanooni, Tarzan

Years:1980s and 1990s

Beauty highlight: Sultry expressive eyes

Meenakshi Sheshadri

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 36

Movies: Hero, Bewafai, Meri Jung

Years:1980s and 1990s

Beauty highlight: Healthy voluminous hair

Juhi Chawla

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 37

Movies: Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Darr

Years:1980s to date

Beauty highlight: Long curly hair

Madhuri Dixit

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 38

Movies: Tridev, Tezab, Dil To Pagal Hai

Years:1980s to date

Beauty highlight: Cheek apples when she flashes her million dollar smile

Bhagyashree

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 39

Movies: Maine Pyar Kiya, Tyagi

Years:Late 80s to date

Beauty highlight: Fresh dewy skin

Divya Bharti

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 40

Movies: Shola Aur Shabnam, Deewana

Years:Early 1990s

Beauty highlight: Flawlessly luminous complexion

Manisha Koirala

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 41

Movies: Saudagar, Khamoshi: The Musical

Years:1990s - 2000

Beauty highlight: Copper – brown lips

Kajol

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 42

Movies: Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham

Years:1990s to date

Beauty highlight: Traditional Indian eyes

Karishma Kapoor

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 43

Movies: Coolie No. 1, Gopi Kishan

Years:1990s and 2000

Beauty highlight: Pink flushed cheeks

Preity Zinta

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 44

Movies: Dil Se, Salaam Namaste

Years:1990s and 2000

Beauty highlight: Dimples that light up perfect, flawless skin

Rani Mukerji

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 45

Movies: Black, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Hum Tum

Years:1990s to date

Beauty highlight: Sultry shaded eyes

Aishwariya Rai

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 46

Movies: Devdas , Dhoom 2

Years:1990s to date

Beauty highlight: Breathtaking, stunning eyes

Sushmita Sen

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 47

Movies: Main Hoon Na, Sirf Tum

Years:1990s to date

Beauty highlight: Perfectly blow dried tresses

Vidya Balan

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 48

Movies: Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Dirty Picture

Years:1990s to date

Beauty highlight: Long lustrous locks

Priyanka Chopra

Fifty most iconic actresses over the last century - 49

Movies: Mary Kom, Fashion, Barfi, Zanjeer and many more

Years:1990s to date

Beauty highlight: Pouty lips

By makeup artist Arshis Javeri (www.arshisjaveri.com)