Given below is a list of all the notable actresses, who have starred in Hindi cinema, the Hindi language film industry now known as Bollywood, based primarily in Mumbai. Many actresses have had careers spanning multiple decades, often becoming closely associated with specific periods during which their influence and popularity peaked.[4]
In early Indian cinema, men often played female roles because acting was considered taboo for women. In 1913, Durgabai Kamat and her 4-year-old daughter, Kamlabai Gokhale, were the first female actors to appear in a full-length feature Indian film. During the 1920s, many women from Anglo-Indian and Jewish backgrounds began working in silent films, adopting screen names like Sulochana and Sudhabala, which helped pave the way for pioneers like Durga Khote and Devika Rani to build successful careers. Simultaneously, the gradual transition to talkie films made vocal ability a desirable skill among actors, which led to the rise of many singing stars like Kajjanbai, Khursheed Bano, Suraiya and Noor Jehan, with many later migrating to Pakistani cinema after the partition of India in 1947.[1] During the 'Golden Age' (late 1940s–1960s), the rise and integration of playback singing and dance brought more emphasis on nuanced performances, bringing forth artists like Nargis, Meena Kumari, Madhubala, Nutan, Geeta Bali, Vyjayanthimala, Asha Parekh and Waheeda Rehman. By the 1970s, Hindi cinema had evolved to color films and bona fide stars like Sharmila Tagore, Hema Malini, Jaya Bhaduri, Rekha, Parveen Babi, and Zeenat Aman dominated the silver screen, each embodying distinct traditional and modern archetypes. The 1980s saw Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil emerge as leading figures of 'Parallel Cinema' for their strong and realistic portrayals, in contrast to contemporary stars such as Sridevi, Jaya Prada, Dimple Kapadia and Meenakshi Sheshadri. The 1990s witnessed a diverse group of actresses, including Madhuri Dixit, Juhi Chawla, Kajol, Karisma Kapoor, Tabu, and Manisha Koirala, who captivated audiences with their charm while also embracing more unconventional roles at times.
Since the early 2000s, pageant winners turned actresses like Aishwarya Rai and Priyanka Chopra have broadened Bollywood's global reach, while Rani Mukerji, Kareena Kapoor, Vidya Balan, Kangana Ranaut, and Deepika Padukone have each carved a niche for themselves, whether it’s emphasizing women-led cinema, extending career longevity, or advocating for better work conditions for female artists.[13][16] More recently, actresses like Alia Bhatt, Kriti Sanon, Yami Gautam, Sanya Malhotra and Tripti Dimri have achieved both artistic recognition and popularity.[17] The advent of streaming has further democratized storytelling, enabling actresses of all backgrounds to experiment with diverse roles and gain critical acclaim.[18]
The following are some of the most renowned actresses and the decades when they were most recognized.[19][20][21][22]
1920s
edit| Year | Name | Debut film |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | Patience Cooper | Damayanti |
| 1922 | Fatma Begum | Veer Abhimanyu |
| Ermeline | Bhishma Pitamah | |
| Sultana | Veer Abhimanyu | |
| 1923 | Zubeida | Kohinoor |
| 1925 | Seeta Devi | Prem Sanyas |
| Ruby Myers | Cinema Ki Rani | |
| 1926 | Gohar Mamajiwala | Baap Kamai |
| Indira Devi | Jaydev | |
| 1928 | Mehtab | Second Wife |
1930s
edit| Year | Name | Debut film |
|---|---|---|
| 1930 | Sabita Devi | Kamaner Aagun |
| 1931 | Durga Khote | Farebi Jaal |
| Esther Victoria Abraham | Toofani Tiruni | |
| Kajjanbai | Shirin Farhad | |
| Khursheed Bano | Eye for an eye | |
| 1932 | Firoza Begum | Bewafa Qatil |
| Lalita Pawar | Kailash | |
| 1933 | Sardar Akhtar | Id Ka Chand |
| Bibbo | Rangila Rajput | |
| Devika Rani | Karma | |
| Rattan Bai | Yahudi Ki Ladki | |
| Umasashi | Puran Bhagat | |
| 1934 | Shanta Apte | Amrit Manthan |
| 1935 | Fearless Nadia | Hunterwali |
| Shobhna Samarth | Nigahe Nafrat | |
| Jaddanbai | Talashe Haq | |
| Leela Chitnis | Shri Satyanarayan | |
| Naseem Banu | Khoon Ka Khoon | |
| 1936 | Jamuna Barua | Das |
| 1937 | Kanan Devi | Vidyapati |
| Mohini | Devdas | |
| T. R. Rajakumari | ||
| Leela Desai | President | |
| 1938 | Sitara Devi | Watan |
| 1939 | Begum Khurshid Mirza | Bhakti |
| Ramola Devi | Dil Hi To Hai |
1940s
edit1950s
edit1960s
edit1970s
edit1980s
edit1990s
edit2000s
edit2010s
edit2020s
editSee also
editReferences
edit- 1 2 "Pioneering International Actresses – the First Women of Indian Cinema". 20 March 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
- ↑ "India's first female superstar didn't know Hindi". DNA India. 8 March 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ↑ "Devika Rani, the first lady of Indian cinema". www.mediaindia.eu. 24 September 2020.
- 1 2 "Top heroines of Bollywood". India Today. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- ↑ "Top Actresses". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 4 January 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ↑ https://www.filmfare.com/features/remembering-madhubalas-best-roles-32527.html
- ↑ https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/anniversary/madhubala-the-venus-of-indian-cinema/
- ↑ "The original female superstar: How Vyjanthimala danced into Bollywood". www.dailyo.in. 13 August 2019.
- ↑ "The stardom of Hema Malini". India Today.
- ↑ "Sridevi Bollywood leading lady of 80s". Billboard.
- ↑ "This 90s top actress got married at the peak of her career, moved abroad, took a break from films, even turned down Hollywood offers". India.com.
- ↑ "Top Actress 2000-2009". Box Office India.
- 1 2 Verma, Sukanya (5 January 2011). "How The Decade Has Treated These Actresses". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 20 June 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
- ↑ "From court to Cannes: The rise and rise of Deepika Padukone". The Express Tribune. 28 May 2022.
- ↑ "Alia Bhatt surpasses Deepika Padukone". The Times of India.
- ↑ "Kangana Ranaut: The 'outsider' who rules Bollywood". www.forbesindia.com. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
- ↑ Sharma, Aishwarya (24 August 2023). "Alia Bhatt bags National Film Award for Gangubai Kathiawadi". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
- ↑ "Opportunity strikes: More women behind Bollywood's cameras". The Christian Science Monitor. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ↑ "50 Most Beautiful Indian Faces". iDiva. 9 March 2012. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
- ↑ "Top Actresses Of All Time". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ↑ "Powerlist: Top Bollywood Actresses". Rediff.com. 29 November 2009. Archived from the original on 9 March 2007. Retrieved 13 March 2007.
- ↑ Sen, Raja (6 March 2007). "Bollywood's best actresses. Ever". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 9 March 2007. Retrieved 13 March 2007.
