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Actors and actresses are people who perform in TV drama or comedy shows, movies, radio and theatrical productions. The word actor was originally derived from a Greek word that meant “to interpret.” In early theater, all roles, including female characters, were played by male actors. A Greek performer named Thespis is widely believed to be the first person who actually took the stage with the intention of playing the part of a character to entertain.

Prior to this time, all stories had been told through the medium of singing and dancing, or in narrative form. This man’s name, Thespis, is the origin of the term thespians, a term commonly used to refer to theatrical performers.

Shakespearean plays are perhaps the most famous of the original stage productions, yet developments in both role playing and technology have brought about many changes in the last century. Performers are now famous for their work in a variety of mediums, including radio, television, film, and Broadway musicals and plays. Performers must have many different skills, including vocal projection, speaking clarity, ability to express emotional at will, an imagination, and the ability to memorize large scripts.

Voice acting has become a very popular occupation for many actors and actresses. This medium includes voice-overs for television, film, video games and computer animations. This work also covers film dubbing, radio and television, and audio books.

Those who are employed in this industry are called voice actors. Many well-known actors lend their voices for both television and movies. A voice actor likes this kind of work because it allows them the privilege of working without having to worry about makeup or costume changes.

Top actors and actresses often participate in a number of different media venues. It is not unusual for a performer to be known for their performance in a comedy or TV drama, in addition to a motion picture film drama. Some of the most successful performers today have a well rounded portfolio and receive many awards for their ability to showcase that talent. These awards include the Screen Actors Guild Award and the Academy Award.

By: Mike Selvon

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South Indian cinema comprises of the movies of many languages and many genres. South movies can be in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada or Mallu languages. South Indian actresses are considered some of the hottest ones and in some ways; they compete directly with their Bollywood counterparts both for their oomph and their acting skills. Here is a lowdown on the top 5 actresses who have ruled the cinema.

Shriya – She was one the reigning queen of Tamil and Telugu cinema. She started her career with Ishtam and went on to act in dozens of movies. Her prominent movies include Sivaji The Boss, Nuvve Nuvve and Mazhai. After a successful career she tried her luck in Bollywood but she could not get much successful there. Later she returned to her home turf, south Indian cinema and is currently doing a couple of movies there.

Nayantara – This south Indian actress is credited with starting the trend of bikini-acts in Telugu and Tamil cinema with her movie Billa. In fact she shot to fame after this movie. Her super hit flicks include Boss, Vallavan and Ghajini. She was caught in controversy when some photographs of Nayantara kissing her costar Simbu were made public.

Sneha – She is known as homely beauty of Tamil screen because of her girl-next-door looks and roles in most of the films. This south Indian actress has done in all of the languages and every possible genre. In an upcoming movie she has gone for an image makeover as she is playing a tough cop. Her hits include Inba and Pandi.

Namitha – She is the voluptuous siren who has caught the fantasy of million both in India and other countries. According to Google, Namitha was the most searched term on mobiles in 2008. Namitha Kapoor is known more for her skin show than her acting skills. Despite being endowed with an over-sized figure she has mesmerized her fans in every movie. Her craze can be assessed by the fact that her fans are keen on building a temple in her name and worship as her goddess!

Anushka – She is another buxom actress of Tamil and Telugu movies. Anushka is known for her ethnic sex appeal. She has mostly done glamorous roles but in a recent movie Arundhati she played a very challenging role. Arundhati was super hit and made Anushka one of the most sought after actresses.

Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Mallu actresses are very beautiful.

By: Vee Kumar

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Presenting the countdown of the sexiest Bollywood actresses of 2008. Women like Amisha Patel, Minissha Lamba, Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra shed a lot of weight to become slim and slender, because the producers of their films wanted the girls to be slimmer(it is another thing that films most of them starred in, had scripts slimmer than their bodies). Nevertheless, the slim and athletic look was the trend setter this year.

10. Sonal Chauhan in Jannat: The sexier version of Amrita Rao, Sonal Chauhan looked lissome, lithe and leggy in her debut film. Lucky boy Emran Hashmi however had did not get much to kiss as the sultry Sonal Chauhan played too cool to love and too hot to kiss in Jannat.

9. Mughda Godse in Fashion: Fashion had more style and less substance going for in. The tall and slender Mughda Godse vowed the audience with her sexy, traffic stopping presence. Making her debut in Bollywood, Mughda was one female who looked really comfortable in her dress and skin. And yes, we love her confidence!

8. Mallika Sherawat in Ugly aur Pagli: Mallika Sherawat was dressed(shocking!) throughout Ugly aur Pagli. She revealed her awesome contours and curves in one of the songs and that mattered more than enough to get an eyesome in the plotless stupid Ugly aur Pagli.

7. Amisha Patel in Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic: The normally voluptuous Amisha Patel shed her clothes to show off that even she has a toned midriff in Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic. Though the movie disappeared faster than Amisha Patel could say “yellow, main aa gayee”, Amisha Patel look hot enough to spend some ‘lazy lamhe’ with.

6. Minissha Lamba in Kidnap: Minissha Lamba revealed two things in Kidnap: hot cleavage and cool attitude. But both could not salvage the insipid movie Kidnap. However we were left panting for more as Minissha seduced the audiences with those skimpy outfits.

5. Shilpa Shetty in Dostana: Easily the woman with the best figure in Bollywood, Shilpa Shetty’s yoga bound sexy body looked ‘wow-some’ as she sizzled in the opening number of Dostana. All we can say is Shut up and Drool!

What about the remaining top 5? For the creamy, tantalizing top 5 sexiest actress of Bollywood 2008, go to my blog below.

By: Arunraj V.S.

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In a recent interview, Julia Roberts was questioned about whether or not it bothered her that the role she played in “Charlie Wilson’s War” signified a move out of ingenuous parts. Was she troubled that roles like Vivian Ward (her character in “Pretty Woman”) were now beyond the 41-year-old’s grasp? Hardly. Instead, she welcomed the opportunity to shed the eye-candy stereotype and demonstrate that her megawatt smile and acting chops will carry her through mid-life and beyond.

Historically, Hollywood has been notorious for creating plum roles for young actresses. As the years went buy, even promising talents seemed to drop off the radar. Today, though, Tinseltown’s writers seem to be coming around and understanding the value of casting women of a certain age. Perhaps this is because an increasing number of women are making names for themselves as producers and writers, or maybe the extraordinarily talented actresses who made it big when they were younger now have the wherewithal and power to influence the roles that are available to older actresses. Whatever the reason, it’s clear that actresses on the silver screen are aging just as gracefully – if not more so – than their male counterparts.

If you appreciate the depth and breadth of experience that extraordinarily talented actresses can bring to roles that move beyond the ingenuous, here are some DVDs that you don’t want to miss.

1. Helen Mirren – In 2007, Dame Helen Mirren won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for playing the title role in “The Queen,” which dealt with Queen Elizabeth II’s reactions to the death of Princess Diana. From the royal wave to the glimpse of humanity beneath a stoic exterior, Mirren gives us insight into events that may have taken place following Diana’s tragic accident.

Of course, this isn’t Mirren’s first royal outing. Check out the miniseries, “Elizabeth I” and the movie, “Raising Helen” for more noteworthy performances.

2. Meryl Streep – When it comes to great acting, Meryl Streep is practically in a class all her own. Her portrayal of the acerbic Miranda Priestley in 2006′s “The Devil Wears Prada,” earned her a slough of award nominations, while her performances in “Lions for Lambs” and “Rendition” are stellar. The miniseries, “Angels in America,” is another Streep must-see.

3. Judi Dench – Dame Judi Dench’s talent reverberates in every role she plays. “Notes on a Scandal” led to her latest round of award nominations, but “Mrs. Henderson Presents,” “Pride & Prejudice,” and “Shakespeare in Love” are other Dench classics you won’t want to miss.

4. Jodie Foster – We’ve literally witnessed Jodie Foster grow up in front of the cameras; though she’s only 45, she’s been acting since the age of 2. She’s nominated for a Golden Globe for her superb performance in “The Brave One,” but also gave a heart-stopping performance in “Panic Room.” Plus, her production company is always on the cutting edge when it comes to providing actresses with meaty roles.

5. Julie Christie – Her timeless performances are legendary, and her role as Fiona Anderson in “Away from Her” has earned her a Golden Globe nomination. It’s even a treat to watch her in hits like “Finding Neverland” and “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.”

There’s no doubt that Hollywood’s superstars aren’t just getting older – they’re getting better. It’s refreshing to see that Tinseltown’s movers and shakers are recognizing and embracing that fact.

By: Chris Robertson

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Bollywood, the biggest film industry in the world, with respect to the number of films released, has been fairly conservative with regards to love-making scenes or nudity. Due to the cultural upbringing and conditioning of India, sex was more or less a taboo and nudity has been something that has been kept off limits. The mindset has slowly and steadily been eroding since the 2000 and the industry has been become more liberal due to the young generation. However complete nudity is still not accepted and can take controversial proportions.

Bollywood actress and models have gone without clothes for magazines, for a movie scene or just for a lark. Sometimes, the clothes have dropped from their body in a classic case of wardrobe malfunction. For instance, Dimple Kapadia’s towel slipping act in Saagar, was perhaps the beginning of wardrobe malfunction, long before Janet Jackson’s nipple gate happened. So here are some of the controversial and rare instances where Bollywood actresses went nude for the camera:

1. Zeenat Aman was shown topless, draped in a see though flimsy saree which exposed her voluptuous charms in the movie Zeenat Aman. Raj Kapoor, the legendary director who was rumored to have a fetish of big breasts, said, “You will come to watch Zeenat’s tits but will forget about them and remember only the movie by the time you leave the theater” This was way back in the 70s when such kind of exposure was looked upon with shock.

2. Mandakini bared her breasts the 1986 film ‘Ram Teri Ganga Maili’ through a white transparent saree, as she bathed under the water fall. This movie was also a huge hit and people download and watch Mandakini’s legendary waterfall scene that created history.

3. Mamta Kulkarni went topless for Stardust in the 90s and this cover page exposure took on the shape of a big controversy. Negative publicity is always good in media and the magazine sold many copies

4. Kashmira Shah: Kashmira Shah was shown nude from behind,and a part of her breasts were shown on camera, much to her chagrin in the movie Revathi.

5. Madhu Sapre: Madhu Sapre, the model faced a lot of controversy and ire when she posed nude along with her then boyfriend Milind Soman for Tuff Shoes.

By: Arunraj V.S.

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Since I began working in the Beverage Industry, I have worked with hundreds of aspiring actresses and models. Hollywood, CA is loaded with attractive girls that are looking for work while trying to pursue their modeling and acting careers.

Promotional modeling has helped many of these aspiring models and actresses pay their bills.

Becoming a Promotional model for a major beverage company is not only fun but the pay is great. You can do promotions for a company such as Bud light or Monster Energy drink and get paid as much as $40 per hour depending on the agency you work for.

Why work with Beverage Companies that conduct Marketing Campaigns?

If you really want to make a lot of money and have steady work, then it is important that you get with a beverage company or marketing agency that are conducting marketing campaigns. Beverage Marketing campaigns will usually last all year long or they will be broken up by promotional themes.

Miller Lite and other beer companies conduct various marketing campaigns throughout the year. These are themed campaigns such as Man Law, Taste Revolution or sports related promotions. During football season which starts in May and runs until the Superbowl, Miller lite will have football themed promotions until the football season ends. That means constant work for the Miller Lite Girls.

Beverage Promotional Models are constantly working year round and they usually work a minimum of 4 hours per promotion. As a Miller Lite Girl you can work up to 5 days a week.

You do the math… If you get paid lets say $30 per hour for 4 hours, that’s $120 per promotion. If you work 5 days a week making $120 per promotion, you can bring home $600 per week.

How would you like to make over $2400 per month and have fun while doing it? Think about it… that’s working for only one beverage company and that’s year round.

How to Become a Beverage Promotional Model
To qualify as a beverage promotional model, you first need to be attractive and over the age of 18.

You must be over the age of 21 if you want to conduct Alcohol related promotions.

Major Beverage companies such as Monster Energy Drink or Miller Lite use Marketing Agencies to conduct their promotional campaigns.

3 Ways to Find Promotional Jobs
1. You can do a Google search for beverage promotional jobs or search for Brand Ambassadors.

2. You can contact the Distributor of the beverage you want to work for and ask them which marketing agency conducts their beverage promotions. Beverage Distributors can hire you directly without you needing to work for an agency.

3. You can contact the Beverage Supplier of the beverage you would like to promote and ask them who conducts their promotions.

By: Paul Boss Gage

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Let us look at how rejects of some actors made stars of others!

Pradeep Sarkar was miffed over Vidya Balan having rejected Konkona Sens’ role in Laga Chunari Mein Daag. The smart girl stuck to her role in Heyy Babby and rejected LCHD. The verdict was out: Vidya Balan had a cent percent success rate in Bollywood for 2007 with hits like Heyy Babyy and Bhool Bhulaiya . Good for her that she did not do LCMD! Now let us look at some of the career blunders, mistakes that actors and actresses of Bollywood have made. Let us look at the original choices of the hit Bollywood movies which were to star with actors who eventually walked away! Though they may say that bygones and bygones, they cannot refute the fact that these movies would have definitely made them bigger stars if not legends:

Shahrukh Khan: Rejected Lagaan and Munnabhai MBSS. Wonder how bigger he’d have risen if he had been a part of these movies. Unfortunately SRK was busy to allocate time for Lagaan and he was unsure about how the first time Raj Kumar Hirani would direct the film. Shahrukh Khan also rejected the role of flight lieutenant Ajay Rathod because he found that the role did not have sufficient depth and also because of the fact that he did not want to play second fiddle to Aamir Khan in Rang De Basanti. The role eventually went to Madhavan. Imagine how Rang De Basanti would have looked if Aamir, Shahrukh and Hrithik were in the movie! But the most commendable thing is Rang De Basanti still emerged a huge hit and a cult favorite even without star power of Hrithik and SRK.

Aamir Khan: Rejected Darr because he was conscious of the negative image and he was also denied a joint script reading with Sunny Deol. This really turned SRK’s career on the upswing as he won the confidence of the Yash Chopra camp. Movies like Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Dil Toh Paagal Hai, Mohabbatein and the ilk are the pleasant aftereffects which SRK relished.

Salman Khan: Rejected Baazigar because he thought it wouldn’t work. In a humorous dig, Salman Khan has also commented had he starred in Baazigar, he’d also have built Baazigar. Rejected Kal Ho Na Ho(which ultimately went to Saif Ali Khan). Rejected Chak De India. He wanted a high amount of money for Chak De India

Kareena Kapoor: Though she is famous, she’d have got have easily been a top bracket star. Look at the movies that she dropped out of: Kaho Na Pyaar Hai, Page 3, Kal Ho Na Ho. All these three movies were written with Kareena Kapoor in the mind but she had other priorities. Kareena Kapoor reportedly told Karan Johar in Koffee with Karan that she regretted missing out on Kal Ho Na Ho. Most of her reasons for not doing these movies were monetary.

Hrithik Roshan: He dropped out of Bunti aur Babli because he was busy with Koi Mil Gaya. He missed out on three good movies: Rang De Basanti, Dil Chahta Hai and Swades. Hrithik Roshan was to do Siddarth’s role in Rang De Basanti. But Hrithik wanted to do Aamir’s role. Rakesh Roshan on the other hand stated that Hrithik Roshan could not do the role because he was busy doing Krrish. There was another actor who walked out of the role due to creative differences. Read on to know more. Hrithik Roshan was also offered the role of Saif Ali Khan in Dil Chahta Hain which he did not do. Saif’s career skyrocketed from Dil Chahta Hai. Hrithik Roshan also could not do Swades because of date problems.

Aishwarya Rai: Aishwarya Rai was the original choice for the movie ‘Chalte Chalte’ SRK’s home production. She had even shot for some scenes. However there was always problems on sets due to intervening of Salman Khan while his then girlfriend Aishwarya Rai would work. There was an instance when Salman pursued Ash all the way to the sets and created a ruckus. SRK did not take this too politely and removed Ash from the movie. In walked Rani Mukherjee as Ash was shown the exit.

Vivek Oberoi: He walked out of Hum Tum because he thought he was worth a lot for the role The film eventually went to Saif Ali Khan. It is Viveik’s biggest career regret because Saif Ali Khan got the Filmfare best actor in a comic role and also the National Award for the Best Actor.

Twinkle Khanna: Rejected Kuch Kuch Hota Hai thinking it was a minuscule role. Though the role was small, I am sure it would been impactful than the entire set of sloppy movies the actress did in her career!

Bipasha Basu: She was the original choice for the Dhoom babe, the role which eventually went to Rimmi Sen.

Akshay Kumar: Lost out on a dream debut ‘Phool Aur Kaante’ which went to Ajay Devgan. Akshay Kumar was busy with Deedar.

Arjun Ramphal: Arjun Ramphal was given Siddarth’s role in Rang De Basanti. However he walked out of the movie because he found the creative team undisciplined. He even spoke on Koffe with Karan that he had no idea of the role. So he walked out in frustration which eventually turned to be a goldmine for Siddarth.

From the above, it is visible that two stars who benefited the most out of offers which were rejected were Shahrukh Khan and Saif Ali Khan. Both of them took the risk and profited immensely. This data is mostly of films that were released in the 90s and the current decade. Do put in your inputs and comments if you know other star rejects which worked wonder for others.
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By: Arunraj V.S.

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Blonde actresses have always been the favorite and they are considered as some of the most beautiful women in Hollywood. Their charming looks with golden locks have always captured the hearts of people, and they often have huge fan following.

Here are the names of famous blonde actresses that were known for their acting prowess:
Kate Hudson, a gorgeous blonde actress, is the daughter of Goldie Hawn. She has worked in movies like 200 Cigarettes (1999), Gossip (2000) and Dr T and the Women (2000). She has also received the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. Her stylish dress sense, great looks and acting talent has won over people all over the world.

Cameron Diaz is best known for her role in movie The Mask opposite to Jim Carrey. In addition, she has acted in other blockbusters like There’s Something About Mary and Charlie’s Angels. She is also one of the highest paid models in the US.

Reese Witherspoon has been modeling since her childhood days. So, she was not an unknown face when she started out her acting career with the movie The Man in the Moon, which released in 1991. She received the Best Actress Academy Award and Golden Globe for the film Walk the Line.

Meg Ryan captured the hearts of people with her stunning looks and blue eyes. Although she started her acting career on the television, she went on to capture the big screen when the movie When Harry Met Sally was released. After that there was no looking back.

Eva Longoria became a well known name with her role in the television series Desperate Housewives. She also acted in other serials such as The Bold and the Beautiful, General Hospital, The Young and the Restless, and Beverly Hills 90210. She has also appeared in the movies such as The Sentinel and The Heartbreak Kid.

Gwyneth Paltrow is an Oscar winning actress for the romantic comedy Shakespeare in Love. She was also featured in the thriller Seven opposite Brad Pitt.

The National Board Review awarded Renee Zellweger the Best Breakthrough Performer for the movie Jerry Maguire in the year 1996. For Love and a.45 in which she enacted the role of waitress, she got the Independent Spirit Award. For doing the crime comedy Nurse Betty, she received the Best Actress in a Comedy at the 2000 Golden Globe Awards. Once again her acting in Bridget Jones Diary (2001) won her nomination for the Golden Globe Awards. She got a second nomination for her character in the hit musical Chicago. The third time she got nominated for the Oscars for the movie Cold Mountain. For this role, she received the Best Actress in a Supporting Role in the year 2004.

Mae West, an actress with a sexy image, was also proficient in comedy roles. She used to pour her sense of humor while writing the lines for her movies which made her very famous. She was one of the highest paid American actresses during the 1930s, a feat by itself.

Marilyn Monroe, one of the most beautiful actresses of Hollywood, had unparallel grace and essence which made her popular very soon. She started her career as a pinup girl and gained popularity as superstar with her charming magnetic personality.

By: Kum Martin

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Despite the fact that Bollywood exceeds Hollywood in film output, Bollywood has a much smaller star system, which means Indian actors appear in far more films than their American counterparts-some doing as many as five movies a year. Luckily, that makes it easier for new fans to figure out who’s who. The following, while by no means comprehensive, is a rundown of the biggest and brightest female stars in the Bollywood universe.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Often called “the most beautiful woman in the world,” Aishwarya, also known as “Ash,” is a former Miss World. She appeared in Tamil-language films before making her Bollywood debut in 1999 in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, opposite Salman Khan, for which she won the Filmfare Best Actress Award. In 2002, she appeared in Devdas, which was screened at the Cannes Film Festival, and she became the first Indian actress to serve as a Cannes jury member. She went on to appear in such hits as Dhoom 2 (2006) and Jodhaa Akbar (2008). She is the first Indian actor to significantly crossover in the West, appearing in The Mistress of Spices (2005) with Dylan McDermott, The Last Legion (2007) with Colin Firth and Ben Kingsley, and Pink Panther 2 (2009) with Steve Martin. She has also garnered more high-profile publicity in the West than any other Bollywood actor, having appeared on Oprah, the Late Show with David Letterman, and 60 Minutes. Following turbulent relationships with actors Salman Khan and Vivek Oberoi, Aishwarya married into Bollywood royalty in 2007 when she wed India’s most eligible bachelor, Abhishek Bachchan, son of screen legend Amitabh Bachchan.

Kajol

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, Shahrukh Khan and Kajol-the most beloved onscreen couples of all time. And Kajol is a one-of-a-kind who needs no last name. She starred in her first film, Bekhudi, in 1992, and first appeared with Shahrukh in Baazigar in 1993. Two years later, the pair made history together in the landmark film, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. She later co-starred with actors Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Anil Kapoor, and Ajay Devgan, whom she married in 1999. Kajol appeared with Shahrukh again in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in 1998 and in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham in 2001. She then took a five-year break from acting and had a daughter in 2003. She made a successful comeback in 2006 in Fanaa, opposite Aamir Khan, and won her fourth Filmfare Best Actress Award for her performance. In 2008, she appeared in U, Me Aur Hum, her husband’s directorial debut. She will reunite with Shahrukh for the first time in nearly a decade in their highly-anticipated film, My Name is Khan, in early 2010. From the feisty tomboy of her early career to the radiant woman she is today, Kajol keeps getting better with time.

Rani Mukerji

Shahrukh Khan has said that he owes much of his success to two of his famous co-stars-Kajol and Rani (who is Kajol’s second cousin). Therefore, it’s only fitting that one of King Khan’s favorites has a first name that means “queen.” However, while Rani is a leading Bollywood actress, she’s always had a shaky claim to the top. She started in film in 1996 and had her first big hit in 1998 with Shahrukh and Kajol in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Her other successes include Saathiya (2002), Chalte Chalte (2003), Veer-Zaara (2004), Bunty Aur Babli (2005), and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006). She’s been critically praised for her exceptional performances in such films as Yuva (2004) and Black (2005), and she’s won many awards throughout her career. However, she’s had her fair share of bombs as well. The spirited, adorable actress has been romantically linked with many, but she refuses to discuss her private life.

Kareena Kapoor

Kareena, or Bebo as she’s known, comes from a storied film family. She’s the granddaughter of legendary actor Raj Kapoor and the niece of actor Rishi Kapoor. Both of her parents were actors as well, but her father didn’t believe acting was a seemly profession for women and he disapproved of Kareena and her older sister Karisma carrying on the family tradition, so her mother left him and the two girls became stars (Karisma is now retired). Kareena made her acting debut in 2000 in Refugee, alongside then-newcomer Abhishek Bachchan (who was once engaged to Karisma), which she followed up with roles in Asoka, with Shahrukh Khan, and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, opposite Hrithik Roshan-both in 2001. After a string of unremarkable films, she delivered acclaimed performances in Dev (2004) and Omkara (2006). She won a Filmfare Best Actress Award in 2007 for her role in the blockbuster Jab We Met (2007), in which she was paired with her then-boyfriend Shahid Kapoor. She’s currently dating Saif Ali Khan, her co-star in Tashan (2008).

Katrina Kaif

One of India’s top stars doesn’t even hail from India. Katrina, who has a Kashmiri father and a British mother, was born in Hong Kong and raised in Hawaii and London, where her family currently lives (she is one of eight children). She was modeling in London when she was discovered by a Bollywood filmmaker who cast her in Boom in 2003. She moved to Mumbai to pursue a film career, even though she couldn’t speak Hindi (she learned it on the fly). She had a small role in the Godfather-remake Sarkar (2005) and then appeared as the lead in Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya (2005), opposite Salman Khan, with whom she has a rocky romantic relationship. She has since appeared with Akshay Kumar in Namastey London (2007) and Singh is Kinng (2008), Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye Khanna in Race (2008), John Abraham in New York (2009), and boyfriend Salman Khan in Partner (2007) and Yuvvraaj (2008). She is the model for Mattel’s Bollywood Barbie.

Priyanka Chopra

The year 2000 was a big one for Indian beauty pageant contestants-Lara Dutta and Dia Mirza won Miss Universe and Miss Asia Pacific respectively (and both went on to become Bollywood actresses) and Priyanka won Miss World, becoming the fifth Indian ever to win the title, and it’s easy to see why-she’s the picture of perfection. She debuted in 2003, and for her performance in Aitraaz the following year, she won the Filmfare Best Villain Award (don’t you wish the Oscars had categories like that?)-and she’s only the second woman ever to win that award. She appeared with Shahrukh Khan in the hit remake of the Hindi classic Don (2006), played the ambitious starlet in the wonderful Salaam-E-Ishq (2007) opposite Salman Khan, and won the Filmfare Best Actress Award for her turn as a troubled model in Fashion (2008). She will undoubtedly win more awards for her performance as an unglamorous spitfire in her 2009 film, the edgy drama Kaminey. She has been romantically linked with her Kaminey co-star Shahid Kapoor.

Deepika Padukone

Deepika exploded on the scene in 2007 with her debut in Om Shanti Om, playing opposite Shahrukh Khan. She has since appeared in Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008) with her offscreen boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor, and Love Aaj Kal (2009), alongside Saif Ali Khan. She is one of Bollywood’s top “it” girls at the moment. Her father is a famous badminton player, and in her teens, Deepika was a tough competitor in the sport, which she abandoned for a career in modeling that then led to acting.

Bipasha Basu

One of the sexiest women in the world and unafraid to take on racy roles, Bipasha, or Bips as she’s known, has been burning up the screen since her debut in Ajnabee in 2001, playing a married woman on an adulterous mission. From Jism in 2003 (in which she appeared with her boyfriend John Abraham) to Race in 2008 (opposite Saif Ali Khan), Bipasha doesn’t flinch from getting hot and heavy with her co-stars (by Bollywood standards, that is). She’s tried her hand at sweet and innocent characters and troubled damsels in distress, but those are hard to pull off when you’re as strong and smoking as she is. She was born for roles like the one she played in Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008), that of a driven superstar who might be hurt by heartache but can’t be stopped by anything.

Preity Zinta

Preity is much like many of the characters she plays: a proud, independent woman of great warmth and depth. She made her acting debut in Dil Se (1998) and won her first Filmfare Best Actress Award for Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003), both opposite Shahrukh Khan. Her hits include Koi…Mil Gaya (2003), Salaam Namaste (2005), and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006). In 2003, she testified against the mob after receiving extortion threats-she was the only one of 13 prosecution witnesses, including other celebrities, who did not retract earlier statements, and she was commended by the public for her courage. Recently, she has ventured into art film, appearing with Amitabh Bachchan in The Last Lear, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2007. She won the Best Actress award at the 2008 Chicago International Film Festival for her role in the Canadian film, Heaven on Earth, which was based on the true story of a battered wife in Canada’s Punjabi community. When, in 2008, she purchased an ownership stake in the professional Indian cricket team, the Kings XI Punjab, she was the youngest owner (she was born in 1975) and the only female owner in the league. In 2009, she ended a four-year relationship with businessman Ness Wadia.

Vidya Balan

Vidya’s girl-next-door looks and vulnerable sweetness have made her a well-loved actress. She started out doing TV commercials and soap operas, got into film with a Bengali-language movie in 2003, and then had a strong Bollywood debut in the award-winning drama Parineeta (2005), in which she played the female lead opposite Saif Ali Khan. She followed it up with the hit comedy, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, with Sanjay Dutt, in 2006. The year 2007 was a busy one for her: she was critically praised for her performances in Guru, Salaam-E-Ishq, and Eklavya, and she appeared in two hits, Heyy Babyy and Bhool Bhulaiyaa. Her last big movie, Kismat Konnection (2008), alongside Shahid Kapoor (with whom she was romantically linked at the time), failed to do well, despite high expectations.

Madhuri Dixit

In an industry filled with talented dancers, Madhuri is a cut-above the rest-and she can act to boot. She debuted in 1984 and became a star as the lead in Tezaab in 1988. She won her first Filmfare Best Actress Award for her performance opposite Aamir Khan in the smash-hit romantic drama Dil in 1990-and many more hits and awards followed. She has danced to many of the most famous Bollywood songs ever, including “Maar Daala” from the lush drama Devdas (2002), in which she appeared with Shahrukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai. She married an Indian-American doctor in 1999 and moved to Denver, where she currently lives with her husband and two sons. After a long hiatus, the 40-something actress made a comeback in 2007 in Aaja Nachle-a mediocre film, but in it, she proved she’s still got the moves.

Shilpa Shetty

Controversy seems to follow this Bollywood beauty, often overshadowing her film career. In 2003, her parents were allegedly linked to members of organized crime. In 2007, American actor Richard Gere caused an international uproar when he kissed Shilpa at an AIDS awareness event, prompting protests and legal action because such public displays are considered obscene by many. Later in 2007, she appeared on the British reality TV show, Celebrity Big Brother, and her fellow contestant Jade Goody was accused of racism toward Shilpa and evicted from the show. (Shilpa was voted the winner.) Through it all, she’s maintained a respectable track record in film. Some of her notable pictures include her debut Baazigar (1993), with Shahrukh Khan and Kajol, Phir Milenge (2004), and Life in a…Metro (2007). In 2009, Shilpa became a part-owner of the professional Indian cricket team, the Rajasthan Royals. She once dated Akshay Kumar and is now engaged to British-Indian businessman Raj Kundra. Her younger sister Shamita Shetty is also an actress.

Sonam Kapoor

Sonam is the daughter of veteran actor Anil Kapoor. The fledgling actress has only appeared in two films so far-Saawariya (2007) and Delhi-6 (2009)-but her promising potential is already apparent. She was recently chosen as the face of cosmetic giant L’Oreal in India, replacing Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, whom Sonam has ruffled by referring to her in the press as “aunty-ji”-an Indian term of respect for one’s elders.

By: Jennifer Hopfinger

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They were the earliest stars of the silver screen. Classic movie actresses stole the hearts of movie-goers everywhere and the admiration lives on through modern times. Here are ten actresses that have made a mark on Hollywood and our hearts.

Katharine Hepburn often marched to the beat of a different drummer, and that drummer was Hepburn herself. She dared to wear pants when it wasn’t ladylike to do so, and she took on her male counterparts with an unmatched tenacity. At one time, she was labeled “box office poison,” but she bounced back with the hit film The Philadelphia Story and her career never looked back after that.

Lauren Bacall made it big after co-starring in To Have and Have Not with Humphrey Bogart. The on-screen romance eventually made its way off-screen to develop one of the most famed couplings in Hollywood history. Bacall made four movies with Bogart, and devoted much of her time to him as a wife and mother to their children.

Audrey Hepburn was not related to Katharine, but there are similarities. They both held unique accents and were quite distinguishable from other actresses. While Kate was a tomboy, Audrey was very feminine. Her impressive filmography includes Breakfast at Tiffany’s, My Fair Lady, Sabrina, and Charade.

Barbara Stanwyck defined the role of femme fatale when she played a woman who killed her husband in the film Double Indemnity. But it didn’t typecast her. She was a versatile actress with impeccable emotional depth. Stanwyck was considered gracious and agreeable on set. Her success as an actress can also be seen in Executive Suite, Forbidden, and Christmas in Connecticut.

Bette Davis was a demanding actress who knew what she wanted. The same qualities were also reflected in many of her characters. She was a force to be reckoned with, and her perseverance eventually achieved roles that later garnered two Oscars. Her must-see films include Jezebel, Dangerous, What Happened to Baby Jane? and All About Eve.

Joan Crawford is generally remembered for her dark roles, but she should be remembered for a career that tackled many a varied character. She is reported to have been very generous to her fans, though not as successful with her family. Both may have resulted from her tough work ethic. Her most famous films include Mildred Pierce, Humoresque, What Happened to Baby Jane? and Possessed.

Jean Arthur is another classic movie actress with a distinct voice. Bernadette Peters’ voice is very reminiscent of it. Arthur was a cute blond who worked often with famed director Frank Capra. She also played along some of Old Hollywood’s most famous leading men. She was paired with Cary Grant in Only Angels Have Wings, with James Stewart in the political drama, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington as well as You Can’t Take It With You, and Gary Cooper in Mr. Deeds Goes to Town.


Ginger Rogers was best known as Fred Astaire’s dancing partner. But she held her own when not paired with the top hat. She was a menacing roommate in an actress boarding house in Stage Door. And she was the bride her new husband, played by James Stewart, was embarrassed to introduce to his parents in Vivacious Lady.

Ingrid Bergman starred in one of the most celebrated films of all time, Casablanca. While many of her movies were European films, she had a nice set of films in American cinema. The other film she is known for is Alfred Hitchcock’s Notorious, a spy movie co-starring Cary Grant.

Lucille Ball is the original favorite redhead made a superstar by her starring role in the television series, I Love Lucy. Unfortunately, her film work is often underrated. She starred in four films with Bob Hope and had an impressive supporting role in Stage Door. In her pre-Lucy films, it is hard to recognize her. But that’s not a bad thing. Her acting is simply un-Lucy like and showcases Ball’s incredible ability to perform a variety of characters.

These actresses paved the way for modern women in Hollywood. Their tenacity during a time when women were not considered equal is to be remembered and respected.

By: Nathania L Johnson

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