March 8 is International Women's Day and we list out 15 Indian women who have beaten time with their stunning looks and elegance. Even today, they don't fail to impress us with their timeless beauty and persona.
Rekha
The original 'Umrao Jaan' of Bollywood, Rekha wins hands down when it comes to timeless beauties. There might not be a list where she isn't featured in this category. Even today at 58, she manages to capture hearts with the same elan as she did in the '80s with films like Khubsoorat and Silsila. Her grooves on Kaisi paheli hai in Parineeta was the highlight of the film.
Hema Malini
'Dream Girl' Hema Malini just gets better with age. She has donned the role of a mother, dancer, producer and politician with equal feat as the role of an actress. One of the most successful actresses of Indian cinema, Hema's eternal beauty has floored many from the '60s, and still continues to charm onlookers.
Sridevi
Touted the 'first female superstar' of Bollywood, Sridevi has proved time and again that she is a rare mix of talent and beauty. Her recent comeback film English Vinglish won her awards and accolades from the masses and classes. Even at 49, she manages to turn many heads at award functions and fashion shows with her lovely figure and panache.
Helen
A movie was hit if it had a Helen dance number in it. Such was the magic of her charm and sex appeal. Girls tried hard to ape her and men couldn't take their eyes off her. Certain actresses tried to recreate her magic by dancing on songs like Mehbooba o mehbooba, Yeh mera dil in their films but none could get close to what Helen did.
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Sharmila Tagore
The first Indian actress ever to don a bikini in a film, Sharmila broke many stereotypical moulds with her performances and set the trend for others follow in her films. Those fish-like Bengali eyes are breathtaking even today. She has aged gracefully over the years and is still a symbol of elegance at 68.
Zeenat Aman
One of the first sex symbols of Indian cinema, Zeenat brought a western look to her onscreen characters which became a rage in the '70s. Her iconic performances in Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Don, Hare Rama Hare Krishna and many others are talked about till today.
Jaya Bachchan
Jaya perfected the girl-next-door role since her effortless portrayal of a schoolgirl in Guddi. Her later films further cemented this image and she became a household favourite. After a long hiatus, Jaya took on motherly roles in Kabhi khushi kabhi gham, Kal ho na ho etc where her performances were much appreciated. She may not be the best-looking actresses but her charm reels even today.
Tina Ambani
Making her mark in Bollywood in the '70s and '80s, Tina later decided to devote her time to philanthropic work. Even after having 2 kids and being involved actively with her NGO, school and hospital, Tina still manages to look radiant. Married to business tycoon Anil Ambani, Tina recently attended the Oscars and looked beautiful in an ethnic white ensemble.
Saira Banu
Married to legendary actor Dilip Kumar, Saira made her Bollywood debut at the young age of 16. One of her most popular films, Junglee won her an award nomination for the best actress. During her prime, she was known for her gorgeous looks and ethereal beauty. Even now, at 68, she doesn't fail to impress.
Neetu Kapoor
Neetu gave many Bollywood hits as a leading lady and was known for her bubbly onscreen characters. Her most memorable films are Yaadon ki baraat, Raffoo chakkar, Amar Akbar Anthony and various others. She made a comeback after 26 years and starred in films like Love aajkal, Do dooni chaar and the recent Jab tak hai jaan. Even today, she can carry off any attire and is an epitome of grace.
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Waheeda Rehman
She belongs to the 'goldern era' of Indian cinema which gave us classics like Pyaasa, Kaagaz ke phool, Sahib biwi aur ghulam and many others. Her mentor Guru Dutt cased her as his leading lady in many of his films. She was one of the few actresses with extraordinary grace, ample talent and inherent beauty. Even today, all these qualities can be seen in whichever roles she plays.
Shabana Azmi
One of the most versatile actresses Bollywood has witnessed, Shabana portrays every role she takes up with perfect lan and dedication. Be it going bald or learning classical music, she puts in a lot of effort to get into the skin of her character and wows her with her acting prowess all the time. Even now, her sense of style is offbeat which makes her stand out in a crowd of perfectly made-up celebrities.
Nafisa Ali
She won the 'Miss India' title in 1976 and charmed us with her performance in Life...in a metro. Though she is 56, she still looks desirable and carries the salt-and-pepper look with much elegance. Nafisa's moving portrayal of a mother of a quadriplegic who appeals for mercy killing in Guzaarish won her a lot of appreciation from the audience and industry alike.
Dimple Kapadia
She stole our hearts with her debut performance in Bobby, she was only 16 that time; then she shocked the world by getting married to Rajesh Khanna, 15 years her senior. But after her separation from him, she became one of the leading actresses of the '80s. Her looks were mesmerising. Her later performances in Dil chahta hai, Being Cyrus and Cocktail were exemplary telling us that she's still as talented and beautiful.
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Sarika
She started as a child actor and later played roles of a western girl in many movies in the '80s. After her marriage to Kamal Hassan, she gave up her career when it was at its peak and moved to Chennai. But she later returned to movies again. Even at 50, her beauty is enthralling and you can't take your eyes off her. Her performance in Parzania won her a National Award for best actress.
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