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.
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. During the 'Golden Age' (late 1940sâÂÂ1960s), 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 BollywoodâÂÂs global reach, while others like Rani Mukerji, Kareena Kapoor, Vidya Balan and Deepika Padukone continue to push the boundaries of career longevity for actresses and have helped popularize women-led commercial films. Alongside them, Kangana Ranaut has carved a distinct path by spearheading female-led films without reliance on major male co-stars, often anchoring projects on her own and reinforcing the viability of solo-led narratives in mainstream cinema. recently, stars like Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon have emerged as prominent stars of their generation with mainstream success. The advent of streaming has further democratized storytelling, allowing actresses of all ages, ethnicity, and backgrounds to experiment with diverse roles and receive critical acclaim.
The following are some of the most renowned actresses and the decades when they were most recognized.