100 years of Bollywood: 10 eternal beauties from Hindi cinema

Actresses come and go but very few manage to remain immortal. Here's our pick of 10 such personalities who are still fresh in our memory thanks to their unparalleled beauty...

Madhubala
Madhubala is still considered to be an epitome of beauty. Her facial features actress not only attracted Indian directors towards her but also international directors like Bertolt Brecht. Before her premature death, she American film director Frank Capra paid a visit to her while touring India and offered a film to her which she refused. She was often compared to Marilyn Monroe who coincidentally also died at the age of 36.

Nargis Dutt
Nargis was a perfect combo of gorgeousness and talent as she would light up the screen with her mere presence. Her best onscreen pair was with Raj Kapoor with whom she was said to have had an affair. However, her best-known role was that of Radha in the Oscar-nominated Mother India (1957). In 1958, Nargis married co-star Sunil Dutt, and left the film industry. She would appear infrequently in films during the 60s.

Sadhna
Sadhna became a fashion icon because of her peculiar hairstyle. In fact, the haircut was called ‘Sadhna cut' and followed immense following. Post her retirement from the industry, Sadhna has chosen to stay away from limelight and does not allow anyone to click her pictures. Apparently, she wants her audience to remembered her as she was in young days!

Meena Kumari
Often nicknamed the Tragedy Queen, Meena Kumari garnered enormous fanfare for films like Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam and Pakeezah. Unfortunately, her life and prosperous career were marred by heavy drinking, troubled relationships, an ensuing deteriorating health and her death from liver cirrhosis at a rather young age of 39.

Sharmila Tagore
Sharmila's most prominent feature were her eyes seductive eyes. Discovered by Satyajit Ray in Apur Sansar (of the The Apu Trilogy), she went on bag the National Award for Gulzar's Mausam. Also, she was one of the first Bollywood actresses to sport a bikini on the big screen and did a fine job at that!

Hema Malini
She was called the Dream Girl for a reason. Her good looks, accented Hindi and a command in front of the camera made her click with the janta. It is said that many of her co-stars proposed marriage to her before Dharmendra eventually married. One of her beauty's causalities was the eminent actor Sanjeev Kumar.

Rekha
Makeover or no makeover, Rekha is to eternal beauty what Rekha is to eternal beauty. Even amongst today's generation of actors, it's difficult to find someone who isn't smitten by her looks and chutzpah.

Sridevi
Sridevi may have opted for nose job but she is one of smartest actresses of '80s whose longevity in Indian cinema is stuff what legends are made up of. Language has never been a barrier for her and she successfully made her fans skip their heartbeats. Her comeback in English Vinglish after a gap of 15 years only strengthens her hold.

Madhuri Dixit
The dhak-dhak girl will remain etched in the nation's consciousness for ages to come. Known for her million dollar smile, Madhuri Dixit came with looks as well as skills. After getting married, she took a sabbatical but now she's back on the small screen as reality show judge.

Aishwarya Rai
In the recent past, nobody came close to Aishwarya Rai as far as beauty is concerned. Her acting skills may be debatable but her global reach remains unquestionable. Our introduction to Hollywood in the new millennium, Ash is a mother now but is keen on making a comeback to the big screen.u00a0