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Top 10 Actresses of 2007
While some believe that 2007 was a depressing year for Bollywood; we assert to the contrary. Taking a look at the graph of the year gone by, it's impossible to miss the fact that several hyped large-scale productions slipped and fell while more modest films received adulation and praise. In the same vein, 2007 was a year where many of our supposed leading actresses were shoved in the backseat as well-deserving talent was finally given a platform to prove themselves. In making this list, BollySpice has taken both performance and box office into account while giving the former more prominence.
Acting is the art of the soul — and these few have proven to be the most mastered at their craft this year.
If numbers are anything to go by, Katrina Kaif has more than just Salman Khan to smile about. We can now safely say that she has held her own and broken free from her image of "Salman's girlfriend" as she gave a notable performance this year and proved she could work wonders at the box office as well. Though she had back-to-back hits, in many of her films she had a miniscule role hence the number ten spot as opposed to a higher ranking. In Apne, Partner and Welcome she batted her eyelashes while all three worked at the box office and showed us that glamour is almost her middle name. However, it was earlier in the year in Namastey London where we finally witnessed some great potential from this stunner. She held her own against Akshay Kumar and embodied her role better than ever. In the future, we'd like to see her taking on more lead roles and exhibiting newer facets to her talent.
Prior to this year, she was written off as a B-grade actress and one whose time had come and gone ages ago. However, her stint on Celebrity Big Brother UK truly rejuvenated her career like never before. She has become a well-known face in the United Kingdom and upheld great values while representing the Indian population. On the filmy front, she gave a wonderful performance in Anurag Basu's Life in a Metro and was part of the tri-Deol hit Apne. At the same time, her musical Miss Bollywood is running to packed houses around Europe. Clearly, Shilpa has scored in each and every department this year and has taken every precaution to ensure that her name is never forgotten again. She is Shilpa Shetty — and you better remember it.
Chak De Girls
Individually, they were brilliant, but collectively they were the absolute soul of the King Khan-starrer Chak De India. In all honesty, with their natural freshness, they were better than the much-hyped debuts of both Sonam Kapoor and Deepika Padukone later this year. They're a complete mixed bag of talent, each and every one of them and it's apparent that they all have their individual styles of acting. Some of them have training, others don't, but each one was equally magnificent and we can only hope for bigger and better things in the future. The industry was desperate for new female talent, and this year we got a whole bunch from only one film. To them, we can only cheer, chak de!
Rani Mukerji
Walking into a Rani Mukerji film, you can guarantee that you won't leave dry-eyed. She has a way of crying buckets herself and making you shed a tear or two at the same time. Perhaps it's the twinkle of her enigmatic eyes, her charming smirk or powerful voice; but Rani Mukerji will always be Rani Mukerji. After a decent supporting role in Ta Ra Rum Pum, she proved her prowess as an actress once again in Laaga Chunari Mein Daag giving us a performance straight from the heart. However, it was in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya in which she really made us smile with a spunky portrayal of Gulab-ji. Box office-wise, Rani hasn't had the greatest year but that doesn't mean she hasn't done a decent job. There is no doubt that she is a show-stopping actress, but we only wish she would explore more areas of acting rather than stick to the same approach which has become extremely monotonous. She proved she could do it in Saawariya so let's hope she has another surprise tucked up her sleeve for the future. Crying or not, Rani…we likes!
Aishwarya Rai
If possible, flip back to the early pages of the year and zoom in to Mani Ratnam's Guru and you will find a superb performance from Aishwarya Rai. After an extremely long time, reactions were unanimous that Aishwarya managed to capture the authenticity of the character while providing a performance natural to the very core. In fact, one review even stated, "Watch Guru to rediscover Aishwarya Rai". Emoting with her eyes in stark silence, she showed us that not all great performances have to be loud and overbearing but can be silent and simple as well. On the international front, her first mainstream Hollywood film The Last Legion flopped in the USA but did well in other countries around the world. On the other hand, Jag Mundhra's Provoked garnered her fantastic reviews and gave her ample scope to prove herself as an actress once again. Get ready to drown yourselves in her eyes once again in the upcoming Jodhaa Akbar because it doesn't look like Rai is ready to slow down one bit.
Madhuri Dixit
Sigh…she's just too good! Perhaps it's pure nostalgia that has the everlasting Madhuri Dixit on this list, but who can seriously deny the unbelievable charm and grace she possesses? The second she began swaying her hips to 'Aaja Nachle' it felt like all was right in the world. Then when she flashed her heart-warming smile it was as if heaven had come down to Earth! Okay, granted I'm exaggerating but truly she brings back heart-warming memories of the filmy years gone by and with Aaja Nachle has proven that she still knows how to move — and more importantly, act. Though her performance was sensational, a half-baked role held her back greatly and one wishes that the film gave her more opportunity to do something completely different. Nevertheless, she brings her own charm to any role she does and this in itself is admirable. Let's hope we don't have to wait another five years to see her back on screen.
Kareena Kapoor
Kareena herself has shown us that loud and obnoxious characters are extremely easy to overplay. After several attempts, she seems to finally have gotten the art of playing this type of character right in Jab We Met. Honestly, it was hard to take your eyes off her in the film as she crawled into your heart while tickling several funny bones. She's on a fabulous roll — last year she gave us a timid character in Omkara and a sexy siren in Don and this year she tries something new once again with her inimitable charm as Geet. It's hard to believe she has come such a long way — there was a time when most people couldn't stand Kareena and hoped she would leave the industry as soon as possible. She has undoubtedly evolved into a fine actress and seems to have learned how to choose good films at the same time. I mean, mouthing ridiculous dialogues is no easy feat…and Kareena is one actress who knows this first-hand!
Vidya Balan
Till date, many filmmakers have perceived Vidya Balan to be extremely reliable because she seems to pour her heart and soul into even the smallest of roles. In Guru and Eklavya her roles were virtually special appearances, but one can never say she didn't do a good job. On the other hand, she was called the best part of the multi-starrer Salaam-e-Ishq and was almost the saving grace of the four-hour extravaganza. Her only downer of the year was a bland performance in Heyy Babyy but thankfully the film was a stupendous hit thanks to a funny storyline and good performances from the three lead actors. However, she hit back with Bhool Bhulaiyya — and hard! She managed to do in the concluding thirty minutes what most actresses can't do in an entire film and that is simply scaring the crap out of us (in a good way!). The way she transformed from a simple girl into a possessed spirit was unbelievable. For all those wondering whether she can dance or not, turn on 'Mere Dholna' from the same film and you'll be left in awe. What's so special about her is that not once does she come across as fake in the roles she takes on. Quite to the contrary, you begin to believe that such a character does exist and this achievement is nothing short of outstanding for any actress. If she's the future of Bollywood — we're safe.
Tabu
I understand this might warrant a few gasps. But this is simply because for some distorted reason, a knockout performer like Tabu has always been relegated to the back-seat when it comes to discussion about acting. This is not the only year where she has given great performances — she has done it in the past and I guarantee she will continue to do so. She's probably one of the finest talents of Indian cinema and her ability to emote through body language and expressions has to be seen to be believed. The only department in which she is lacking is dialogue delivery, which falls short once in a while. In Cheeni Kum it was hard not to love her as Nina even though she may have been paired across an actor twenty years older than her. However, where she really made her mark was in Mira Nair's The Namesake, a performance that warrants a standing ovation. It's about time that Tabu's recognized for the brilliant actress that she is.
Konkona Sen Sharma
She's unconventional in every sense. She's not our typical Bollywood beauty yet she's beautiful in her very own way. She doesn't push for lead roles yet she manages to emerge the scene-stealer in every film she's a part of. She has never fallen prey to the dancing in the fields' clich yet today she is one of our leading stars. Meet Konkona Sen Sharma — an actress that has revolutionized Indian cinema. Today, she has finally been accepted by the public as a leading actress. Her story with Irrfan Khan was the best part of Life in a Metro and the New York Times praised her over Rani Mukerji in Laaga Chunari Mein Daag. In a special appearance, she won accolades for her role as a street-walker in Madhur Bhandarkar's Traffic Signal. Just recently, she made us smile in Aaja Nachle where she managed to stand out amongst great performers like Madhuri Dixit herself. Whether the films are good or not, in any film she does you can expect a strong and meaty role coupled with a fantastic portrayal. Till date, she has never done a repetitive role in an attempt to be part of a box office hit. She does what her profession entails — she acts, and brings such passion to her work that viewers are left in absolute awe. Working in the industry on her own terms, Konkona Sen Sharma takes the cake for being the most innovative and astounding actress of the year.
Special Mentions:
Lara Dutta nearly made the list with a hilarious performance in Jhoom Barabar Joom though she was a mere glamour prop in Partner. Soha Ali Khan continued to prove her worth as an actress in Khoya Khoya Chand though there is still work to be done. Tisca Chopra deserves a round of applause for her portrayal as a heart-broken mother in Taare Zameen Par. Zohra Sehgal was loveable in both Cheeni Kum and Saawariya. Amrita Singh gave powerful performances in both Shootout at Lokhandwala and Dus Kahaniyaan. Dia Mirza and Neha Dhupia are both on their way to becoming leading actresses providing that they choose better roles and scripts that allow them to exploit their talent to the fullest. Even though she was overlooked, Neetu Chandra was outstanding in a small role in Traffic Signal. Shabana Azmi narrowly missed the list with her work in Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd., Loins of Punjab Presents and Dus Kahaniyaan. Raima Sen continues to give good performances in Eklavya, Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. and Manorama but needs to choose roles that give her more scope. After so long, Esha Deol seems to be coming into her own with Darling and Just Married. Even Amisha Patel was more than bearable this year in Bhool Bhulaiyya and Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. but needs to tackle more difficult roles. Rimi Sen showed immense improvement in Johnny Gaddaar. Don't be surprised if any of these actresses figure on our list next year!
Note: None of the female debuts of the year have been examined for this list except for the Chak De girls who were simply phenomenal. Instead, they feature in our Rising Stars list.
While some believe that 2007 was a depressing year for Bollywood; we assert to the contrary. Taking a look at the graph of the year gone by, it's impossible to miss the fact that several hyped large-scale productions slipped and fell while more modest films received adulation and praise. In the same vein, 2007 was a year where many of our supposed leading actresses were shoved in the backseat as well-deserving talent was finally given a platform to prove themselves. In making this list, BollySpice has taken both performance and box office into account while giving the former more prominence.
Acting is the art of the soul — and these few have proven to be the most mastered at their craft this year.
If numbers are anything to go by, Katrina Kaif has more than just Salman Khan to smile about. We can now safely say that she has held her own and broken free from her image of "Salman's girlfriend" as she gave a notable performance this year and proved she could work wonders at the box office as well. Though she had back-to-back hits, in many of her films she had a miniscule role hence the number ten spot as opposed to a higher ranking. In Apne, Partner and Welcome she batted her eyelashes while all three worked at the box office and showed us that glamour is almost her middle name. However, it was earlier in the year in Namastey London where we finally witnessed some great potential from this stunner. She held her own against Akshay Kumar and embodied her role better than ever. In the future, we'd like to see her taking on more lead roles and exhibiting newer facets to her talent.
Prior to this year, she was written off as a B-grade actress and one whose time had come and gone ages ago. However, her stint on Celebrity Big Brother UK truly rejuvenated her career like never before. She has become a well-known face in the United Kingdom and upheld great values while representing the Indian population. On the filmy front, she gave a wonderful performance in Anurag Basu's Life in a Metro and was part of the tri-Deol hit Apne. At the same time, her musical Miss Bollywood is running to packed houses around Europe. Clearly, Shilpa has scored in each and every department this year and has taken every precaution to ensure that her name is never forgotten again. She is Shilpa Shetty — and you better remember it.
Chak De Girls
Individually, they were brilliant, but collectively they were the absolute soul of the King Khan-starrer Chak De India. In all honesty, with their natural freshness, they were better than the much-hyped debuts of both Sonam Kapoor and Deepika Padukone later this year. They're a complete mixed bag of talent, each and every one of them and it's apparent that they all have their individual styles of acting. Some of them have training, others don't, but each one was equally magnificent and we can only hope for bigger and better things in the future. The industry was desperate for new female talent, and this year we got a whole bunch from only one film. To them, we can only cheer, chak de!
Rani Mukerji
Walking into a Rani Mukerji film, you can guarantee that you won't leave dry-eyed. She has a way of crying buckets herself and making you shed a tear or two at the same time. Perhaps it's the twinkle of her enigmatic eyes, her charming smirk or powerful voice; but Rani Mukerji will always be Rani Mukerji. After a decent supporting role in Ta Ra Rum Pum, she proved her prowess as an actress once again in Laaga Chunari Mein Daag giving us a performance straight from the heart. However, it was in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya in which she really made us smile with a spunky portrayal of Gulab-ji. Box office-wise, Rani hasn't had the greatest year but that doesn't mean she hasn't done a decent job. There is no doubt that she is a show-stopping actress, but we only wish she would explore more areas of acting rather than stick to the same approach which has become extremely monotonous. She proved she could do it in Saawariya so let's hope she has another surprise tucked up her sleeve for the future. Crying or not, Rani…we likes!
Aishwarya Rai
If possible, flip back to the early pages of the year and zoom in to Mani Ratnam's Guru and you will find a superb performance from Aishwarya Rai. After an extremely long time, reactions were unanimous that Aishwarya managed to capture the authenticity of the character while providing a performance natural to the very core. In fact, one review even stated, "Watch Guru to rediscover Aishwarya Rai". Emoting with her eyes in stark silence, she showed us that not all great performances have to be loud and overbearing but can be silent and simple as well. On the international front, her first mainstream Hollywood film The Last Legion flopped in the USA but did well in other countries around the world. On the other hand, Jag Mundhra's Provoked garnered her fantastic reviews and gave her ample scope to prove herself as an actress once again. Get ready to drown yourselves in her eyes once again in the upcoming Jodhaa Akbar because it doesn't look like Rai is ready to slow down one bit.
Madhuri Dixit
Sigh…she's just too good! Perhaps it's pure nostalgia that has the everlasting Madhuri Dixit on this list, but who can seriously deny the unbelievable charm and grace she possesses? The second she began swaying her hips to 'Aaja Nachle' it felt like all was right in the world. Then when she flashed her heart-warming smile it was as if heaven had come down to Earth! Okay, granted I'm exaggerating but truly she brings back heart-warming memories of the filmy years gone by and with Aaja Nachle has proven that she still knows how to move — and more importantly, act. Though her performance was sensational, a half-baked role held her back greatly and one wishes that the film gave her more opportunity to do something completely different. Nevertheless, she brings her own charm to any role she does and this in itself is admirable. Let's hope we don't have to wait another five years to see her back on screen.
Kareena Kapoor
Kareena herself has shown us that loud and obnoxious characters are extremely easy to overplay. After several attempts, she seems to finally have gotten the art of playing this type of character right in Jab We Met. Honestly, it was hard to take your eyes off her in the film as she crawled into your heart while tickling several funny bones. She's on a fabulous roll — last year she gave us a timid character in Omkara and a sexy siren in Don and this year she tries something new once again with her inimitable charm as Geet. It's hard to believe she has come such a long way — there was a time when most people couldn't stand Kareena and hoped she would leave the industry as soon as possible. She has undoubtedly evolved into a fine actress and seems to have learned how to choose good films at the same time. I mean, mouthing ridiculous dialogues is no easy feat…and Kareena is one actress who knows this first-hand!
Vidya Balan
Till date, many filmmakers have perceived Vidya Balan to be extremely reliable because she seems to pour her heart and soul into even the smallest of roles. In Guru and Eklavya her roles were virtually special appearances, but one can never say she didn't do a good job. On the other hand, she was called the best part of the multi-starrer Salaam-e-Ishq and was almost the saving grace of the four-hour extravaganza. Her only downer of the year was a bland performance in Heyy Babyy but thankfully the film was a stupendous hit thanks to a funny storyline and good performances from the three lead actors. However, she hit back with Bhool Bhulaiyya — and hard! She managed to do in the concluding thirty minutes what most actresses can't do in an entire film and that is simply scaring the crap out of us (in a good way!). The way she transformed from a simple girl into a possessed spirit was unbelievable. For all those wondering whether she can dance or not, turn on 'Mere Dholna' from the same film and you'll be left in awe. What's so special about her is that not once does she come across as fake in the roles she takes on. Quite to the contrary, you begin to believe that such a character does exist and this achievement is nothing short of outstanding for any actress. If she's the future of Bollywood — we're safe.
Tabu
I understand this might warrant a few gasps. But this is simply because for some distorted reason, a knockout performer like Tabu has always been relegated to the back-seat when it comes to discussion about acting. This is not the only year where she has given great performances — she has done it in the past and I guarantee she will continue to do so. She's probably one of the finest talents of Indian cinema and her ability to emote through body language and expressions has to be seen to be believed. The only department in which she is lacking is dialogue delivery, which falls short once in a while. In Cheeni Kum it was hard not to love her as Nina even though she may have been paired across an actor twenty years older than her. However, where she really made her mark was in Mira Nair's The Namesake, a performance that warrants a standing ovation. It's about time that Tabu's recognized for the brilliant actress that she is.
Konkona Sen Sharma
She's unconventional in every sense. She's not our typical Bollywood beauty yet she's beautiful in her very own way. She doesn't push for lead roles yet she manages to emerge the scene-stealer in every film she's a part of. She has never fallen prey to the dancing in the fields' clich yet today she is one of our leading stars. Meet Konkona Sen Sharma — an actress that has revolutionized Indian cinema. Today, she has finally been accepted by the public as a leading actress. Her story with Irrfan Khan was the best part of Life in a Metro and the New York Times praised her over Rani Mukerji in Laaga Chunari Mein Daag. In a special appearance, she won accolades for her role as a street-walker in Madhur Bhandarkar's Traffic Signal. Just recently, she made us smile in Aaja Nachle where she managed to stand out amongst great performers like Madhuri Dixit herself. Whether the films are good or not, in any film she does you can expect a strong and meaty role coupled with a fantastic portrayal. Till date, she has never done a repetitive role in an attempt to be part of a box office hit. She does what her profession entails — she acts, and brings such passion to her work that viewers are left in absolute awe. Working in the industry on her own terms, Konkona Sen Sharma takes the cake for being the most innovative and astounding actress of the year.
Special Mentions:
Lara Dutta nearly made the list with a hilarious performance in Jhoom Barabar Joom though she was a mere glamour prop in Partner. Soha Ali Khan continued to prove her worth as an actress in Khoya Khoya Chand though there is still work to be done. Tisca Chopra deserves a round of applause for her portrayal as a heart-broken mother in Taare Zameen Par. Zohra Sehgal was loveable in both Cheeni Kum and Saawariya. Amrita Singh gave powerful performances in both Shootout at Lokhandwala and Dus Kahaniyaan. Dia Mirza and Neha Dhupia are both on their way to becoming leading actresses providing that they choose better roles and scripts that allow them to exploit their talent to the fullest. Even though she was overlooked, Neetu Chandra was outstanding in a small role in Traffic Signal. Shabana Azmi narrowly missed the list with her work in Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd., Loins of Punjab Presents and Dus Kahaniyaan. Raima Sen continues to give good performances in Eklavya, Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. and Manorama but needs to choose roles that give her more scope. After so long, Esha Deol seems to be coming into her own with Darling and Just Married. Even Amisha Patel was more than bearable this year in Bhool Bhulaiyya and Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. but needs to tackle more difficult roles. Rimi Sen showed immense improvement in Johnny Gaddaar. Don't be surprised if any of these actresses figure on our list next year!
Note: None of the female debuts of the year have been examined for this list except for the Chak De girls who were simply phenomenal. Instead, they feature in our Rising Stars list.
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