Decade Best Actresses

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A hard-working actress with tremendous screen presence, the decade saw Rani emerge, peak and falter.
If the early few years recognised her versatile talent in Hey! Ram and Bichhoo, box office realised her worth through hits like Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega and Chori Chori Chupke Chupke.

With her vibrant portrayal of Suhaani in Saathiya (2002), Rani came into her own creating her own niche through meaty and fiery parts in Chalte Chalte, Yuva, Hum Tum and Veer Zaara.

2005 turned out to be rather precious for the light-eyed star. Playing a severely handicapped Michelle McNally in Black won Rani huge respect and admiration as a keen actress with an eye for detail. In complete contrast, she played a plucky con-woman in Bunty Aur Babli. Even though her part in Paheli wasn't high on histrionics, Rani looked her best and portrayed her Lachchi with dazzling aesthetics.

Unfortunately, the going was not so good after that. Her fondness for soppy melodramas and refusal to get out of the Yash Raj comfort zone resulted in a series of flops like Baabul, Ta Ra Rum Pum, Laaga Chunari Mein Daag and Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic. Even though Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna made its money, Rani earned flak for her soulless performance.

2009's Dil Bole Hadippa, in which she plays a girl parading as a Sardar boy for the love of cricket, was expected to change things for the better but did not. Nonetheless, the decade ended on an optimistic note as her gutsy portrayal of an investigative journalist in 2011's No One ****ed Jessica generated major buzz.

Image: Rani Mukerji

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It all started out Preity perfect. Right from the onset, Preity Zinta signed up to play author-backed roles in films like Kya Kehna and Chori Chori Chupke Chupke. Her trademark effervescence won her a huge fan-following while her care-a-damn attitude made her a darling of the press.
Although 2001's Dil Chahta Hai was mostly about male bonding, PZ stood out with her radiance and effortless simplicity.

Despite the hideous wig and Armaan's calamitous collections, the perky star earned brownie points for her spiffy portrayal of an obsessive, spoilt brat. Also, she more than made up for that flop with two of the greatest hits of her career --Kal Ho Naa Ho and Koi... Mil Gaya (2003).

After sporting sport hairstyles that every girl wanted to copy, PZ sported a clumsy wig to play a no-nonsense TV journalist in Farhan Akhtar's Lakshya (2004). Despite a spirited performance, the film wasn't the success one had hoped it to be. Again, she made it up with her classic act in Veer-Zaara and slick city girl in Salaam Namaste and their collective bumper box office.

Post-KANK, however, things have not looked too bright for the cheerful star. Apart from owning Kings XI Punjab at the Indian Premier League, Preity hasn't done anything since indies like The Last Lear and her not-so-happening item song in Main Aur Mrs Khanna.

Image: Preity Zinta

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To think she began the year with so many possibilities. Tabu's compelling work in women-oriented dramas like Astitva (2000) and Chandni Bar (2001) not only reaffirmed her status as one of the best actresses of her generation but fetched her awards too.

That she had to spoil the picture by signing on tripe like Maa Tujhe Salaam, Hawa and Jaal: The Trap is another matter.
Things looked up with the arrival of Meenaxi and Maqbool. While M F Husain's whimsical musical was predictably a short-lived box office story, Vishal Bhardwaj's retelling of Shakespeare's Macbeth showcased the Tabu we admire and adore.
Shrugging the acclaim, the actress again went into a hibernation to resurface in bit roles of commercial fare like Fanaa and Hera Pheri. All was soon forgotten after one viewing of her intricate and beautiful performance in Mira Nair's The Namesake.

And even though R Balki's Cheeni Kum was mostly a Amitabh Bachchan vehicle, it allowed Tabu the opportunity to not shoulder an entire film and just keep it all impish and charming.
The decade ended with a super bland Toh Baat Pakki making her fans wonder why she takes such long breaks if she's planning to be this indifferent in her movie choices.

Image: Tabu

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Not every star wants to play the bad girl in her debut. But the supermodel-turned-actress is quite a sport like that. Her Ajnabee (2001) is a prime example.
But it was her stuck-to-her-guns wifey in Vikram Bhatt's ghost fest, Raaz (2002) that brought her to everyone's notice considering the film was a huge hit and Bips walked away with all the credit.

A few blah films followed until Pooja Bhatt's Jism (2003) further cemented her ***-symbol-with-a-spunk image. A tad complacent about her career, Bipasha put on oodles of weight, which the indiscriminating camera was only too willing to capture. Undeterred by the unending row of flops and flak, she hit the gym with a plan. A plan to succeed. Her seductive romp in No Entry (2005) stole a march over the other female stars of the comedy and she was back in the game.

2006 was a turning point. On one hand, she emerged as a strong performer with Corporate, on the other she sizzled the screen with her bronzed bikini body in Dhoom 2 as well her electrifying dance number, Beedi in Omkara.
The good run continued with hits like Race and Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008). By the end of the decade, Bipasha refused to be tied down by her glamorous image and displayed an eagerness to keep it real through films like Lamhaa and Aakrosh.

Image: Bipasha Basu

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She rocked the 1990s with her pep and show while taking the Bollywood fashion scene by storm. A trendsetter by all means, Urmila Matondkar entered the '00s with the intention of breaking ground. And for a while, she did just that.
In mentor Ram Gopal Varma's Jungle, she scored a hit and followed it up with a fiercely glamorous albeit twisted character in Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya. Her bob hair and intense acting both earned thumbs up.

Although there was nothing remarkable about her role in 2002's Deewangee, it's always good to be a part of a hit. While her performance in 2003's partition drama Pinjar and spooky thriller Bhoot were on the impressive side, only the latter hit box office bull's eye.

The trend was more or less with most of her subsequent films. Despite a noteworthy performance and unique storyline, none of them Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Maara, Naina, Ek Hasina Thi, Tehzeeb, Bas Ek Pal, Banaras -- worked at the box office.
Her efforts to do a Simi Garewal in a dreadful remake of Subhash Ghai's Karz or recreate the oomph of Helen in Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag's Meh****a, too, fetched her more brickbats than bouquets.

Image: Urmila Matondkar