Deepika Padukone at a friends wedding: looking stunning!

 

Aishwarya Rai in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam

 

Aishwarya Rai styled by Neeta Lulla

 

Aishwarya Rai by Rakesh Shreshta

 

Rekha with Sanjay Dutt

Rekha with Sanjay Dutt. Rekha is only five years older than Sanjay Dutt - did ya know in the 80s they asked her to be his mother in a film?!!!

Meanwhile, male actors with co-stars 40 years younger is/was/continues to be not uncommon. 

Oh Bollywood... you and your twisted logic. 

Kajol by Gautam Rajadhyaksha

 

Rekha

Rekha G by her Gautam Rajadhyaksha portrait... 
 

Bhagyashree's iconic Salwaar Kameezes in Maine Pyar Kiya

In the age of ill-fitted western designer fare in curvy Indian bodies, its refreshing to look back at young Bhagyashree's attainable, colourful, impactful, traditional with a modern twist salwaars in the blockbuster Maine Pyar Kiya. Not a hint of skin or sin, the angelic, cherub actress was covered head to toe and made an impactful film debut. For a brief time, the colours and patterns were bursting out of the college going crew, who suddenly embraced traditional fare. 

Iconic Indian Actresses: Aishwarya Rai to Zeenat Aman

 

Aishwarya Rai: how it started, how its going: Tamil cinema edition

 

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in PS1 and PS2

After giving her career best performance in PS1 and PS2, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan hasn't signed  a film till date. 

Rekha

 

Icons only: Rekha, Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi, Hema Malini

 Icons only: Rekha, Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi, Hema Malini

Shabana Azmi

 

Bhanupriya

 Telugu actress Bhanupriya 

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: L'Oreal Ad

 

Yet again voted among the most beautiful women in the world... 

Vinod Khanna and Juhi Chawla in Chandni (1989)

People forget that Juhi Chawla had a cameo in Sridevi's iconic film, Chandni (1989). 
 

Karishma Kapoor, Shahrukh Khan, Sridevi and Alia Bhatt

 A memorable moment from back in 2017 - superstar lineup... 

Abujani Sandeep Khosla: Sridevi: Goddess Most Golden

Only Sridevi could get away with it. Attending Manish Malhotra's 50th birthday party--themed gold--she wore a stunning Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla ensemble and was easily the most elegant and best-dressed diva at the event. 

Be it Shahrukh Khan or Aishwarya Rai or Madhuri Dixit, all lined up together for a picture with 'the great Sridevi.'

 

Young Aishwarya Rai's earliest catalogue modeling shots from the 90s

Young Aishwarya Rai's earliest catalogue modeling shots from the 90s

Neelam Kothari: A 14-year-old Ingenue in Bollywood

Brought up in Hong Kong, no one in her high school -- South Island School -- thought the shy and softspoken Neelam would end up being such a huge Bollywood star. 

Today the actress turns 56!

A leading lady at a painfully young age - 14, it would be criminal now! -- Neelam was an underage working star in Jawani (1984). Known for her long hair, contemporary fashion, graceful as a dancer, her career/performance highlight is probably the Hindi/Bollywood version of Overboard, the charming Ek Ladka Ek Ladki - with Salman Khan. Alas this was before Khan mania had taken over, the film tanked at the box-office despite being a warm and wonderful comedy. Neelam steals the show as a haughty-toity humbled by life on a farm. While the 1980s kept her busy, the films petered out in the 90s. 

Known for her successful pairings with Govinda (14 films) and Chunky Pandey (multiple movies), there weren't many performance-related movies in her career as she appeared in mostly commercial films in a strange decade in Hindi cinema where popular and artistic movies were clearly defined. The mindless mulch of mass cinema versus the arthouse. Despite obvious talent, Neelam never worked in serious cinema, opting for fun, frothy fare over award-winning movies. 

Neelam's top five most successful films:

Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1999) — This is her biggest box office success overall. A massive family drama ensemble with Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Karishma Kapoor, Mohnish Behl, Tabu and a host of others, it was a Blockbuster (net gross around ₹39 crore in 1999, one of the highest earners of the year). Neelam played a supporting role as one of the sisters-in-law, earning praise and a Zee Cine Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Ghar Ka Chiraag (1989) — A major hit opposite Rajesh Khanna and Chunky Pandey. It ranked among the top grossers of 1989 and is frequently cited by Neelam herself as one of her career's biggest hits. It performed strongly commercially in the late '80s landscape.

Khudgarz (1987) — One of her standout successes with Govinda. A superhit action-drama that boosted her popularity significantly during her peak phase. Neelam always danced like a dream; with a ballerina's grace and expressive face, she matched steps with her famed dancing co-star. 

Hatya (1988) — Another strong hit with Govinda. It was commercially successful and part of her string of reliable performers in the Govinda-Neelam jodi.

Love 86 (1986) — Her early breakthrough hit with Govinda (and later followed by many collaborations). It was a major success that established her as a bankable lead in romantic-action films.

Most of new gen probably remembers her for her all-too brief but cute cameo in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai - and now for the horrific but successful realty TV show, Bollywood wives or whatever that nonsense is called...