The most iconic Bollywood costumes and ensembles: From Meena Kumari to Madhuri Top Ten Looks

Sridevi in and as Chandni (1989)
Outfit by Neeta Lulla

 

Madhuri Dixit in Hum Aapke Hain Kaun (1994)
Outfit by Anna Singh

 

Juhi Chawla in Hum Hain Rahi Pyare Ke (1993) 
Outfit by Neeta Lulla 

Rekha in Utsav (1984) 
Costume by Leena Daru

Mumtaz in the film Brahmachari (1968)
Outfit by Academy Award winning designer Bhanu Athiya 

Aishwarya Rai in Hum Dil de Chuke Sanam (1999)
All outfits and jewellery by Neeta Lulla 

Parveen Babi in Namak Halaal (1982) 
Outfit by Xerxes Bhathena

Meena Kumari in Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962)
Outfits by Bhanu Athiya

When it comes to Bollywood fashion, people tend to throw around the word "iconic" a little too loosely. Not everything is iconic. It has become the laziest go-to term for social media hacks - a habit that has now spilled over into print media as well. Sloppy writing at its finest.Well, at its worst really. 

These outfits, however, are genuinely memorable. One glance and you instantly know exactly which actress wore it, in which film, and often during which song. Here are just a handful of truly unforgettable looks as the leading ladies of Indian cinema. 

Manish Malhotra's Bollywood clothes... needs its own separate list. Neeta Lulla in the 90s, Bhanu's classics and the underrated Xerxes... who dazzled - literally. He was a bit too keen on the glitter and sequins. But it worked - embellishments and over the top outfits were the rage of the 70s and 80s... 

Urmila in Rangeela (1995)
All outfits by Manish Malhotra

Kareena Kapoor in Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gum (2001)
All outfits by Manish Malhotra

The iconic blue prom dress on Jaya Prada: Stylist Edit Peak 80s fashion and accessories

The iconic blue prom dress on Jaya Prada: Stylist Edit Peak 80s fashion and accessories. A look so memorable, one look and instantly ya know its from Sharaabi for that incredible song De de pyar de by the aincredible Asha Bhosle. 

Jaya Prada was 22 and Sharaabi was one of the biggest hits of 1984 - however, it was Amitabh Bachchan's towering, award-winning performance that people mostly remember. Unlike Sridevi or Rekha back then, Jaya Prada didn't get as many title or double roles to bolster her Bollywood career. She was often the perfectly lovely accessory to the leading man, she did a few memorable dances (a flawless dancer and so gracefu) but never did that many impactful films in Bollywood. Her collabs with legendary K Vishwanath were incredible, but didn't always translate to great box-office. 

Once called the most perfect face in Indian cinema - by Satyatjit Ray no less, we still think she was incredible but her full potential was rarely tapped.