Top 25 Bollywood Sex Symbols of All Time: The Women

Mumbai (formerly Bombay) is the heart of the world's largest film industry, Bollywood. The South Asian answer to Hollywood cranks out larger than life legends, setting the silver screen on fire with their sex appeal. Bollywood's sex symbols have been creating steam across India and worldwide for about five decades and their sex appeal isn't all about showing cleavage or great butts. As we all know there is more to sex appeal than the physical attributes one has. This list consists of the female icons of Bollywood, who have impacted the history and changed the future of Bollywood. Ladies and Gentlemen, DesiClub brings you our top 25 Bollywood Sex Symbols of all time: Bollywood Beauties. Sit back and enjoy, because it's going to be a hot one!

25. Suchitra Sen: Patna born Roma (April 6, 1931), better known as Suchitra Sen, began her career in Kolkata with Bengali films before heading into Bollywood. Known for her mesmerizing beauty, she remained one of Bollywood's leading ladies for a twenty year span. Her first Hindi film was Bimal Roy's "Devdas" (1955), as Paro, (redone by Aishwarya Rai in 2002), alongside Dilip Kumar and Vyjayantimala. Throughout her career, she chose roles reflecting archetypical tragic Indian heroines, suffering for love. She's acted in critically acclaimed films "Mamta" (1966) and "Aandhi" (1975), which still stand the test of time. In "Aandhi", Suchitra depicted a powerful politician, who's marriage ended because her husband (actor Sanjeev Kumar) opposed her career. The film was banned for a small period, because it mirrored the life of former Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi.
Why She's Sexy: Suchitra is sexy because she emotes several emotions within each screen shot without uttering a word. Women copied her hair style, clothes and the way she carried herself throughout India. According to an "India Daily" magazine pole of the "Top three legendary beauties of Bollywood", Suchitra Sen placed within the top three.

Her Impact on Bollywood: Many of her Bengali films where redone in Hindi, acted out by Jaya Bhaduri and Waheeda Rehman.
Interesting Fact: She shares the same facial features as Bollywood Diva Madhuri Dixit, if you compare their pictures, you can see for yourself.



25. Suchitra Sen: Patna born Roma (April 6, 1931), better known as Suchitra Sen, began her career in Kolkata with Bengali films before heading into Bollywood. Known for her mesmerizing beauty, she remained one of Bollywood's leading ladies for a twenty year span. Her first Hindi film was Bimal Roy's "Devdas" (1955), as Paro, (redone by Aishwarya Rai in 2002), alongside Dilip Kumar and Vyjayantimala. Throughout her career, she chose roles reflecting archetypical tragic Indian heroines, suffering for love. She's acted in critically acclaimed films "Mamta" (1966) and "Aandhi" (1975), which still stand the test of time. In "Aandhi", Suchitra depicted a powerful politician, who's marriage ended because her husband (actor Sanjeev Kumar) opposed her career. The film was banned for a small period, because it mirrored the life of former Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi.
Why She's Sexy: Suchitra is sexy because she emotes several emotions within each screen shot without uttering a word. Women copied her hair style, clothes and the way she carried herself throughout India. According to an "India Daily" magazine pole of the "Top three legendary beauties of Bollywood", Suchitra Sen placed within the top three.

Her Impact on Bollywood: Many of her Bengali films where redone in Hindi, acted out by Jaya Bhaduri and Waheeda Rehman.
Interesting Fact: She shares the same facial features as Bollywood Diva Madhuri Dixit, if you compare their pictures, you can see for yourself.



24. Jaya Bhaduri: Kolkata born Jaya Bhaduri (April 9, 1948) is the daughter of famous Bengali writer, Tarun Bhaduri. Her filmography consists of classic Bollywood films, which she's won numerous Filmfare awards for outstanding performances. She married mega star Amitabh Bachchan on June 3, 1973 and often shared the screen with him. Jaya's career is based on her natural acting ability, not on dancing, which is quite an achievement considering the industry is filled with dance queens.
Why She's Sexy: Jaya is sexy because she represents a non-glamorous version of Bollywood. She emotes quiet strength and sophistication, giving her a strong screen presence. One of her most memorable screen moments is in the cult classic "Sholay" (1975), as Radha. She and Jai (Amitabh) share amazing on screen chemistry while she watches him play the harmonica as she turns out lamps. This scene is filled with intensity, which is what she is most known for.
Her Impact on Bollywood: Jaya's career as a lead actress continues long after her marriage to Amitabh Bachchan. She's been recognized countless times for her work and has produced several television shows.
Interesting Fact: Here's a quote from Jaya when asked about acting alongside her husband: "I will not play second fiddle to him. I never have. Not in reel life and never in real life." Jaya is second fiddle to no one, which is why she continues her amazing acting career.



23. Mumtaz: Mumbai born Mumtaz (July 31, 1947) is known for oozing oomph. She is a Bollywood Diva because she dances, pouts, looks ultra sexy and speaks Hindi fluently. She started out doing supporting roles, which slowly progressed her towards being one of Bollywood's leading ladies. In a span of six months, she acted alongside romance king Rajesh Khanna in "Do Raaste" (1969), "Bandhan", (1969) "Sachcha Jhoothaa" (1969), which were all super hits. In 1970 she won her first Filmfare Award in "Khilona", with Sanjeev Kumar, giving her long awaited acting creditability.
Why She's Sexy: Mumtaz is sexy for her signature skin tight salwar-kameez' and her navel baring sarees. She oozes sex appeal, especially when she dances. She set the trend for current actresses who are told to dance like her. Her trademark song "Bindiya Chamkegi" in Do Raaste (1969), is remixed by numerous DJs and is currently recreated by Gunjan.
Her Impact on Bollywood: In 1996, Mumtaz won Filmfare's Lifetime Achievement Award for her impact on Bollywood's film industry.
Interesting Fact: She's acted in over one hundred films in a span of twelve years, which equals to nearly 44 films per year!


22. Vyjayantimala: Chennai born Vyjayantimala (August 13, 1936) was the first South Indian actress to dominate Bollywood's film industry and she did it for a span of twenty years. Because of her, aspiring Bollywood actresses are required to become accomplished dancers. Trained in Classical Indian dance, she brought a sense of class to Bollywood's song and dance numbers. Her 1954 mega hit "Nagin" had eight jaw dropping solo dance sequences, which she performed in one take. Aside from being a legendary dancer, she's won numerous Filmfare Awards throughout her lengthy career.
Why She's Sexy: Vyjayantimala is sexy because she ignites the screen with classically trained dance moves and her facial expressions. Her training in Manipuri dance shows even in spoken scenes because it is known as India's most expressive dance style. As a viewer, you feel every emotion she emanates.
Her Impact on Bollywood: She's a role model for many South Indian actresses like Hema Malini and Aishwarya Rai, who went on to dominate Bollywood's film industry.
Interesting Fact: In Bimal Roy's "Devdas", Vyjayantimala won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress as Chandramukhi, which Madhuri Dixit played in 2002. She refused the award and demanded the Filmfare committee only consider her in the Best Actress category and not as a Supporting Actress. Ever since, she was always nominated for the Best Actress Award and nothing less.



21. Karisma Kapoor: Mumbai born Karisma (June 25, 1975) comes from Bollywood royalty, she's the great granddaughter of actor Prithvi Raj Kapoor and Raj Kapoor's grand daughter. Lolo (called by her friends and family), is the first woman from the Kapoor clan to enter the film industry. Her parents Babita and Randir Kapoor were also famous Bollywood actors. Acting is in her blood stream but her film career took off with a rocky start in "Prem Qaidi" (1991). She was criticized for working with Govinda and for her masculine looks. After five long years, she became a genuine sex symbol in "Raja Hindustani" (1996), with the help of Bollywood fashion guru Manish Malhotra, who gave her an extreme make over. He gave her brown lenses, straightened and colored her hair and gave her softer makeup. Her new look gave her the confidence and the creditability as a Bollywood starlet, going on to win countless Filmfare Awards.
Why She's Sexy: Karisma is sexy because of her signature song "Sexy, Sexy, Sexy, Mujhe Log Bolain" from Khuddar (1994), if you've seen that you'll get the point.
Her Impact on Bollywood: She inspired younger sister Kareena to enter the film industry. After all, it is the family business.
Interesting Fact: Karisma dated Ajay Devgan, which is why she and Kajol had differences.



20. Shilpa Shetty: From Tamil Nadu, Shilpa Shetty (June 8, 1975) journeyed to Mumbai, in hopes of a successful acting career in a predominately Punjabi dominated industry. Her big break was "Baazigar" (1993), with new comers Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. In the film, she was thrown off a building in the first hour. Her character may have died, but it did not kill her acting career. She is going on twelve years strong now. Before entering the film industry, she spent six years as a Bharat Natyam dancer, which explains her amazing dance moves.
Why She's Sexy: She is sexy because she's 5'10", an ex-model and has an amazing body, which most women spend hours at the gym to obtain. She is also hotter than most South Indian food!
Her Impact on Bollywood: She proved herself as an actress and held her own alongside some of Bollywood's major players.
Interesting Fact: She has a younger sister named Sharmita, also an actress, who she still fights with if she tries to borrow her clothes.

19. Kareena Kapoor: Mumbai born Kareena Kapoor (September 21, 1980), (aka Bebo) is Karisma Kapoor's younger sister. Her debut film "Refugee" (2000), with Abhishek Bachchan gave her a promising start as an actress. Her debut gave her creditability because she didn't portray a diva, instead she played a 17 year old Pakistani girl who wore traditional clothes. Her major films are "Asoka" (2001) with Shah Rukh Khan, "Ajnabee" (2001) with Bipasha Basu, Bobby Deol and Akshay Kumar and "Chameli" with Rahul Bose (2003). Recently, Kareena starred in 2004's sleeper hit "Hulchul", with Akshaye Khanna. In "Bewafa", (2005) she gives an amazing performance as the role of a younger sister, who agrees to marry her dead sister's husband, when her ex-boyfriend reenters her life and wants her back.
Why She's Sexy: She is sexy because she is 5'5", with Hazel eyes and has access to the Manish Malhotra makeover. She also shared an on-screen kiss with her current boyfriend Shaheed Kapoor, rivaling her sister's on-screen kiss with Aamir Khan in "Raja Hindustani" (1996).
Her Impact on Bollywood: She's growing as an actress by choosing the right films and critics are noticing her. She's a huge fan of Sridevi and hopes to mirror her acting style. She also uses her acting talent to inspire young girls to be like her.
Interesting Fact: India's censor board delayed the release of "Khushi" (2003), because of its numerous scenes showing Kareena's navel and stomach.