This began to change in the 1920s, when women from more liberal backgrounds, such as Anglo-Indian and Jewish communities, joined the industry, often adopting Indian stage names such as Sulochana, Sudhabala and Seeta Devi.
In the 1950s, actresses like Nargis, Meena Kumari, Madhubala and Nutan, became the symbols of grace and emotional depth onscreen, followed by Vyjayanthimala, Waheeda Rehman and Asha Parekh in the 1960s, as cinema gradually transitioned from black-and-white to color.
The 1970s ushered in a new era, with actresses like Sharmila Tagore, Hema Malini, Jaya Bhaduri and Rekha playing diverse roles in both traditional and modern narratives, while glamour heroines like Parveen Babi and Zeenat Aman brought a new dimension onscreen.
The 1980s saw Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil deliver strong performances in films that led the wave of "parallel cinema," in contrast to the rise of mainstream stars like Sridevi, Jaya Prada, Dimple Kapadia, and many others.
The 1990s, marked by economic liberalisation, witnessed Madhuri Dixit, Juhi Chawla and Kajol dominating the industry with their versatility, charm, and dancing skills, while Tabu and Manisha Koirala explored unconventional roles and continually reinvented themselves in the decades that followed.