[4] In the 1950s and 1960s, actresses like Nargis, Meena Kumari, Madhubala, Nutan, Vyjayanthimala, Waheeda Rehman and Asha Parekh became the symbols of grace and emotional depth in films, 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 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 actresses like Tabu and Manisha Koirala explored unconventional roles and continually reinvented themselves in the decades that followed.
As the 21st century took hold, a new surge of contemporary actresses emerged, including pageant winners like Aishwarya Rai and Priyanka Chopra, who expanded Bollywood's global reach by venturing into international projects, while others like Rani Mukerji, Kareena Kapoor, Vidya Balan, Kangana Ranaut, Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon gained popularity and pushed boundaries of career longevity for actresses.