Dancing Queens of Bollywood; A collage of Vyjanthiamala, Helen, Aasha Parekh, Sridevi, Rekha and Madhuri Dixit

Dancing Queens of Bollywood 

A collage of Vyjayanthimala, Helen, Asha Parekh, Sridevi, Rekha, and Madhuri Dixit

While I agree (mostly) with this list, a few notable names are missing — primarily Meenakshi Seshadri, Hema Malini, and Aishwarya Rai.

Hema Malini earned admiration even from Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi, and choreographers like Farah Khan and Saroj Khan. Most of her films featured at least one noteworthy classical or semi-classical number, as audiences always expected a memorable Hema Malini highlight. Her dedication to classical dances have been ongoing - even during the peak of her film career, she devoted time and effort to classical shows. It translated on the big screen too as she's been ever graceful and a benchmark to all ensuing leading ladies. No actress has been considered number one - unless the can dance like a dream. Like the original Dream Girl, Hema Malini. 

Meenakshi Seshadri was essentially a dancer first, an over actress later. In my opinion, she performed two of the most difficult dances of all time in two different films: a powerful Tandav in Damini and an exquisite classical numbers in Teri Payal Mere Geet. I’m not sure any of her contemporaries — even the great Madhuri Dixit — could have executed the title song’s dance routine with the same grace and poised perfection. The classical steps are incredibly intricate and demanding and recreating it live is... near-impossible. I'm not sure even Meenakshi can recreate the physically demanding steps and the complexities at this age - some of the back-breaking steps can only be done in  your 20s! 

As for Aishwarya Rai, if you can stand alongside Madhuri Dixit and match her step for step without being eclipsed, you’re already in a league of your own. Their duet “Dola Re Dola” remains one of the greatest choreographed semi-classical dance routines in Hindi cinema. From her very first film Iruvar to her later "item numbers", Aishwarya has consistently proven herself to be a far more versatile and accomplished dancer than an actress. Even in her weakest films, her dancing has always been impeccable. 

There are several dancers missing in the above list; dare-I-say Jaya Prada, Padmini, the ever-graceful Waheeda Rehman are all missing in the pantheon of great dancers/stars/actresses of their and all-time. 

Sridevi: Early 90s Glamour

Early 90s glamour in Bollywood - with its reigning queen, Sridevi. The makeup. The feathers. The fashion. The hair. The perm. Bollywood's always leaned into its maximalism; always of the belief more is more. Ipso facto these early 90s photoshoots, which really are spillovers from the 80s. But a tad more polished... 

Sridevi at 21, Posing for Filmfare:

Gautam Rajadhyaksha captured a young superstar, Sridevi, 21. 

More from this cover shoot in the archive here.

 

Gorgeous Sridevi on the sets of Pathar ke Insan

 

Stunning Sridevi on the sets of the (awful film) Pathar ke Insan (1990). Though Vinod Khanna had the title role, it was Sridevi's show all the way (a trend media noted often be it Mr.India, Laadla...etc

Fresh off the success of the double whammy of Chandni and Chaalbaaz that capped the 80s, Sridevi stepped into the 90s with three missteps; she tripped from her dizzying climb with three back-to-back flops that were critically beaten as well; Pathar Ke Insan, Naaka Bandi and Farishtay. All three were completely written off (although by the end of the year, it was noted that Naaka Bandi and Farishtay recuperated costs and actually made money despite dismal reviews). With Lamhe, she was the darling of the critics again and Yash Raj films got the first dibs on the vast potential of the NRI market. 

Every film and flop of Sridevi's had one or two redeeming factors, Naaka Bandi had moments of comic relief and fun songs, Pathar ke Insaan, Sridevi danced up a storm and looked like a dream, and Farishtay... well, it made money. It's show 'business' after all... 

Kamal Haasan with Sridevi in Sadma

Kamal Haasan with Sridevi in Sadma 

 

Filmfare in Hindi: Sridevi dominated the cover

 

Sridevi on the cover of Filmfare, the Hindi edition. 

Filmfare was huge in the 1980s, it was bi-monthly, ie two issue a month, not two issues a year! It had Hindi version. Middle East version... The media dominated. Today... not so much. 

The gatekeepers are no longer the behemoths and omniscient omnipotent ones they used to be. 

Anupam Kher, Amitabh Bachchan, Sridevi and film producer/director Ramesh Sippy of Ram ki Sita, Shyam ki Gita

 

Anupam Kher, Amitabh Bachchan, Sridevi and film producer/director Ramesh Sippy of Ram ki Sita, Shyam ki Gita. Alas this double/double role--Sridevi and Amitabh Bachchan x 2--case of mistaken identity and mishaps never went beyond the launch. 

What a film it could have been! Directed by Ramesh 'Sholay' Sippy no less... 

Coulda woulda shoulda... 

Archive with more info, images and even a clip in the archive here.