A woman of substance. Review on Five Most Beautiful Indian Actresses

Beauty ? is it only skin deep ?

Many reviews under this topic have listed out the most beautiful women in the history of cinema. And beautiful they are ? unquestionably so. Yet, something about their beauty fails to move me, I always wondered why.

What do fascinate me are certain roles played by some of our actresses that defines them as a person. These are really few and far between. A role that portrays a woman as somebody beyond a wife, daughter, mother, sister or mistress.

More than an object of desire, A woman of substance. Here goes my list ?

1. Preity Zinta in Lakshya? She has a purpose in life and the courage of conviction. She has the guts to know that a man who doesn?t have to courage to live with his decisions will never have the guts to stand by her. Her decision is to follow her heart into the midst of battle rather than stay in a restrictive relationship. She?s true to her heart and her mind. This is one of the best roles played by our heroines in recent times.

2.Juhi Chawla in Phir bhi Dil hai Hindustani? This attractive girl brings a new meaning to the role of a zealous TV journalist fighting tooth and nail to get ahead in her profession. Using her brains and her charm to get what she wants in life. Watch her being unabashedly ambitious in the song ? I?m the best. A gem.

3.Meenakshi Sheshadri in Damini? A simple girl who wants an uncomplicated life. When she witnesses the rape of a poor maid in her in law?s house she conquers her fears to take up for what is right. It takes her her courage to stand against evil and even more to stand up to a husband and family that she is supposed to be a part of. An unforgettable performance.

4.Kajol in Baazigar ? This was Kajol?s first movie and she probably did not have the sophistication to hide the fact that she was dark or that her eyebrows met in the middle. But aatch this young detective reasoning with cold logic that even if her sister had to commit suicide she wouldn?t jump off a building. Witness the quiet determination with which she pursues her sister?s murderer - A determination that doesn?t waver even when she realizes that it?s the man she loves.

5.Nargis in Mother India? A young mother who struggles with poverty and hunger to teach pride to her children. A woman who toils in the fields and stands proud in the face of the adversity. Yes, if India ever took birth as a woman, it would be this one.

These are not roles in which the woman is being a glamour puss, slinking around in a red gown and high heels. These are not roles in which the woman is blinded by her love of a man, nor an obedient daughter bowing to the wishes of her parents. She is not a mere adornment but has a mind of her own. She is somebody to reckon with ? a true heroine.

To end, a salute to these ?

Actresses? - No. Heroines ? ? Yes.

Rosalind Franklin whose work led to the discovery of DNA.

Marie Curie who gave the world radiotherapy for cancer.

Dorothy Hodgkins, whose work on insulin paved the way for a new branch of science that would help mankind for years to come.

Indira Gandhi ? who shaped India?s destiny in its early years.

Kalpana Chawla - who dared go where no woman has gone before.

Kiran Bedi ? who brought compassion to a place like a prison

Nisha Sharma for exposing the hypocrisy of a dowry-afflicted society

My Mother ? who single-handedly raised three young children with pride and dignity.

The army women

And millions of others who rise above their backgrounds and society?s pressures in a still conservative society to achieve, lead and inspire.