Anjum Bin Anam –
During the 1970s, there was a trend towards more bold and westernized styles in Bollywood, thanks in part to actresses like Zeenat Aman and Parveen Babi who paved the way for this shift. While Bollywood remained rooted in tradition at this time, there was a marked shift towards more contemporary styles, particularly in the way actresses styled their hair, makeup, and sarees. This is evident in the appearance of actress Hema Malini, whose iconic style exemplified this movement toward modernity.
Hema Malini, also known by her birth name Hema Malini Ramanujam Chakravarthy, was a highly popular and influential actress in Bollywood during the 1970s. Dubbed the “Dream Girl” of the decade, she made her acting debut in the film Sapnon Ka Saudagar and went on to star in several successful and memorable films, including Sholay, Seeta Aur Geeta, Dream Girl, and Naseeb. Malini’s on-screen chemistry with her husband, actor Dharmendra, was particularly popular with audiences. Her portrayal of the character Basanti in the film Sholay is considered one of the all-time great performances in the history of Indian cinema. Despite attracting the attention of many suitors, Malini ultimately fell for and married Dharmendra, who was already married at the time. Originally from South India, Hema Malini was an accomplished Bharatnatyam dancer and a recipient of numerous awards for her performances in this traditional Indian dance form.
Bhanurekha Ganesan, known professionally as Rekha, was a successful and popular actress in Bollywood during the 1970s and 1980s. She made her acting debut in the film Sawan Bhadon and went on to star in several successful films, including Ghar, Khoon Bhari Maang, and Aap Ki Khatir. Rekha had a successful on-screen partnership with actor Jeetendra and her pairing with actor Vinod Mehra was also popular with audiences. In her roles, Rekha demonstrated a versatility that allowed her to portray both mild and bold characters. She also broke the traditional mold by showing that actresses with darker complexions could be just as attractive as those with fair skin.
Zeenat Aman was a popular and successful actress in Bollywood known for her bold and provocative on-screen presence. After winning the Miss India pageant, Zeenat made her acting debut in the film Hare Rama Hare Krishna and went on to star in several successful films, including Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Yaadon Ki Baaraat, and Don. Her on-screen partnerships with actors Sanjay Khan and Feroze Khan were particularly popular with audiences. Her charismatic sensuality was a notable aspect of her screen presence. She managed to avoid crossing into vulgarity and maintained an air of class and artistry in her performances. In addition to playing lead roles, Zeenat also excelled in playing negative characters.
Parveen Babi was a pioneering actress in Bollywood known for introducing western fashion to the Indian film industry. After making her debut in the film Charitra, Parveen went on to star in several successful films, including Majboor, Kalia, and Amar Akbar Anthony. She had a successful partnership with actor Shashi Kapoor. Her pairing with actor Vinod Khanna was also popular with audiences. Despite receiving numerous offers from international film production houses, Parveen chose to focus on promoting western styles within Bollywood and believed that she was uniquely qualified to do so.
Jaya Bachchan, also known by her birth name Jaya Bhaduri, was a popular actress in Bollywood known for her acting in soft genre films. After making her debut in the film Guddi, Jaya went on to star in several successful films, including Sholay, Silsila, and Abhiman. She is married to the legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan. Despite initial criticism of her short stature, particularly in comparison to her tall husband, Jaya proved to be a versatile actress who was able to portray a wide range of characters with great attitude and conviction.
Reena Roy was a popular actress in Bollywood during the 1970s known for her sweet and attractive looks. After making her debut in the film Jaruraat, Reena went on to star in several successful films, including Naagin, Asha, and Sanam Teri Kasam. Her on-screen partnership with actor Shatrughan Sinha was particularly popular with audiences. Despite her beauty, Reena faced competition from her contemporaries and as a result, missed out on opportunities to star in high-budget, multi-star films. However, she did have several successful roles in big-budget movies.
Shabana Azmi was a highly respected and versatile actress in Bollywood known for her acting skills and ability to perform in a variety of different film genres. After making her debut in the film Ankur, Shabana went on to star in successful films such as Aarth and Khandhar. Despite being somewhat underrated at the beginning of her career, Shabana’s talent and mastery of acting became more widely recognized as she gained more experience and exposure. She was one of only a few actresses of the time to receive widespread praise for her versatility and range as an actress.
Smita Patil was a highly respected and versatile actress in Bollywood known for her acting skills and ability to perform in a variety of different film genres. After making her debut in the film Charan Das Chor, Patil went on to star in successful films such as Bhumika and Chakra. Her on-screen partnership with her husband, actor Raj Babbar, was particularly popular with audiences. Critics noted that Patil was an unexplored talent who sometimes acted without a script, creating performances that were more original than the original. Unfortunately, Patil’s career was cut short by her untimely death from blood cancer. She was both a friend and a rival to Shabana Azmi, who praised Patil’s acting skills by saying, “Smita was a rival whose acting even I could not stop praising.”
Dimple Kapadia made her acting debut at a young age in the film Bobby. Her looks, dance skills, and acting ability attracted a lot of attention and she went on to star in successful films such as Sagar, Kaas, and Rudaali. Her on-screen partnership with actor Rishi Kapoor was particularly popular with audiences. Kapadia was married to famous actor Rajesh Khanna. She made a splash in the film industry with her sensual and youthful performance in Bobby and had a successful career, but her decision to marry at a young age resulted in a significant break in her acting work.
Harneet Kaur, known professionally as Neetu Singh, made her acting debut as a child actress in the film Sooraj. She went on to star in successful films such as Deewar, Kala Pathhar, Dusra Aadmi, and Kabhi Kabhi. Singh is the wife of actor Rishi Kapoor. Despite initially facing difficulties in establishing herself as an adult actress due to her previous works as a child actress, Singh refused to take on seductive roles and instead chose to focus on projects that allowed her to portray strong, mature characters. This approach ultimately proved successful and Singh became a popular actress in her own right, proving that it is not necessary to be a sex symbol to succeed in the industry.
Rakhee was a moderately popular actress in Bollywood who made her acting debut in the film Sharmilee. She went on to star in successful films such as Tapasya and Shakti. Despite enjoying some popularity at the beginning of her career, Rakhee was not as successful as some of her contemporaries and did not have as significant a presence in the industry. She did appear in films with several prominent actors, but her career began to decline due to poor film choices. Rakhee later transitioned to playing elder or maternal roles in films.
Yogeeta Bali was a moderately popular actress in Bollywood who had a limited number of film appearances but received praise for her work. Her most notable film was Parwana, which marked her debut. Yogeeta was often cast as the second lead in films and eventually realized that she was no longer as popular as she was at the beginning of her career. As a result, she decided to get married and settle down.
Farida Sami, known professionally as Farida Jalal, was a moderately popular actress in Bollywood who made her debut in the film Lal Patthar. She also appeared in notable films such as Henna and Mammo. Jalal was hesitant to take on bold or romantic roles and as a result, struggled to find work in the film industry during a time when audiences were demanding more explicit romantic scenes. She eventually left the film industry, but later returned to work in the television industry.
Raanjeta was a moderately popular actress in Bollywood who made her debut in the film Laila Majnu. She was later seen in the films Aap Aise To Na The and Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se. While Raanjeta was not often cast in high-budget films, she had a successful career in low-budget, commercially successful films. Some critics believed that she was not attractive enough to be cast in big-budget movies, but Raanjeta proved that she did not need such films to have a successful career in the industry.
