For evergreen Dimple Kapadi, age is just a number

Watching her in the recently released Finding Fanny, where she played the eccentric Rosie, it is evident that at the age of 57, Dimple Kapadia is still enthusiastic about her craft. Ever since she made her comeback with Sagar in the 80s, after a decade long break since she debuted in Bobby, Kapadia took on more roles in parallel cinema doing films like Drishti, Lekin and Rudali. Throughout the 90s and 2000s she continued to work, (though infrequently) and was seen in unconventional movies like Dil Chahta Hai, Being Cyrus and Luck By Chance. Last year saw her play a principal character in What The Fish and before that she impressed in Homi Adajania’s Cocktail. Even as she dabbled with films, her candle business of making exotic candles under her label Faraway Tree, an enterprise that she has nurtured ever since she started it over a decade ago.

Hema Malini

Political dream

Hema Malini

She was recently sworn in as a Member of Parliament, and despite being busy with political work in her constituency Mathura, the still gorgeous Hema Malini will soon join the unit of Ramesh Sippy’s Shimla Mirch in Shimla. The actress plays the leading lady Rakul Preet Singh’s mother in the film which dwells upon relationships. Malini, a huge star of the 70s and 80s who starred in many movies, now juggles the occasional film and politics. Her more recent film appearances include a special appearance in Aarakshan and before that Bbuddha Hoga Tera Baap and Baghban. Malini also produced and directed Tell Me O Kkhuda which starred her daughter Esha Deol three years ago.
A renowned exponent of Bharatnatyam, the actress hosts several stage shows on a regular basis. This year, in the US, the dream girl performed her now famous Durga ballet. The actress who has also dabbled in television with Jai Mata Ki and Kamini Damini, and is the face of a water purifier also harbours a dream of starting a dance academy , despite her hectic schedule.

Jaya Bachchan

The show goes on

Jaya Bachchan

Though one rarely gets to see her on screen, Jaya Bachchan had a long and illustrious career in films ever since she debuted in 1971. After doing Silsila in 1981, the actress took a sabbatical from work making a comeback with Govind Nihalani’s Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa. Bachchan then went on to do other films like Fiza, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Kal Ho Naa Ho. She also shifted focus and turned to production when she produced the television show Dekh Bhai Dekh way back in the ’90s. Reportedly she is now in the process of producing a new show for TV. The actress- parliamentarian is also into producing regional cinema. She oversees the regional section of AB Corp Limited where the first outing was the hit Marathi Vihir followed by the Gujarati film Saptapadi.

Poonam Dhillon

Staging Dreams

Poonam Dhillon

Poonam Dhillon who is seen playing Sharda Modi, a docile housewife, in Ekk Nayi Pehchaan has become a popular face on the small screen. Though the actress had earlier done the television series, Kitty Party and was also the second runner up in the Bigg Boss 3 series, this show has her playing the principal character. With a long innings behind her, ever since Dhillon made her debut in the film industry with Trishul in 1978, the actress continued to act, playing roles that attracted her. Recently, she was seen in the Punjabi film Double Di Trouble with Dharmendra as her co-star. The actress who is actively involved with social causes like drug awareness and empowering the girl child, also dabbles with theater. Dhillon performed in The Perfect Husband, Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi and U Turn.

Rati Agnihotri

Break – Ke -Baad

Rati Agnihotri

She was at the peak of her career in 1985, when Rati Agnihotri decided to get married and settle down to domesticity. And it was after a hiatus of almost 16 years in 2001,when once again, Agnihotri, who was now a mother of a young boy, said yes to playing Kajol’s glamorous mother in Kuch Khatti Kuch Mithi. Several more films followed and Agnihotri even acted in a Tamil film Majunu, an English film An Ode To Lost Love and a Bengali film Aaina Te Majunu. Her foray on the stage saw her in the play Divorce Me Darling and on the small screen, in the television series Sixer. The actress also devotes her time to social causes.

Ratna Pathak

Motley work

Ratna Pathak

Like her sister Supriya, Ratna Pathak works both in television and films. The actress who kickstarted her acting career with Mandi 30 years ago did very selective films. It was in the 90s that Pathak turned her sights to television doing serials like Tara and Idhar Udhar. Meanwhile she was seen in films like Ekk Main Aur Ekk Tu, Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na, Gomaal 3, The Coffin Maker. Recently the actress reprised the role her mother, the late Dina Pathak played, in the remake of Khoobsurat. The 50 plus actress who is also an enthusiastic stage artiste and the co-founder and active member of Motley, the theatre group, recently enthralled the audience in the play Mughal Bacha. Pathak was also a part of the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan Selecting Committee for the 2012 awards.

Sarika

Sparkling act

Sarika

She may be a bit of a recluse, but when it comes to her craft, Sarika is a remarkable actress. At 50 plus the actress, who is mother to Shruti and Akshara, both actresses, made her small screen debut with Amitabh Bachchan’s fiction series Yudh this year. Sarika who gave up her acting career after her marriage to Kamal Haasan and moved to Chennai, resumed her acting career in the 90s with films like Parzania, Babul, and Bheja Fry. Last year she even did a special qawali in David! Her last outing was the feature film Club 60, where she played a lively housewife, who shows her husband, Farooque Shaikh the way to coping with their personal tragedy. It may be recalled that Sarika also won the National Award for the Best Costume Design for Hey Ram in 2000!

Rekha

True Diva

Rekha

Even as she turns 60 this month, the beautiful Rekha will be seen as the protagonist in Indra Kumar’s Super Nani that releases this month! It’s not hard to be bowled over by Rekha, who over a four decade career has showcased her ability to reinvent herself and surprise the audience. In Super Nani, the actress will be seen dancing on some old classics filmed on Madhubala and Waheeda Rahman in their movies! A huge star in the 80s, Rekha did relatively fewer films since the last decade playing mother in films like Koi Mil Gaya. The actress, who morphed from an overweight, dark girl to a glamorous diva has her unmistakable style and carries an aura of mystery in whenever she steps out to attend an award function or an event. In her next, Fitoor, she plays a nattily dressed Begum. The actor, who is also a Rajya Sabha member, reportedly wants to try her hand at television too.

Shabana Azmi

Cause effective

Shabana Azmi

The five times National Award winning actress never shies from picking up unconventional roles ever since her first release Ankur. Even with a long innings behind her, Azmi is still enthusiastic about her craft. Last year she was seen in the Hollywood film The Reluctant Fundamentalist and this year she was seen in Anil Kapoor’s teleserial, 24. The veteran actress who also heads Mijwan Welfare Society which looks after the interest of young girls in UP, will next be seeen in writer-director Sarovar Banka’s A Decent Arrangement that releases in India in November. A stage enthusiast, Azmi who is associated with the long running play Tumhari Amrita will now stage Happy Birthday Sunita next month in Brentford, UK.
A committed social activist, the actress has voiced her opinion and been in the forefront on various issues like save the girl child. Recently, she was a jury member for the ISA Award for Humanity in Bahrain to honour an individual or organisation for their humanitarian services.

Sharmila Tagore

Charismatic

Sharmila Tagore

She is a grandmother, but the charismatic Sharmila Tagore still has the spunk of a young girl. The actress who was a huge star in the 70s continued to work even after the birth of her three children. Even though her appearances in films became less frequent she did a bouquet of Hindi, (Mann, Dhadkan) a Marathi film, Samaantar and even Bengali films like Shubho Mahurat. Tagores last Hindi outing was Break Ke Baad in which she played Deepika Padukone’s mother. The actress who was the former chairperson of the CBFC, lives in Delhi and can be spotted at social events. Recently, she had attended an event to launch a health and wellness mall. Tagore, the brand ambassador of the company, was present with her daughter Soha Ali Khan.

Sridevi

Evergreen

Sridevi

It took Gauri Shinde’s English Vinglish to bring the reluctant actress back to the silver screen after a gap of almost 15 years since her last outing Judaai. Having stepped back from acting, Sridevi preferred to concentrate on bringing up her daughters Jhanavi and Khushi, but dabbled with television. Sridevi played the title role in Malini Iyer and Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai. English Vinglish which released two years ago, rejuvenated her career, making her the first actress to succesfully make a comeback. The film is still ruling the marquee in the far East, in cities like Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan. The actress is now gearing up for her next, the Tamil film Vijay 58 (tentative title), which will mark the actress’ return to the Tamil industry after several years. She will start shooting for this fantasy action entertainer in November. Sridevi who has maintained a fantastic physique will start shooting for her hubby Boney Kapoor’s film in February.

Supriya Pathak

Talent mantra

Supriya Pathak

She may have made an impact in films like Baazar and Vijeta when she started out in the 80s, but Supriya Pathak who switched to television now continues her tryst both with the big and small screen. Today at 52, Pathak has become a household name as she played several comic characters with ease, notably Hansa in the series Khichdi. Currently she plays the loud and over-the-top Ganga mausi in the television series Tu Mere Agal Bagal Hai and before that she had the viewers in splits in Taarak Mehta Ka Ulta Chashmah. The talented actress also does the occasional film. She was last seen in Bobby Jasoos and last year her performance in Goliyon Ki Rasleela- Ramleela as the family matriarch lady don was critically acclaimed.

Tanuja

Merry ride

Tanuja

She is full of beans at 71, quite the same as she was at the age of 10, as she says! Last year Tanuja won accolades and awards for her portrayal of a widow Bhagirathi,(and even tonsured her head to make her character look authentic), in the Marathi film Pitruroon. And now she is gearing up to set up her own production house with daughter Tanishaa which will make both Hindi and regional films. The actress has been active ever since she made in debut in Hamari Beti in the early 50s dabbling with Bengali films as she played a leading lady in several Hindi films. She took a break after her marriage but made a comeback after it ended, in films like Khuddar, Prem Rog, Saathiya and even played judge on the television show Rock and Roll Family with daughter Kajol and son-in-law Ajay Devgn. Tanuja is also actively involved with the cleanliness drive in Lonavala, where she spends ample time.

Waheeda Rehman

Elegance personified

Waheeda Rehman

Ask Amitabh Bachchan who his favourite actor from the film industry is and he promptly mentions Waheeda Rehman! The beautiful and graceful actress has held her own ever since she made her debut in the Hindi film industry with Guru Dutt’s CID in the 50s. Rehman’s extraordinary talent and beauty catapulted her to fame and she was among the reigning heroines till the mid 70s, before turning to character roles. Playing mother and grandmother, she is remembered for her portrayal as Madhavan’s mother in Rang De Basanti and Abhishek Bachchan’s grandmother in Delhi 6. The elegant actress who has also been bestowed with the Padma Bhushan, will now be seen in Kamal Haasan’s bilingual Vishwaroopam 2 and Vishwaroop 2.

Zeenat Aman

New avatar

Zeenat Aman

Zeenat Aman, the 1970 beauty pageant holder, who along with Parveen Babi introduced the sexy western avatar to Hindi cinema. She was a contrast to the more conservative stars of the era. Accepted instantly by the audience with she first appeared in Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Aman was drawn to more unconventional roles, even as she went on to do several masala entertainers. She made some bold performances in films like Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Heera Panna, Manoranjan, etc. She was a favourite of Dev Anand and featured in many of  his films. Aman took a self-exile for almost 10 years from 1989 and today though she makes some social appearances, she is not seen on screen too often. However, there was Strings Of Passion which released this year and she will also be seen in the sequel to the 2010-Dunno Y…Na Jaane Kyun.. The actress also dabbled with television in a show called In Conversation With Zeenat