AISHWARYA RAI Age: 28
Why she rules: Star of this year’s colossal hit, Devdas, Ash is currently contemplating several offers from the West. Back home in Bollywood, she is set to star in Shah Rukh Khan’s next home production to be directed by Aziz Mirza, and is likely to be immortalised on celluloid as Mumtaz Mahal in Bharatbala’s first-ever Indian IMAX film, Taj Mahal. She also turned producer with Dil Ka Rishtaa, in which she stars with Arjun Rampal.
KAREENA KAPOORAge: 22
Why she rules: A big hit with the country’s below-25 movie-going public, Kareena’s biggest strength is her dazzling screen presence and her confidence. Although she made her debut with a dud like Refugee and has failed in many choices (Asoka, Yaadein, Mujhse Dosti Karoge), she still manages to land the biggest banners. Coming up later this year is a starring role opposite Hrithik Roshan and Abhishek Bachchan in Sooraj Barjatya’s Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon, and her personal favourite — an author-backed title role in Boney Kapoor’s Khushi. She is perhaps the only girl who can turn down both Subhash Ghai and Karan Johar and still behave like nothing’s happened!
POOJA SHETTY Age: 24
Why she rules: Heiress to daddy Manmohan Shetty’s Adlabs empire (valued at Rs 150 crore at today’s market capitalisation), she is already a director in Adlabs Films, and is directly responsible for the IMAX Adlabs complex in Wadala, which she has turned into a success despite escalating costs. Partner by half in the Fame Adlabs multiplex in Mumbai, and sole proprietor of the IMAX Multiplex, Pooja also looks into the film-production division of the company, which is likely to get more active in the year ahead. That apart, she will eventually inherit the country’s largest film processing house, Adlabs, which is currently doing booming business. Far from being a spoilt-brat, she’s the sort of girl who likes to get her hands dirty.
EKTA KAPOOR Age: 26
Why she rules: Single-handedly responsible for making a success of Balaji Telefilms, she is the brain behind every successful concept on television. The creative decision-maker on such soaps as Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kkusum and Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki, among others, Ekta runs the country’s biggest television-software-related public limited company. Despite an inauspicious debut in film production with the Govinda-starrer, Kyonkii Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta, Ekta has Kya Pyaar Karoge Mujhse, starring brother Tusshar Kapoor, coming up next. This time round, she says, she’s done everything herself and therefore there’s less chance of failing. She makes virtual unknowns into household names, and can turn around the fate of a channel by pulling off her shows.
RAVEENA TANDON Age: 30
Why she rules: The Mast Mast girl who was known more for sexy dances and glam-doll looks than anything else, has emerged — after Tabu — as the face of Indian middle-of-the-road cinema. After winning the National Award for Daman, the actress balances masala Govinda fare like Wah Terra Kya Kehna and Akhiyon Se Goli Mare with edgy films like Madhu Bhandarkar’s political drama Satta. Having floated a production company and clinched a five-film production deal for the Sahara Network, she is now in the driver’s seat.
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