The Next Queen: Sonam Kapoor Just give her a few years to build up a resume… Anil Kapoor’s daughter has inherited his talent and has the good fortune to be able to pick and choose her projects and she’s doing a wonderful job! Delhi 6 should be a career-making film for our Sonam! Career Highlights 2007 - Saawariya, flopped but Sonam got rave reviews! Coming soon… 2009 - Delhi 6, opposite Abhishek, soundtrack by A.R. Rahman… it’s going to be amazing! The Bad Girl (and Filmi Girl Favorite): Kangana Ranaut Okay, okay, so I have a giant crush on Kangana. She’s still a very compelling actress! Really! I know her personal life is a big mess but just watch Fashion. Priyanka may have gotten good press for it but Kangana acted the pants off of her – although sadly, that scene was not included in the film. Career Highlights 2006 - Gangster, played a messed-up woman in trouble 2008 - Fashion, played a messed-up woman in trouble 2009 - Raaz: The Mystery Continues, played a messed-up woman in… oh, you get the idea! Coming soon… 2009 - Kites, with HRITHIK ROSHAN! I literally cannot wait for this movie. I’m queueing for tickets right now. The Actress: Shahana Goswami Rock On! was a real boy’s film and Shahana took a thankless role in it – the nagging wife – and made the character both human and sympathetic. I really hope we see more of her, the filmi world needs more strong women! Career Highlights 2008 - Rock On!, made the nagging wife seem human, imagine that! Coming soon… 2009 - Firaaq, the art house film about the 2002 Gujarti riots 2009 - Bhoomi, I don’t anything except she’s going to be with that cute guy from Luck By Chance: Arjun Mathur The Southern Imports: Asin and Genelia D’Souza They’re adorable and I hope they stay in Bollywood – although I understand if they both go back to Southie movies! We need more actresses with screen-presence to stand up against those macho Bollywood men! These ladies are glam, charming, and, best of all, capable Heroines! Bollywood Career Highlights Asin, 2008 - Ghajini, made me cry opposite Aamir Khan Genelia, 2008 - Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, hated the film – loved her! Bollywood Coming Soon… Asin, 2009 - London Dreams, opposite TWO men old enough to be her fathers but will be pretending to be “27”: Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan Genelia, 2009 - Hook Ya Crook, David Dhawan… John Abraham… she’s not going to have much to do Genelia, 2009 - Life Partner, where she’ll be opposite Fardeen or Tusshar Genelia, 2009 - It’s My Life, opposite Harman… poor thing. Maybe this one won’t get released. New Beauty Queen: Deepika Padukone She’ll keep acting until she gets married. No problem! (Just not to Ranbir, please, he’s MINE!) Deepika is pretty. She cannot “act” or even “have chemistry with her male co-stars” but that’s fine. There is always a place for the beauty queens who need work… I see her doing a few more films and then marrying either a) a business tycoon or b) a sports star. Career “highlights” 2007 - Om Shanti Om, did not have chemistry with SRK. (I thought that it was impossible.) 2008 - Bachna Ae Haseeno, did not have chemistry with Ranbir and was overshadowed by Bipasha Basu (!) Coming soon… 2009 - Love Aaj Kal, opposite Saif Ali Khan where he will look like her father. Make or Break Time: Vidya Balan I know Vidya is no longer “18” and she has been around for a year or two but she’s such a great actress that I’d hate to see her fade away. She’s not a bubbly Yash Raj type of Heroine and I think she got mistakenly cast in that type of role in Heyy Babyy, which was a big career set back. She’s got some good stuff coming up and if she can get a big hit in the next year, she’s set to be the next Tabu! Career Highlights 2005 - Parineeta, she really caused a sensation opposite Saif Ali Khan! I’d break down a wall to be with her, wouldn’t you? 2006 - Lage Raho Munnabhai, she was radiant opposite Sanjay Dutt! “Good Morninnnnnnnng, Mumbaaaaaaai!” 2007 - Bhool Bhuliya, this was an amazing performance. Vah Vah! Coming soon… 2009 - Ishqiya, a Vishal Bharadwaj film always spells good things for actresses… (And Arshad is in this and I LOVE him.) I think it will be her much needed next hit. Runners up… they’re pretty and can fill in opposite just about any actor in the type of heroine role that involves standing around, making eyes at the Hero, and being Rimi Sen. Mudgha Godse - she was pretty in Fashion and now the question is out there… can she be pretty in other films? She’ll be seen next in Jail with Neil Nitin Mukesh. Prachi Desai - she was pretty while also being sweet and inoffensive in Rock On! but can she be pretty in other movies?! WHO KNOWS?! She’ll be in Life Partner with Genelia, who will mop the floor with poor Prachi. Riya Sen - another Filmi Girl crush, this plump beauty caught my eye in Heroes and we’ll be seeing her opposite Hrithik Roshan in Krrish 2! I know she can dance better than Priyanka, so I have high hopes for her! Ayesha Takia, will her role opposite Akshay Kumar-uncle be enough to push her into Heroine territory? I hope so! She is too adorable to waste in bit parts! And an honorable mention for Mallika Sherawat, who deserves a hit! Her next big release is Hisss, directed by Jennifer Lynch – David Lynch’s daughter. It should be fantastic!