Top 10 heroines who swept the audience away in 2011

NEW DELHI: Women-centric themes added power to the Bollywood platter this year and the leading ladies impressed with their boldness and intense acting. Actors like Vidya Balan, Priyanka Chopra and Katrina Kaif gave the industry's menfolk a run for their money. Here're top 10 heroines of 2011:

1. Vidya Balan: She started the year with a stellar performance as a deglamorised, strong-willed simpleton in the real-life inspired No One Killed Jessica, and featured in cameos in Thank You, Dum Maaro Dum and Malayalam film Urumi. But for the 33-year-old 'bombaat' actor, 2011 ended with a bang with her sizzling portrayal of a dancing star, Silk, in The Dirty Picture. Vidya explored new realms to her acting potential, and emerged as a winner, overshadowing other commercially hit Bollywood divas.

2. Kareena Kapoor: Two films and both hits! Even after over a decade, Kareena stood out among her contemporaries with the record-breaker Bodyguard opposite Salman Khan, and Shah Rukh Khan's mega-production RA.One. She also proved her dancing mettle once again with Chammak challo, which went on to be a huge chartbuster.

3. Priyanka Chopra: After an average 2010, Priyanka Chopra sprang back into action by carrying out seven different looks in Vishal Bharadwaj's critically-acclaimed 7 Khoon Maaf. In the character of a serial spouse-killer, Sussanna, the actress has displayed why she is a National Award winner at such a young age. She will round up the year as Shah Rukh Khan's 'junglee billi' in the much-awaited Don 2: The King Is Back.

4. Katrina Kaif: As a free-spirited, independent girl in the multi-starrer Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, as a sexy item girl in Bodyguard or as the effervescent Dimple Dixit in Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, this Britain-born girl has been proving her range with every passing year.

5. Kalki Koechlin: With four diverse films -- Shaitan, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, That Girl in Yellow Boots and My Friend Pinto - Kalki has been on a roll this year! Her easy and fluid portrayal of a mentally disturbed girl, a nagging girlfriend, a girl in search of her father, and a lost girl abandoned by her boyfriend, have reassured cine-buffs of her capacity as a new age, commercially-viable actress, who dares to choose different roles.

6. Kangana Ranaut: Year 2011 saw Kangana in a new avatar. As a bindaas Kanpur girl in Tanu Weds Manu, she gave her most desi performance ever. She followed it up with the role of a cop in Game, a supporting act in comedy films Double Dhamaal and Rascals, and featured in Miley Naa Miley Hum, which went unnoticed. However, Kangana's standing in the industry remains quite unaffected.

7. Rani Mukerji: Her fans got a treat after two years when Rani returned to the big screen in No One Killed Jessica. As a bold journalist, who gets the public together to demand justice for a cause, Rani delivered an image-breaking performance when she mouthed expletives and smoked a cigarette for the role.

8. Anushka Sharma: There's something that clicks about this Yash Raj Films find, despite average earners like Patiala House and Ladies VS Ricky Bahl in 2011. Anushka's vivaciousness, million-dollar smile and perfect dancing skills have catapulted her into the league of promising leading ladies of tinsel town today.

9. Deepika Padukone: At 25, Deepika has established herself as one of the more popular female stars of Hindi cinema. This year she strengthened her stance, not so much with her performances, but because of the elan with which she carried out the sultry song Mit Jaaye Gum; as the small town but confident girl in Aarakshan; and as the love interest of John Abraham in Desi Boyz.

10. Mahie Gill: Her films, Utt Patang, Not A Love Story and Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster this year didn't mint enough money at the box office, but her performance, like always, was well noticed. The critically acclaimed actress continues to choose films away from tried-and-tested formulas, and garners appreciation galore.

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Vidya Balan says no to Rajnikanth?

MUMBAI: Vidya Balan has officially turned down a chance to star opposite south star Rajinikanth. Earlier this year, it was suggested that she was to be his leading lady in Rana, since her distinctly desi looks would click with south Indian audiences too.

Later, rumour mills were abuzz that Vidya had raised issues because she was not being given the script. Now for the first time, Vidya goes on record to say that the script had played spoilsport.

“Rana makers spoke to me about the film, but I wasn’t exactly in serious talks. Later, I asked for a script, which I didn’t get,” says Vidya with a smile.

So, did they want her to sign on for the film sans a script? “I don’t know what to say and how to explain it. They just didn’t call me back. And how can I take the next step without a script?” questions the actor.

Ravikumar, on his part, contends that they were in talks with several female leads, and not just Vidya. “Yes, Vidya was also contacted. But since our script wasn’t ready by then, we couldn’t hand it over to her. And by the time the story was locked, it had gone onto a completely different tangent. So, there was no point in sending the script to her,” says Ravikumar.

At the moment, Rajni’s Rana is on hold until he finishes off daughter Soundarya’s 3D film, Kochadaiyaan.

“Once it’s over, he will start with Rana. He is keen to go ahead with the film, but we want him to take complete rest,” says Ravikumar, adding that the project might begin by mid-next year. Rajni had fallen ill in April, during the first schedule of Rana, which also stars Deepika Padukone. Later, he flew to Singapore for a month and a half.

Due to his poor health, the dates for Rana are being constantly pushed, despite Rajni returning to India in July. Doctors and family members have asked him to wait till his health gets better, before he resumes his packed shooting schedule.

As for Vidya, The Dirty Picture star is now gearing up for Sujoy Ghosh’s Kahani. “It’s my little baby and I am going to deliver it on March 9,” she says with a laugh.

“It’s an interesting thriller because it’s rare to have a woman as the central protagonist,” she adds.

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