Alia Bhatt

Trending: She was a revelation in Imtiaz Ali’s offbeat Highway and followed it up with a charming act in the more mainstream 2 States.

Strength: Spontaneity and the freewheeling adaptation to any kind of cinema. She’s being billed within the industry as the new Kareena Kapoor, which not only says something about her range but also spells out the fact that it’s time for Bebo to join the Ranis and the Kajols (yes, that’s why Mrs Saif is not on this list).

Weakness: Might be reduced to being a wallpaper in big-banner big-director hero-oriented cinema.

Godfather: Karan Johar. (Papa) Mahesh Bhatt. In that order.

Watch out for: Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania is the only film she’s committed to. With Varun Dhawan opposite her in a Dharma Productions romcom, expect it to open huge.

Advice: Not to let her agency or any particular individual decide her career choices and mix a Highway with a 2 States every year.

Parineeti Chopra

Trending: Hasee Toh Phasee has brought fresh love and respect for the actress who had shone in Ishaqzaade first and then in Shuddh Desi Romance.

Strength: There’s a raw carefree charm to her presence and performance. You are never quite sure what she will do with a particular scene.

Weakness: Can get very repetitive with her chatty-chirpy avatars and make it difficult for audiences to tell one character from another.

Godfather: Yash Raj Films.

Watch out for: She has Habib Faisal’s next after Ishaqzaade but what is the real envy for other heroines is Shaad Ali’s comeback movie Kill Dil opposite Ranveer Singh.

Advice: To do more films like Hasee Toh Phasee. One because it’s not with Yash Raj thus she’s venturing out of comfort zone and two because she doesn’t need to bak-bak to grab attention.

Deepika Padukone

Trending: Her dream run last year with Chennai Express, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Ram-Leela is still on everyone’s mind. From the industry to the trade to the audience.

Strength: Has always been a ravishing beauty but with sheer hard work and dedication has bettered her ‘act’ with every outing. Extremely focused on her career.

Weakness: Does a lot of ensemble films where she gets lost in the crowd. From Housefull to Aarakshan to Desi Boyz to Race 2.

Godfather: Shah Rukh Khan. From Om Shanti Om to Chennai Express to Happy New Year.

Watch out for: Shoojit Sircar’s Piku, where she’s got an author-backed role as Amitabh Bachchan’s daughter.

Advice: Nothing. If it ain’t broke,

don’t fix it.

Katrina Kaif

Trending: Although she’s not been as prolific as earlier, her Kamli act in Dhoom:3 is still fresh.

Strength: Ethereally beautiful, she’s constantly improved her acting chops. She also picks the right films with the right stars at the right time.

Weakness: Despite her best efforts, she is unlikely to be offered woman-oriented vehicles where she can lead from the front.

Godfather: Was Salman Khan then; nobody now.

Watch out for: While she’s got films opposite Hrithik Roshan (Bang Bang) and Saif Ali Khan (Phantom), it is Anurag Basu’s Jagga Jasoos, opposite real-life beau Ranbir Kapoor, which holds the key.

Advice: Do more films.

Anushka Sharma

Trending: She hasn’t had a release since January 2013 and won’t have one till November 2014. The only thing trending about her was whether she got that nasty lip job done or was it a bad make-up day on Koffee with Karan.

Strength: Has been an absolute natural before the camera since her debut in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi.

Weakness: Her priority has been a big question mark given how much her personal life has made more headlines than her professional life. And now that supposed lip job will continue to set tongues wagging as she returns to the big screen.

Godfather: The Yash Raj find is pretty much her own boss now.

Watch out for: Yes there’s Rajkumar Hirani’s P.K. opposite Aamir Khan but Anurag Kashyap’s Bombay Velvet where she plays a jazz singer opposite Ranbir Kapoor is more important for her career.

Advice: To get back into the acting groove and not turn down good projects with good directors.

Vidya Balan

Trending: Ghanchakkar didn’t do well and Shaadi Ke Side Effects was quite a howler. The Padma Shri was the only positive turn of events for her.

Strength: To step out of her comfort zone for any character and hit it out of the park. A fine, fine actor.

Weakness: Her weight has been a major issue and her last release really showed that all is not well with her physical regimen.

Godfather: Could have been the Roy Kapur husband but no, she is her own Balan.

Watch out for: She isn’t doing Sujoy Ghosh’s next and so the only other film she has finished is Bobby Jasoos.

Advice: To come back leaner, meaner and a winner.

Kangana Ranaut

Trending: Queen! Queen! Queen! Trending and how!

Strength: To beautifully mix vulnerability and strength and turn her disadvantage into advantage. Also, she gives fantastic interviews on camera.

Weakness: Erratic with her choices but that might be a thing of the past.

Godfather: Was advised by the wrong men right from the start, is finally charting her own course.

Watch out for: Should have been Revolver Rani but there’s surprisingly little buzz around the film. Sujoy Ghosh’s next, where she’s replaced Vidya Balan, can really put her in a different league.

Advice: To do a film for the sake of the film and not for other reasons.

Priyanka Chopra

Trending: Gunday was her last release but what’s more vivid is her Ram chaahe Leela act in Bhansali’s magnum opus last year.

Strength: Despite being a beauty queen, she demanded respect as an actor right from Aitraaz. And she continues to be a force on the big screen as Barfi! showed not too long ago.

Weakness: Does too many things — and not all of them wise — thus diluting her brand as one of Bollywood’s top actresses.

Godfather: She’s got important friends.

Watch out for: In and as Mary Kom. The only film she’s doing.

Advice: Exotic is not always a good word.

Text: Pratim D. Gupta

casual chic + desi cool = alia bhatt’s style in 2 states. t2 gets the look!

I think Alia is really good and I hope to become successful like her! The clothes she wears in 2 States are comfortable, bright and colourful. Perfect for summer. I love the skirt-and-tank top look the most. — Mekhola Bose, a hip hop dancer and t2’s muse for the shoot