VIDYA BALAN

She managed to seduce us softly with her come-hither Lolita in Parineeta. She kissed Madhavan passionately in the rain in Guru. She was all desire in those scenes with Abhishek in Paa. In Ishqiya she was the woman in heat waiting to erupt, not melt, as she kissed Arshad Warsi with an intensity never seen before in Bollywood. Give us Vidya over the Mallikas and Malaikas any day, any night.

 

ZEENAT AMAN

When it came to desi oomph in Bollywood, there was no one quite like Zeenie baby. The red-hot and spunky Roma in Don and the oomphy Sheila in Qurbani may have been right up her glam alley, but she truly got into the desi skin (quite a lot of it) in Raj Kapoor’s Satyam Shivam Sundaram. The camera caressed every inch of Zeenat’s sensuous sari-clad body, with the highlights being the dare-bare cleavage in the Bhor bhaye song and the steamy kiss with Shashi Kapoor. Mandakini in a white sari under the waterfall was thanda compared to red-hot Zeenat in a wet choli.

 

DIMPLE KAPADIA

Just think of her running in slo-mo on the beach in a swimsuit (and even daring to bare a breast for a nano-second) or seductively pleading Jaane do naa in that clingy red chiffon sari in Saagar. Feroz Khan’s Janbaaz had her emerging from the water and rolling in the hay. For us, she was just as desirable in a cotton sari, from Aitbaar to Kaash to Drishti. Even as the older woman in Dil Chahta Hai and the mommy in love in Pyaar Mein Twist we couldn’t take our eyes off her.

 

REKHA

The original. The sensuous courtesan in Umrao Jaan and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar or the star-crossed lover in Silsila, Rekha breathed life — and sensuality — into the women she played. A chiffon sari, string of pearls, kohl-lined eyes, maroon bindi and loads of oomph equalled a desi femme fatale like no other. Even at 53, we were riveted to her bedroom tales in Aastha and at 51, by her bar room croon in Parineeta. Kaisi paheli Rekha rani!

 

PARVEEN BABI

Stylish and sexy, the glamorous Parveen Babi epitomised bohemian cool. Attractive with a capital ‘A’, Parveen of the lustrous hair, perfect cleavage and long legs, symbolised the all-new chic and seductive Bollywood heroine who became the first Indian actress to make it to the cover of Time in 1975. Just picture her in that bikini top running down the beach in Yeh Nazdeekiyan or the gold gown in Namak Halaal... Whew!

 

SRIDEVI

Our image of a blue chiffon sari begins and ends with Sridevi sexily gyrating to Kaate nahin kat te in Mr India. In Chandni, those eyes spoke a thousand words. In Lamhe, she metamorphosed from child to woman with ease, effortlessly seducing her man and the audience. Sri had the power to make men go weak in the knees with a mere flutter of the eyelashes or the slightest jhatka-matka.Today at 47, she is still hot.

 

MADHURI DIXIT

Twenty-two years ago, an entire nation screamed out “Mohini, Mohini, Mohini” and a star was born. When it came to desi oomph, none of her contemporaries could handle a candle to the magical Mads, as a million hearts went dhak dhak. The pink skirt in Ek do teen, the orange sari sexily draped to bare that back in Dhak dhak karne lagaa or the orange choli in Choli ke peechhey, the hint of the cleavage, the winning smile and the sensual twirl had the power to kill. Hai, maar daala!

 

BIPASHA BASU

Who could have done the bare-back seductress in Jism better? Who could have matched Billo Chaman Bahar’s raw appeal in Beedi jalaile or Namak issak ka for Omkara? And isn’t Bips in a sari and bindi, with lustrous locks let loose, simply gorgeous? Those in doubt, look left! The fact that she is one-half (with boyfriend John) of the sexiest pair in Bollywood makes her even sexier.

 

RAVEENA TANDON

She was the mast mast cheez who made many a heart skip a beat. The Nargis act in the white cotton sari in her debut Patthar ke Phool brought her to our notice. The sexy cavort in that wisp of a yellow sari to Tip tip barsa paani had us raving. Ravishing Ravs was irresistible. And unlike some of her peers, Raveena’s sexuality was never in-your-face. Yet, millions — led by Akshay Kumar — were totally smitten. That look in her eyes, that hot bod, that catch in her voice, Ravs was a rage. Her hottest act? Yeh raat in Aks. Now a mom of two, she is still ravishing.

 

KAJOL

She was red-hot in the red sari in Ladki badi anjani hai. She scorched the screen in that yellow number in Suraj hua maddham. She took our pants off with the seductive Saiyaan in U Me Aur Hum. She didn’t allow us to take our eyes off her in the maroon sari in Tere naina. Kajol’s sexiness is just like the way she is — nonchalant, yet mesmerising. When it comes to being sexy the desi way, it’s tough to look beyond Kajol. It’s those eyes, man.

 

PRIYANKA CHOPRA

Who in Bollywood today can carry off the desi femme fatale look and attitude better than Piggy Chops? The sheer beige six yards in Dostana or the bare back in Kaminey, few can deny that this ‘Desi girl’ can turn on the heat like no other. And remember the cross-legged femme fatale in Aitraaz where she asked Akshay, “Kya loge? Kuch thanda or something HOT?” She’s HOT.

 

CHITRANGDA SINGH

She is to the current generation what Smita Patil was to yesteryear Bollywood. Even without a drop of the pallu, Chitrangda Singh sizzles. As the rebel with a cause Geeta, she made a fading cotton sari look oh-so-hot in her debut Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi. In Sorry Bhai!, her no-holds-barred lovemaking scene with co-star Sharman Joshi in a store trial room was a true femme fatale moment. Unconventionally attractive, she is a real eyeful, for men and women alike!