ARJUN KAPOOR

DEBUT: Ishaqzaade

IMPACT: He played an anti-hero in the first half of the Habib Faisal romance, but Arjun Kapoor’s rugged charm and cool demeanour have earned him scores of female fans. Even though he had young gun Ranveer Singh for company in Calcutta for the shoot of Gunday, it was Arjun’s dreamy eyes and sexy swagger that scored with the girls here.

Coming up: A full kitty! Mentor Yash Raj Films has Aurangzeb with Arjun in a double role; hits screens on May 17. His other films include Gunday, the adaptation of Chetan Bhagat’s 2 States, Karan Johar’s Gutka co-starring Akshay Kumar and the remake of the Telugu blockbuster Okkadu, to be produced by dad Boney. Whew!

ALIA BHATT

DEBUT: Student of theYear

IMPACT: Despite debuting as a feather-brained fashionista in the Karan Johar high-school romance, Alia managed to hold her own among the boys Sidharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan. Alia’s prim and propah Shanaya became a style icon even as Radha showed that this girl has all the moves it takes to make it big in Bolly.

Coming up: Mahesh Bhatt-Soni Razdan’s darling daughter has made an interesting career move with Imtiaz Ali’s Highway in which she will be seen in a de-glam avatar opposite Randeep Hooda. Also on the cards is 2 States opposite Arjun Kapoor.

AYUSHMANN KHURRANA

DEBUT: Vicky Donor

IMPACT: The former MTV man made a whacked-out debut with a whack-off subject! The boy-next-door charmed women from six to 60 with his sperm donor act. That he can sing — Paani da’s popularity continues to rise — is a plus.

Coming up: He is far better than the film — that’s the unanimous verdict about his second, Nautanki Saala! Ayushmann is currently filming for a YRF venture with Sonam Kapoor and is slated to start work on Hamara Bajaj, being helmed by his Vicky Donor director Shoojit Sircar.

YAMI GAUTAM

DEBUT: Vicky Donor

IMPACT: The former TV actress stood out for her confident — and oh-so-pretty — portrayal of a today’s woman in Vicky Donor. Yami has also bagged a number of ads — the starriest being the Cornetto ad with Sidharth Malhotra.

Coming up: Besides a host of Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films, the Fair & Lovely girl is set to start shooting for Aman Ki Asha with Ali Zafar.

VARUN DHAWAN

DEBUT: Student of the Year

IMPACT: He acts well, moves like a dream and has good screen presence. David Dhawan’s younger son is being hailed as one of the most promising prospects of GenY Bolly.

Coming up: The 24-year-old is playing it slow and steady. Besides grabbing eyeballs on the small screen with the Coca Cola ads co-starring his Student of the Year pals Alia and Sidharth, Varun is now filming for Ekta Kapoor’s Tu Mera Hero, directed by dad David.

ESHA GUPTA

DEBUT: Jannat 2

IMPACT: Besides her debut film, the former Kingfisher model had two releases last year — Raaz 3 and Chakravyuh. A PYT yes, but with acting skills that need serious brushing up.

Coming up: Esha has a three-film contract with the Bhatts. That apart, she’s just wrapped up an item number with Imran Khan for Punit Malhotra’s Gori Tere Pyaar Mein.

HUMA QURESHI

DEBUT: Gangs of Wasseypur

IMPACT: She grabbed attention as the child-woman Mohsina in the GoW films and followed it up with a light act in Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana. The girl from Delhi dares to be different —whether it’s her pick of films or her sartorial choices.

Coming up: Ek Thi Daayan opposite Emraan Hashmi this Friday. Huma also has Nikhil Advani’s D-Day in which she plays a RAW agent and Dedh Ishqiya where she shares screen space with Madhuri Dixit and Naseeruddin Shah!

ILEANA D’CRUZ

DEBUT: Barfi!

IMPACT: She made quite an impression in the Anurag Basu winner even when pitted against Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra. And we just loved Shruti’s Bangali bou look.

Coming up: Rajkumar Santoshi’s Phata Poster Nikla Hero opposite Shahid Kapoor.

SUNNY LEONE

DEBUT: Jism 2

IMPACT: The former pornstar moved from laptop to big screen with the Pooja Bhatt-directed erotic love story. Sunny’s acting quotient was criticised but with curves like that, who cares?

Coming up: She’s currently steaming up airwaves with John Abraham in the Laila item number from Shootout at Wadala. That apart, Sunny will be seen in Ragini MMS 2 and she has just signed a B-grade flick called Tina and Lolo.

sidharth malhotra

DEBUT: Student of the Year

IMPACT: Tall, strapping and handsome, this Delhi boy was the best thing about his debut film. Sidharth’s now quite the stud in demand — fashion weeks to films to ads.

Coming up: Karan Johar’s Hasee Toh Phasee with Parineeti Chopra, and Mohit Suri’s The Villain.

out in the cold

DIANA PENTY

Despite a promising debut in Cocktail, the Tumhi ho bandhu beauty doesn’t have a second film to her name! While some claim that Diana’s pricey ways have kept producers away, our Lady Di’s zid that she won’t wear a bikini or get intimate on screen have also gone against her. Even Salman Khan is said to have dropped Diana from home-production Mental. The girl who has apparently run Diana out? Bigg Boss contestant and IPL Extraaa Innings hottie Karishma Kotak.