DEEPIKA PADUKONE

From being dismissed as a “non-actor” to being the best thing about all her films to striking box-office gold with every release in 2013 — Deepika Padukone has come a long way. The former model began the year as the most striking face in Race 2, that made Rs 106 crore, and followed it up with a superb performance alongside former beau Ranbir Kapoor in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (in picture), that rocketed to Rs 187 crore. And now with Chennai Express smashing every record in sight and DP’s Meenamma being praised far more than SRK’s Rahul, there’s no stopping this leggy stunner. Go, girl!

SONAKSHI SINHA

She had three Rs 100cr films — Rowdy Rathore, Son of Sardaar and Dabangg 2 — last year. In 2013, Sonakshi Sinha has no blockbuster to show on her CV but a stellar act in Lootera (in picture). As a dying woman doomed in love, Sonakshi brought power and pathos to her Pakhi. And while Once Upon Ay Time In Mumbai Dobaara disappoints as a film, Sonakshi hasn’t done badly. The BO darling still has two solid releases this year — Rambo Rajkumar with Shahid Kapoor and Bullett Raja opposite Saif Ali Khan.

SONAM KAPOOR

Her style sense has always been sharper than her acting skills. But this year, Sonam has scored with not one, but two films. First up was Ranjhanaa (left) where she made an impact as a small-town girl pursued relentlessly by Dhanush. And her screen time in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag may have been too short, Anil Kapoor’s daughter stood out with her simplicity.

SHRADDHA KAPOOR

This time last year, she was nowhere in the reckoning, but one hit later, Shakti Kapoor’s daughter finds herself in the big league. Shraddha’s ethereally beautiful Aarohi (in picture) was the best thing about Aashiqui 2, the doomed romance that raked in Rs 100cr-plus. Coming up, an item number in Kareena Kapoor-Imran Khan’s Gori Tere Pyaar Mein, followed by The Villain opposite Student of the Year hunk Sidharth Malhotra.

plus two

huma qureshi

The Delhi girl impressed with her negative turn in Ek Thi Daayan and then changed tracks to play a hard-as-nails RAW agent in the box-office success D-Day. It gets even better — Huma will next be seen with Madhuri Dixit in Dedh Ishqiya.

kalki koechlin

She had a two-bit role in Ek Thi Daayan, but it was as the tomboy Aditi in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani that Kalki struck gold. Known for her unconventional choices, Mrs Anurag Kashyap has Prague up for release next month.

WAITING IN THE WINGS

katrina kaif

Katrina had two massive hits in Ek Tha Tiger and Jab Tak Hai Jaan last year. In 2013, Kat’s only release will be on Christmas Day. With Katrina riding pillion, Aamir Khan will come vrooming in with Dhoom: 3 on December 25. With Aamir reportedly eyeing the Rs 300cr mark for Dhoom: 3, it seems that Kat is set for a huge year-end party. Dhoom machale, girl!

priyanka chopra

Priyanka Chopra has spent most of 2013 in the hope of an international career — singing to voiceovers — but the 31-year-old has two major releases coming up. Zanjeer — the remake of the 1973 Amitabh Bachchan classic in which PC steps into the role of Jaya Bhaduri. But the bigger one will be this Diwali, with Priyanka playing sweetheart to Hrithik Roshan’s superhero in Krrish 3.

kareena kapoor

Looks like no blockbuster this year for Bebo. She has the power-packed Satyagraha, in which she plays a journalist, releasing on August 30 and then Gori Tere Pyaar Mein at the end of the year, a romantic comedy opposite her Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu co-star Imran Khan.

VIDYA BALAN

She’s ruled the box office over the past three years, but she’s more lost than found in 2013. Vidya’s only release this year has been the quirky Ghanchakkar in which her turn as a loud Punjabi homemaker put us off. But can December release Pyaar Ke Side Effects — opposite Farhan Akhtar — change that for Mrs Siddharth Roy Kapur?

Who will be Bolly’s heroine No.1 in 2013? Tell t2@abp.in