When These Ladies Won Our Hearts AGAIN!

Shilpa Shetty is all set to make heads turn again when she returns to the screen after 14 years.

Last seen in 2007's hit Apne, the actress will be seen in Priyadarshan's comedy Hungama 2.

Among the many things to look forward is the recreation of Shilpa's chartbuster song Chura Ke Dil Mera from Main Khiladi Tu Anadi.

While we await Shilpa's second innings in the movies, Joginder Tuteja looks at how well the top '90s actresses have done when they returned to acting.

 

Madhuri Dixit

One of the top actors of her time, Madhuri was in the game until Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas in 2002.

She took a break from acting after marriage, but returned in 2007's Aaja Nachle.

Seven years after that, she starred in Dedh Ishqiya and Gulaab Gang (2014).

She took another break and returned five years later in the hit Total Dhamaal and the flop Kalank.

 

Kajol

Kajol has delivered hits consistently from Baazigar to 2001's Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.

She took a break and returned five years later with Fanaa.

Since then, Kajol has been making intermittent appearances on screen.

She was last seen in the blockbuster Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, opposite husband Ajay Devgn, and the made-for-OTT film Tribhanga.

 

Rani Mukerji

Rani has been starring in films made by her production house, Yash Raj Films.

After delivering a hit in Mardaani in 2014, she took a four year break and then led the show in Hichki.

After that, she delivered yet another hit in Mardaani 2.

While her next film Bunty Aur Babli 2 is awaited, she recently signed a new film, Mrs Chatterjee v/s Norway.

 

Raveena Tandon

Had it released on time, Sandwich may have been a hit.

But the Anees Bazmee comedy, starring Govinda, had a delayed release in 2006, and after that, Raveena went on a long break.

She returned with a cameo opposite Amitabh Bachchan in Bhuddah Hoga Tera Baap in 2011.

Her big comeback will be K.G.F: Chapter 2, which is expected to release this year.

 

Karisma Kapoor

After starring in the violent drama Shakthi: The Power in 2002, Karisma made a comeback 10 years later in Vikram Bhatt's Dangerous Ishhq. The film did not work.

Eight years later, the actress made a comeback with the OTT show Mentalhood.

Manisha Koirala

Manisha was a top actor in her time, but a series of poor choices and flops later, she called it a day with Ram Gopal Varma's Bhoot Returns in 2012.

She returned with 2017's Dear Maya.

She went on to play Ranbir Kapoor's mother in Sanju and featured in a segment of the anthology Lust Stories (2018).

 

Tabu

Tabu has made a graceful transition from leading lady to supporting actor.

After playing Amitabh Bachchan's leading lady in 2007's Cheeni Kum, she took a break and returned in a mother's role in 2012's Life of Pi.

Today, she is doing fab work in films like Drishyam, Andhadhun and De De Pyaar De.

Her next is Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2.

 

Sushmita Sen

When things weren't looking good for Sushmita as leading lady, she said No Problem (2010).

Post this flop, she took a decade-long break and returned with the fabulous Web series Aarya in 2020.

The Ram Madhvani directorial was lapped up by audiences and the shooting of the second season is on.

 

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

After starring in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's tragic film Guzaarish in 2010, Aishwarya took a break and returned with Sanjay Gupta's dramatic thriller Jazbaa in 2015.

Her 2018 film Fanney Khan oppsoite Anil Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao was a disappointment.

There has been talk of her doing a film with Mani Ratnam, and one waits to hear more about it.

 

Preity Zinta

Vivacious Preity starred in Deepa Mehta's pseudo-dramatic NRI film Videsh: Heaven on Earth in 2008 and then went on a break.

She returned with her much-delayed production Ishkq in Paris in 2013, which flopped.

Five years later, her film Bhaiaji Superhit (2018) released and flopped.