In the last of a series on the Best Actresses of 2003, rediff.com profiles Hema Malini, who won raves for her radiant performance in Baghban. Readers earlier voted for Preity Zinta, Rani Mukerji, Urmila Matondkar and Aishwarya Rai in the top 4 positions.

Bollywood's dream girl Hema Malini got so busy with her classical dancing and building daughter Esha Deol's career that she almost disappeared from the movie scene.

Ravi Chopra's Baghban brought her back in the limelight.

Paired opposite Amitabh Bachchan, her co-star of films like Naseeb, Nastik and Satte Pe Satta, Hema played ideal wife and loving mother with her trademark dignity and graceful charm.

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