5. Rekha

Born to Tamil superstar Gemini Ganesan and Telugu actress Pushpavalli, Rekha started off as a heroine opposite Dr Rajkumar in the Kannada hit, Goadalli CID 999. Her first Hindi film Saawan Bhadon was a huge success, and she found a place in Bollywood, largely as just another pretty face who could pout.

Her transformation began in 1976, when the actress did a film called Do Anjaane opposite Amitabh Bachchan. Suddenly critics noticed a gravity to her actions, a spark in her eyes. Films like Muqaddar Ka Sikandar were superhits, and she went on to star with Bachchan frequently, most notoriously in Yash Chopra's Silsila, the casting of which led credence to real-life rumours of an affair with Amitabh.

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And while she might have imitated the Amitabh swagger, the confidence she got from those films helped her metamorphose into Bollywood's most enigmatic leading lady. The actress developed a personal style, crafting her look in great detail and working hard on make-up, blossoming into a graceful, poised beauty. Timeless indeed.

Photo: Rakesh Shreshta

Don't Miss: Special: Celebrating Rekha

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