Top Bollywood Actresses in 1970s
In the 1970s, Bollywood actresses played pivotal roles in shaping the industry. The era witnessed the emergence of female-centric films, highlighting the talent and versatility of these actresses. Their performances and charisma captivated audiences, making them integral to the success of many movies. Bollywood in the 1970s can be credited with providing a platform for talented actresses to shine and leave a lasting impact on the industry. Actresses like Hema Malini, Rakhi, and Jaya Bachchan gained immense popularity and starred in several successful films. They portrayed diverse characters, ranging from strong and independent women to traditional and vulnerable ones.
In every era, there is significant curiosity about top movie actresses and actors. So in this post, we will look at the Top Bollywood actress in the 1970s
1. Hema Malini
Hema Malini the Dream Girl of the 70s is one of the most popular and successful leading actresses of mainstream Hindi cinema and was considered Numero Uno in the 1970s. She made her acting debut in 1963 with the Tamil film Idhu Sathiyam and first acted in a lead role in Sapno Ka Saudagar (1968). She won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her dual role in the comedy Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), and was nominated ten more times leading up to Baghban (2003). Malini was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2000, the fourth-highest civilian honour awarded by the Government of India.
Top Movies: Johnny Mera Naam (1970), Andaz (1971), Lal Patthar (1971), Seeta Aur Geeta(1972), Jugnu (1973), Dost (1974), Sholay (1975), Sanyasi (1975), Dharmatma (1975), Pratigya (1975), Charas (1976), Trishul (1978), Azaad (1978) and Dillagi (1978), Dream Girl (1977), Andaz , Kranti, Naseeb, Satte Pe Satta and Baghban (2003)
2. Rakhee
Rakhee is a top Indian actress in the 1970s and she appeared in Hindi and Bengali films. She has won several awards including two National Film Awards and three Filmfare Awards. She received Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award in 2003. Raakhee made her film debut with the Bengali film Badhu Bharan (1967). She had her first Hindi film with Jeevan Mrityu (1970).
Top Movies: Aankhon Aankhon Mein (1972), Daag(1973), 27 Down (1974), Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Doosra Aadmi (1977), Trishna (1978), Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), Jurmana (1979), Shakti (1982) and Ram Lakhan (1989)
3. Sharmila Tagore
Sharmila Tagore known for her acting range and beauty is one of the top stars in the 60s and 70s. She made her acting debut at age 14 with Satyajit Ray’s acclaimed Bengali drama The World of Apu (1959), and Hindi movies debut with Kashmir Ki Kali (1964). She is a recipient of two National Film Awards, a Filmfare Award, and the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to Hindi cinema. In 2013, the Government of India honored her with Padma Bhushan, India’s third highest civilian honor for her contributions to the Indian culture through performing arts.
Top Movies: Waqt (1965), Anupama (1966), An Evening in Paris (1967), Aamne Saamne (1967), Satyakam (1969), Aradhana (1969), Safar (1970), Amar Prem (1972), Aa Gale Lag Jaa (1973, Daag (1973), Avishkaar (1974), Mausam (1975), Chupke Chupke (1975), and Namkeen (1982).
4. Jaya Bachchan
Jaya Bachchan was known for her natural style of acting in both mainstream and “middle-of-the-road” cinema. She made her film debut as a teenager in Satyajit Ray’s Mahanagar (1963), Bachchan’s first screen role as an adult was in Guddi (1971), directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee. She has received several accolades, including nine Filmfare Awards and the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian honour awarded by the Government of India.[4]
Top Movies: Uphaar (1971), Koshish (1972), Kora Kagaz (1974), Zanjeer (1973), Abhimaan (1973), Chupke Chupke (1975), Mili (1975), Sholay (1975), Nauker (1979), Silsila (1981), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) and Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003).
5. Mumtaz
Mumtaz started as a child artist and then in a supporting role initially rose to prominence in the early 1970s. Mumtaz made her acting debut at age 11 with Sone Ki Chidiya (1958). She became a prominent glamourous actress during the 1970s and established herself as the highest-paid woman in the Indian entertainment industry from the late 1960s to the mid-1970s. She is the recipient of a Filmfare Award and the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to Hindi cinema.
Top Movies: Ram Aur Shyam (1967), Mere Hamdam Mere Dost (1968), Brahmachari (1968), Do Raaste (1969), Bandhan (1969), Aadmi Aur Insaan (1969), Sachaa Jhutha (1970), Khilona (1970), Tere Mere Sapne (1971), Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971), Apna Desh (1972), Loafer (1973), Jheel Ke Us Paar (1973), Chor Machaye Shor (1974), Aap Ki Kasam (1974), Roti (1974), Prem Kahani (1975) and Nagin (1976).
Neetu Kapoor
Neetu Kapoor is one of the top stars in the 1970s and early 1980s. She made her debut in the swashbuckler film Suraj (1966) and thereafter played a dual role in the romantic comedy Do Kaliyaan (1968).
Top Movies: Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973), Deewaar (1975), Khel Khel Mein (1975), Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Dharam Veer (1977), Parvarish (1977), Jaani Dushman (1979), Kaala Patthar (1979), Yaarana (1981)
Zeenat Aman
Zeenat Aman is one of the top actresses of the 1970s and 80s. She started her career as a model and won the Femina Miss India pageant in 1970. She made her debut with Haré Rama Haré Krishna (1971), for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress and the BFJA Award for Best Actress (Hindi).
Top Movies: Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973), Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974), Ajanabee (1974), Warrant (1975), Chori Mera Kaam (1975), Dharam Veer (1977), Chhailla Babu (1977), Hum Kisise Kum Naheen (1977), and The Great Gambler (1979), Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978), Don (1978), Abdullah (1980), Alibaba Aur 40 Chor (1980), Qurbani (1980), Dostana (1980), and Insaf Ka Tarazu (1980), (1981), Mahaan (1983), Pukar (1983), Jagir (1984), Teesri Aankh (1982), and Hum Se Hai Zamana (1983).
Parveen Babi
Parveen Babi was a leading actress in the 1970s and early 1980s, She was known for her “glamorous” acting style and was one of the highest-paid actresses. She made her acting debut with the film Charitra in 1972 and received recognition for her role as Neela in the drama film Majboor (1974).
Top Movies: Deewaar (1975), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Suhaag (1979), Kaala Patthar (1979), The Burning Train (1980), Shaan (1980), Kaalia (1981), Namak Halaal (1982).
Rekha
Rekha is one of the finest actresses in Indian cinema and was one of Hindi cinema’s leading stars through most of the 1980s and early 1990s. She is the recipient of several accolades, including one National Film Award and three Filmfare Awards. In 2010, the Government of India honoured her with Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honour. She started her career with South movies and made her Hindi debut with Sawan Bhadon (1970).
Top Movies: Sawan Bhadon (1970), Raampur Ka Lakshman (1972), Kahani Kismat Ki (1973), and Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye (1974), Ghar (1978), Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), Khubsoorat (1980), Baseraa (1981), Ek Hi Bhool (1981), Silsila (1981), Vijeta (1982) and Umrao Jaan (1981)
Reena Roy
Reena Roy made her film debut with the drama Zaroorat (1972) and was one of the top actresses in the 1970s. By 1976, Roy became one of the highest-paid actresses in Bollywood after starring in two of the year’s biggest box-office successes, the action thriller Kalicharan and the horror film Nagin.
Top Movies: Jaise Ko Taisa (1973), Zakhmee (1975), Kalicharan 1976), Nagin (1976), Apnapan (1977), Jaani Dushman (1979), Aasha (1980), Arpan (1983). Asha Jyoti (1984), Naseeb (1981), Sanam Teri Kasam (1982), and Aadmi Khilona Hai (1993)
Moushumi Chatterjee
Moushumi Chatterjee made her film debut in the Bengali hit Balika Badhu (1967), and her Hindi movie debut in Anuraag in 1972. She was one of the highest-paid actresses in Hindi films during the 1970s.
Top Movies: Naina (1973), Kuchhe Dhaage, Us Paar (1973), Benaam (1974), Humshakal (1974). Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1975), Swarg Narak, Maang Bharo Sajna, Pyaasa Sawan, Jyoti Bane Jwala, Swayamvar, Anand Ashram , Manzil (1979) and Angoor (1982)
Tanuja
Tanuja is best known for her roles in Hindi and Bengali films. She started her film career with her older sister Nutan in Hamari Beti (1950) as Baby Tanuja. As an adult, she debuted in the film Chhabili (1960) and came into the limelight with Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966).
Top Movies: Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966), Jewel Thief (1967), Nai Roshni (1967), Jeene Ki Raah (1969), Rajkumari (1970), Haathi Mere Saathi (1971), Anubhav (1971), Mere Jeevan Saathi (1972), Ek Baar Mooskura Do (1972), Do Chor (1972) and Yaarana (1982)
Simi Garewal
Simi Garewal is the recipient of several awards including two Filmfare Awards and one Indian Television Academy Award. She is known for her work in Hindi films like Do Badan (1966), Saathi (1968), Mera Naam Joker (1970), Siddhartha (1972), Karz (1980)
Babita
Babita made her debut with Dus Lakh (1966), but it was the romantic thriller Raaz (1967), opposite Rajesh Khanna, that gained her recognition.
Top Movies: Raaz (1967), Dus Lakh (1966), Farz (1967), Haseena Maan Jayegi, Kismat (1968), Ek Shriman Ek Shrimati (1969), Doli (1969), Kal Aaj Aur Kal (1971) and Banphool (1971).
Vidya Sinha
Vidya Sinha made her debut with Raja Kaka (1974) opposite Kiran Kumar. However, fame came to her through the low-budget break-away hit Rajnigandha (1974), directed by her mentor Basu Chatterjee.
Top Movies: Rajnigandha (1974), Chhoti Si Baat (1975), Pati Patni Aur Woh (1978)
Bindiya Goswami
Bindiya made her debut with Hindi film Jeevan Jyoti opposite Vijay Arora in 1976. She rose to prominence with Basu Chatterjee’s Khatta Meetha (1977) and Prem Vivah (1979).
Top Movies: Khatta Meetha (1977), Prem Vivah (1979). Gol Maal (1979), Dada (1979), Shaan (1980).
Leena Chandavarkar
Leena Chandavarkar made her debut in Man Ka Meet (1968). She gave one of her best performances in Mehboob Ki Mehndi with Rajesh Khanna in 1971.