My Top 5 Favorite Actresses

I read this book High Fidelity by Nick Hornby. It's about the life and loves of a London record shop owner. It's a hilarious and insightful novel which I would recommend to all. In the book, the main character Rob and his two friends were obsessed with making lists of their top five favorite movies, books, actors, records, etc. 

I have since adopted this habit and have been obsessively compiling lists of my favorite things. It's a strangely addictive habit and if you look through my Philosophy notes, you'll see lists and lists of things with rejected entries scratched out and replaced. 

So, I've decided to share with you my top five favorite actresses, actors, and films in that order. So here we go! 

1. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan - The Forever Favorite

I don't even remember when I started loving her... Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam maybe? One thing is for sure. I will always love Ash and everything she does no matter how awful (Mistress of Spices). Luckily for me, more often than not her films are excellent. Jodhaa Akbar, Devdas, HDDCS, Taal, Bride&Prej, Dhoom 2, Guru, Chokher Bali, Raincoat and even The Film That Failed Her Immensely Umrao Jaan. 

Hollywood Counterpart: Jennifer Garner (without the major butt-kicking awesomeness) 

2. Kareena Kapoor - The Black Sheep Favorite

Everyone hates Kareena Kapoor. But that's only one of the reasons why I think she's the cat's meow. I fell for her when I saw Chameli, which proved to me she could do a non-glam role. Years later, I read Othello again and re-watched Omkara. While everyone in that film is excellent, Kareena (as Dolly) absolutely NAILED the Desdemona role. I mean, she played Desdemona exactly as I had read her (naive but mysterious enough that you wonder if her innocence is an act). And that's when I realized that Kareena is an actress, not just a star. Then Jab We Met came out and I was floored. I don't even want to start on how brilliant Kareenz is in that movie because it will take forever. 

Hollywood Counterpart: Keira Knightley

3. Konkona Sensharma - The Art House Favorite

Konkona Sensharma is a good actress in that she is wonderful in every movie she does. Page 3, Omkara, Luck By Chance, Life in a Metro, Wake Up Sid!, the list goes on and on. And she is a dark horse candidate for the most beautiful Bollywood actress. If you don't love Konkona after Aaja Nachle, then I don't know what to tell you. 

Hollywood Counterpart: Kate Winslet

4. Priyanka Chopra - The "Everyone's Favorite" Favorite

I honestly cannot think of a person who doesn't love Priyanka Chopra. She's just so warm and pretty and friendly. And she is a good actress (What's Your Raashee?, Aitraaz, Fashion) with the right directors. There's something so inviting and charming about her that you don't even mind watching her bad movies (Krrish, Drona). 

Hollywood Counterpart: Penelope Cruz

5. Katrina Kaif - The Criminally Underrated Favorite

When I tell people that I love Katrina Kaif, they usually give me a look that means "you only like her because she's beautiful". Hello, I am not that shallow! Fine, Katrina's acting in her earlier work (Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya, Welcome, Humko Deewana Kar Gaye) is pretty bad. But she's grown. New York, Namastey London, Singh is Kinng - she does some solid work in these films. And she has potential to become as good as the other four in my list. With the right directors and characters, she can do wonders. 

Hollywood Counterpart: Scarlett Johansson 

So that's my list. Feel free to leave your top 5 in the comments sections as well as thoughts on mine. Happy Halloween!