Cinema’s Ms Dependables

Love them, adore them and bank on them. On Women’s Day, trade pundits list three female actors who can carry a film firmly on their light shoulders.

Love them, adore them and bank on them. On Women’s Day, trade pundits list three female actors who can carry a film firmly on their light shouldersPriyanka Chopra

She is one actor who is trying to balance experimental cinema with commercial entertainers. PC’s risky outings like What’s Your Raashee and 7 Khoon Maaf may have not set the cash registers ringing, but her acting prowess has won her critical acclaim. "Priyanka has taken the most risks as far as women-led movies are concer-ned and proven her mettle despite their fate," says trade analyst and critic, Joginder Tuteja. The actor, 28, won a national award for Fashion and charges Rs.5 crore per movie, as per industry sources.

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Rani Mukerji
With movies like Black and No One Killed Jessica (NOKJ), Rani, 32, has proven that she can carry a film on her shoulders. Many were trying to write her off, but her outing as a fiesty journalist in NOKJ has resurrected Rani’s career and reaffirmed her status in the industry. “Even if her films fail, Rani manages to get accolades and that is what is important to be bankable,”says film critic Rajeev Masand. Rani charges above Rs.3.5 crore per movie, as per industry insiders. She has also signed Reema Kagti’s much-anticipated film opposite Aamir Khan.

Vidya balan
Vidya, 33, has defied Bollywood’s two stereotypes - that a film needs a strong male lead to succeed, and if it does have one, the heroine goes unnoticed. Vidya, however, carried Ishqiya on her shoulders and got a tremendous response for Paa, despite Big B’s presence. The actor’s plane-Jane act in No One Killed Jessica won her critical plaudits. “Vidya is an actor you can depend on,” says trade analyst Amod Mehra. She reportedly charges Rs.3 crore per film.