From the past few years, there’s a shift in Bollywood. We are watching movies where female leads are not just to dance and look glamorous, but they are getting author-backed roles. In 2019, many actresses gave fantastic performances and also proved their stardom by giving box office hits.
So, today let’s look at the list of actresses who ruled the silver screen with their performances…
Kangana Rananut (Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi / Judgmentall Hai Kya)
In January 2019 released Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi. Kangana Ranaut nailed it as Rani Laskhmibai on the big screen. Then in July released Judgementall Hai Kya in which Kangana gave her career’s best performance. She deserves awards for her performance in both the movies.
Bhumi Pednekar (Saand Ki Aankh)
Bhumi Pednekar starred in four films in 2019, Sonchiriya, Saand Ki Aankh, Bala and Pati Patni Aur Woh. But it was Saand Ki Aankh in which she stood out. The actress was simply fantastic in the movie and did a great job as Chandro Tomar.
Rani Mukerji (Mardaani 2)
Rani Mukerji is undoubtedly one of the most talented actresses in Bollywood. With each and every film, she surprises her fans. This year we saw her as Shivani Shivaji Roy on the big screen in Mardaani 2 and Rani once again proved her mettle as an actress. She was mind-blowing especially in the climax of the movie.
Taapsee Pannu (Badla / Game Over / Saand Ki Aankh)
Taapsee Pannu had four releases this year, Badla, Game Over, Mission Mangal, and Saand Ki Aankh. It was her performances in Badla, Game Over and Saand Ki Aankh that impressed us a lot. She was amazing as Naina Sethi, fantastic as Sapna and excellent as Prakashi Tomar.
Priyanka Chopra (The Sky Is Pink)
Priyanka Chopra made her Bollywood comeback after a gap of three years with Shonali Bose’s The Sky Is Pink. Though the film didn’t do a great business at the box office, Priyanka was exceptional as Aditi Chaudhary in the movie. Now, we wait to see her in more Bollywood movies.
Vidya Balan (Mission Mangal)
After Tumhari Sulu in 2017, Vidya Balan came on the big screen in Mission Mangal after a gap of nearly two years. Well, the wait was worth as Vidya was wonderful in Mission Mangal. She was actually the soul of the film and stood out in the multi-starrer.
Kareena Kapoor Khan (Good Newwz)
In 2018, Kareena Kapoor Khan starred in the film Veere Di Wedding. This year, we saw her in Good Newwz and she looked like a million bucks in the film. But apart from looking gorgeous, Kareena has given a very mature and confident performance in the film and that’s why she has made it to our list.
Sonam Kapoor (Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga / The Zoya Factor)
Box-office wise it wasn’t a great year for Sonam Kapoor as both her films Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga and The Zoya Factor failed to mint money. However, in both the movies, Sonam performed very well. In ELKDTAL, Sonam played a different role and impressed one and all, and in The Zoya Factor, we got to see the quintessential Sonam Kapoor.
Yami Gautam (Uri: The Surgical Strike / Bala)
Yami Gautam clearly had a great 2019. She starred in two blockbusters and also proved her mettle as an actress. She was damn good as an intelligence agent in Uri: The Surgical Strike and was awesome in Bala. In the latter, she made us laugh out loud with her performance and stood out in the star cast.
Alia Bhatt (Gully Boy / Kalank)
Last but not least, we have Alia Bhatt on our list. The actress impressed us a lot as Safeena in Gully Boy and was amazing as Roop in Kalank. She once again proved that she can carry any role given to her.
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.