Bollywood’s No 1 actress race heats up as Deepika, Alia, Rashmika and younger stars compete for top throne again now

Bollywood’s No 1 throne has fallen vacant!

Just about all calculations have failed in the last year, at least as far as the Hindi cinema No 1 female slot goes. The throne is currently vacant, khaali. “Till 2023, Deepika Padukone was undoubtedly the queen,” says a trade source. Pairing up with Shah Rukh Khan, who was returning to the big screen after a gap of four years, Deepika caused a flutter in her swimsuit (orange and yellow) and with huge box office numbers. She followed up with Jawaan (once again with SRK) and consolidated it with Kalki 2898 AD (2024).

Post this, two immediate scenarios played out. Deepika became a mother in September 2024 and took a short break from hectic film activity, leaving room for rumours and reclaimers.

Alia Bhatt, a close second to Deepika, who was being toasted because of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022) and Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani ki Prem Kahani (2023), projected herself as a ‘sitting’ queen.