In my fourth year of compiling the list of the top ten actresses of the year, 2010 has definitely been the most challenging. Call me a cynic, but I believe that the Hindi film industry is going through a crisis of sorts in terms of female talent. Barring a few, the current crop of actresses seems to be stuck in limbo: we have several newcomers who are still learning how to act and veterans who aren’t doing the kind of work they’re capable of (I’m not naming any names!). Nevertheless, 2010 has seen some solid performances by actresses who have shown extreme growth, and that’s certainly a bright sign for the future. So, who made the cut? Let’s have a look.
10. Konkona Sen Sharma and Sonam Kapoor (tie)
They couldn’t be more diametrically different, but these two actresses have both done decent work this year, though neither has really been particularly mindblowing. Dependable as always, Koko was completely natural in Atithi Kab Jaoge and Mirch, but we know that she is capable of so much more. Sonam Kapoor, on the other hand, tried desperately to make her mark with big-budget releases like Aisha and I Hate Luv Storys. She was slammed by critics in both, but audiences seem to be warming up to her.
Next steps: Though we’re extremely happy to hear that Konkona is expecting her first child, we hope that her pregnancy doesn’t keep her away from the silver screen for too long. Let’s be honest, Sonam is still a work in progress. We’d like to see her shy away from the big-budget bonanzas that always cast her as a superficial young girl and move on to something more challenging.
