'Karisma's stunningly gorgeous'

Om Puri. A man who has managed to bridge across two worlds.

The art and the commercial.

Bollywood and Hollywood.

Looking back at some of his best co-stars, this versatile actor lists his five favourite actresses and adds one more, "It wouldn't do justice to have just five. They are all so beautiful. And then there are so many that I have not worked with yet. Like Aishwarya Rai..."

Here's the list

Smita Patil: I think she was a wonderful person, a great actor and somebody who would not pass judgments. That was the best quality about her. She would actually sit for weeks and try to get in within the skin of the character. Her preparation was thorough...she would not cheat. She was somebody completely devoted to her craft.

Madhuri Dixit: One of my favourite actresses to work with! Madhuri has always been professional. She carries herself with great dignity. There are absolutely no airs about her. She is completely unassuming and no obvious signs of any tantrums, any starry airs. She has so much untapped potential. Again a brilliant actress...

Shabana Azmi: I think I have done so many movies with Shabana that I just cannot even miss her out of my list. Smita, Shabana and me shared a lot of screen space, a lot of scenes and a lot of good memories together. She is an all-time favourite.

Karisma Kapoor: It's when you actually work with her that you realise why she is so successful. Karisma's stunningly gorgeous. She is so extremely disciplined and very hardworking that it is a pleasure working with her.

Urmila Matondkar: Everytime I work with her she looks different. It's almost like watching a Chameleon transforming herself. Like her performance in Satya or her fun role in Kunwara, she is definitely someone I would like to watch out for.

Preity Zinta: She is a bundle of energy and I think she has come miles from her first film. And what's more as an actress, I think she is always growing. From what she was in the first few scenes of Farz, which was shot in the initial days of her joining the industry to what she has become now. I saw Kya Kehna and I had to call and congratulate her at the wonderful job that she has done in the movie. She is giving her roles the justice that they require.

Om Puri spoke to Nidhi Taparia