They make you laugh. They make you cry.

They make you sing and dance.

They are the reel women of Bollywood.

They have the power to entertain with the magic in their eyes and music in their voice.

At times projected as a docile lamb, and at times taking the avtaar of a ferocious lioness.

Never underestimate the power of her acting prowess. Be it Nargis, Nutan, Waheeda Rehman or Sridevi, Madhuri and Kajol...the trend of super women enduring the hearts of millions by their sheer enigma and sparkling screen presence continues.

Celebrating womanhood on International Women's day, rediff.com re-introduces you to some of the femme fatales of yesteryears and the ruling divas of present.

Text: Sukanya Verma