Actors turning producers is not an uncommon sight in the film industry today.

Take Sunny Deol (Ghayal, Dillagi, Indian, 23 March 1931 -- Shaheed), Aamir Khan (Lagaan), Shah Rukh Khan (Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, Asoka), Jackie Shroff (Grahan, Jesh Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hai, Sandhya,) and Sanjay Dutt (Kaante).

But actresses, too, seem keen to join the bandwagon.

Years ago, Hema Malini produced the Shah Rukh Khan-Dimple Kapadia-Amrita Singh starrer Dil Aashna Hai. The attempt was a bitter failure.

Vickey Lalwani lists some women who turned producers on the big as well as small screen.

Her dream came true with Dreamz Unlimited, her production company with partners Shah Rukh Khan and Aziz Mirza.

Their debut production Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (starring Shah Rukh and herself and directed by Mirza) bombed, with opening collections as low as 50 percent.

Not to accept defeat, Juhi completed her second production Asoka (starring Shah Rukh, Kareena Kapoor and directed by Santosh Sivan), under Arclights. This film flopped at the box-office too.

While the film looked grand with breathtaking visuals (thanks to Sivan's cinematography), the portrayal of the Buddhist king proved controversal.

Rai apparently had been toying with the idea of turning producer for a while now.

Her maiden venture Dil Ka Rishta, directed by Naresh Malhota and written by mother Vrinda Rai, is co-produced by her brother Aditya and Shabbir Boxwala.

The film stars Arjun Rampal, Priyanshu Chatterjee, Lisa Ray, Raakhee, Paresh Rawal and herself. Almost 50 per cent complete, major portions of the film have been shot in South Africa. It is slated for release by the end of this year.

The Nepali beauty wants to produce films which will be screened at international film festivals. Her debut is an urban comic thriller. The film stars herself and, in all likelihood, Sushmita Sen. Her film will be directed by Mani Ratnam's assistant Sreenivas.

She will also helm the remake of the Hollywood classic Fedora. This film will be directed by Sudhir Mishra, of the Nirmal Pandey starrer Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin fame.

In the pipeline is a film based on the life of her grandfather B P Koirala in Nepalese and subtitled in different languages. The actress hopes to bridge the gap between Nepal and India with this film, created by the Hrithik Roshan controversy last year.

Indian and Nepalese actors will act in this film and it will be shot in both the countries.

She is one of the latest actresses to be bitten by the production bug. Thanks to Sahara Television, she has been assigned to produce six films for them.

The actress has already signed on Sanjay F Gupta, E Niwas, Shrabani Deodhar and Sangeet Sivan (brother of Santosh Sivan).

With husband Boney and brother-in-law Anil Kapoor having their own production houses -- Boney's Narsimha Enterprises and Anil's Kapoor & Kaushik Productions -- Sridevi has started her own independent Sridevi Productions.

She was to star in her debut venture Shakti (a remake of Sally Field's Not Without My Daughter), but backed out due to her pregnancy. Karisma Kapoor stepped in to fill the gap. Sridevi's first foray into production will be Khushi, starring Kareena Kapoor.

Her maiden venture Yeh Dil Maange More, is written and directed by television actor-director Anant Mahadevan.

Tusshar Kapoor will have three girls vying for his love in this film. The actresses have not been decided yet. But it is reported that Kareena Kapoor might be one of them.

Pooja has completed her debut venture Sur -- The Melody Of Life. The film is produced by her production company Fish Eye Network in collaboration with Pritish Nandy Communications. It is scripted and directed by Tanuja Chandra.

The film, starring singer-actor Lucky Ali, newfind Gauri Karnik and Simone Singh, is about a teacher (Lucky Ali) who runs a music school in Ooty. He is in search of talent that he can groom. He finds one in Tina Marie (Gauri Karnik), and later realises that she is more talented than he is. Jealous and insecure, he tries to break her confidence in music.

Pooja's earlier two productions (while she was still associated with the Bhatt's Vishesh Films), Dushman (Sanjay Dutt, Kajol, Ashutosh Rana) and Tamanna (Sanjay Dutt, Paresh Rawal), won acclaim. She broke away from Vishesh Films due to differences with uncle Mukesh Bhatt.

Producer of soap operas on Indian television with mother Shobha Kapoor, Ekta has been on a winning wicket ever since she developed the 'K' fetish to name her projects. Her first venture on the big screen Kyunki Main Jhooth Nahin Bolta (Govinda, Susmita Sen, Rambha) bombed.

Not to be defeated, her second production Kya Dosti Karoge Mujhse Tusshar Kapoor, Esha Deol), will release soon.

The notorious yesteryear vamp turned to production with Anari No 1 (Govinda, Raveena Tandon), in 1999. The film did not fare well.

Her next venture Yeh Dil Aashiqana (Karan Nath, Jeevidha) was a surprise hit. The film dealt with a plane hijack, with the heroine as one of the passengers, and the hero rushing in to save her.

The classy chat show Rendezvous hosted on Indian television by Garewal, is her own production, along with sister Amrita Garewal under Siga Arts International.

The show has had guests of the calibre of Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan, Hrithik Roshan and Suzanne Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh, Rishi and Neetu Kapoor, Vinod and Kavita Khanna, Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan, Kumaramangalam Birla, Ratan Tata and Neena Pillai.

Her first venture Boom, directed by Kaizad Guztad (of Bombay Boys fame), is slated for release in December 2002. The film stars three supermodels Padma Lakshmi, Katrina Kaif (a British model) and Madhu Sapre.

Initially, Boom was to be a joint production of Ayesha and Pooja Bhatt. But Bhatt opted out due to her irreconcilable differences with Gustad.