When heroines turned producers

An actress' shelf life is short. Especially in Bollywood.

It comes as little surprise then, that actresses have started looking at other lucrative avenues while there's still time. Ameesha Patel recently announced the launch of her production house Patel Productions in collaboration with a friend.

We take a look at other actresses from Bollywood who have gone down the same path.

Although Katrina doesn't need to start making the moves just yet, apparently the actress is so taken by a French film that she's considering turning producer to recreate it in Hindi.

Katrina is in the process of buying the rights of the film to make a Hindi remake and is also in talks with production houses like Eros and UTV for prospective collaborations as the actress also plans to launch her sister Isabel with the film.

This former beauty queen just got hitched in February, and now has added another feather in her cap -- the actress is producing her first film Chalo Dilli, along with husband Mahesh Bhupathi.

Chalo Dilli, also stars Vinay Pathak, and will release this Friday.

Together with Zayed Khan, Dia Mirza launched her production house Born Free this February.

The duo's first film is a romantic comedy titled Love, Breakups, Zindagi and according to them, it's an entertaining take on present day relationships.

Mrs Khiladi bid adieu to films when she settled in holy matrimony with Akshay Kumar back in 2001.

Now an owner of a flourishing interior designs business, the former actress also ventured in film production with Akshay Kumar's Thank You recently.

The stunning single mum-of-two has had little luck with movies. Since she's had more misses than hits over the years, Sushmita took it upon herself to find the perfect role.

The Bong beauty is reportedly not only starring as the lead in her English film Jhansi Ki Rani but also producing it. She says that it is her dream project.

The vivacious Juhi Chawla has kept her hands full with notable films like Jhankar Beats, My Brother Nikhil and the upcoming I Am even after marrying and having kids.

But before she settled down to these unglamorous roles, Juhi tried her hand at production with close friends and associates Shah Rukh Khan and filmmaker Aziz Mirza with their production house Dreamz Unlimited and starred in the first film Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani opposite Shah Rukh.

Pooja Bhatt started her career with dad Mahesh Bhatt's Daddy and gave fine performances in films like Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahi and Sadak.

Coming from a family of producers and directors, it seemed only natural that Pooja veered towards production early on, although she is known more as a director.

She started out with Tamanna in 1997, which she produced as well as starred in and turned director much later in 2003 with Paap.

This Nepali beauty turned producer with Paisa Vasool where she acted alongside Sushmita Sen. The film was an uncredited remake of 2001 Hollywood film High Heels And Low Lifes.

The film didn't do any good to Manisha's waning career though.

Hema Malini may have been the one to start this trend. The yesteryear leading lady started off with Dil Ashna Hai starring Shah Rukh Khan and the late Divya Bharti in 1992.

Her other production ventures include two television serials in 1995 and 2010.