PIX: Meet Bollywood's sexy sisters!

Bollywood's portrayal of a 'sister' is an enduring stereotype.

Either she's a poor, pitiable girl-next-door oozing saccharine virtuousness or a victim of mistreatment triggering our enraged hero's need for revenge. Not all Bollywood sisters adhere to this prototype though.The modern-day bahen is increasingly defiant, sure and sexy.

On Raksha Bandhan, here's looking at some of the hottest Bollywood sisters to hit the screen.

Katrina Kaif, Welcome

Though she's raised by her goofy albeit gangster brothers -- Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor -- Katz freely follows her heart and fashion trends to woo Akshay Kumar in a matter of seconds in Anees Bazmee's frivolous but fun comedy.

Arjun Rampal plays the stern-faced 'Anna' to not one but two scrumptious hotties in the Sajid Khan super-hit Housefull. And both Malaika Arora and Deepika Padukone fall for the same guy, namely Akshay Kumar.

Only the leggy Padukone, however, has the script and strength to stick through with him till the end.

After playing the ultimate fashionista baby sister of Kajol in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Bebo and Tusshar Kapoor -- previously sweethearts in Mujhe Kuchh Kehna Hai and Jeena Sirf Mere Liye -- turn comic siblings for Rohit Shetty's money-minting franchise.

After flirting with him to the hilt in Rascals, Kangna lends glamour to Double Dhamaal as Sanjay Dutt's younger sister.

Plus, there's Mallika Sherawat for added competition.

Abhishek Bachchan's performance may have gone unnoticed in and as Raavan but Priyamani's sultry sister act with a terrifyingly, tragic end made a few sit up and take notice. 

Discovering that the girl you're dating is an underworld don's sister is never a good thing. And so you can imagine Shahid Kapoor's plight when he realises Priyanka Chopra's fiery, furious Sweety is Bhope's (Amol Gupte) chhoti bahen in the sleek and smart, Kaminey.

In an incredible twist, Ash plays the doting, not wife, but twin sister of Shah Rukh Khan in Mansoor Khan's Josh. The light-eyed star breathes fire in her sweet but spunky avatar as Shirley who promptly falls in love with the kid brother of SRK's rival. 

Despite its intense contents, Bipasha Basu, playing sister of mafia men (Emraan Hashmi and Rahul Dev) finds an excuse to flaunt her hourglass figure and play girlfriend to her brothers' best friend Aftab Shivdasani in this Vikram Bhatt vehicle.

As the obsessive, mildly incestuous, glamourous sister of Naseerudin Shah lusting after Shah Rukh Khan in the Mahesh Bhatt flop, Southern siren Ramya made an effective contribution.

Remember the tight-skirt clad, curly-haired, smug and spoilt Seema of Maine Pyaar Kiya?

Pervin Dastur might not have gone places like her on screen brother Mohinish Behl but she sure made a killer impression in Sooraj Barjatya's directorial debut.

Zeenat Aman, of course, continues to be the original groovy sis as the flower power embracing Jasbir/Janice to Dev Anand's affectionate and concerned brother in this engaging tale about a pair of estranged siblings.

Ek hazaron mein, indeed.