The Best Dressed Bollywood Royals

Deepika, Sonam, Aishwarya, Sridevi, Hema Malini...

There aren't enough stories about kings and queens in Bollywood.

Seeing the ugly controversy over Padmaavat's release, it's not hard to see why.

As Sanjay Leela Bhansali's epic gets ready for release on January 25, curiosity to watch the film has reached an all time high.

Before we watch Padmaavat in theatres, Sukanya Verma looks at some of the best-dressed royal ladies on screen.

Deepika Padukone, Padmaavat

The statuesque beauty is a sight for sore eyes in all her bejeweled splendor playing a role that's in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

 

Priyanka Chopra, Bajirao Mastani

Sporting the traditional nauvari and nath, PC transforms into a picture of Maharashtrian grace and steals the show as the Peshwa's spirited wife.

 

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Jodhaa Akbar

Aishwarya radiates the magnificence of Rajasthani regality in ornate lehengas and uncut diamonds to play emperor Akbar's better half in Ashutosh Gowariker's epic romance.

 

Sonam Kapoor, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo

The eternally stylish Sonam gives us serious wardrobe goals with her rich, ethnic turn as the modern-day princess of Sooraj R Barjatya's middling family drama.

 

Anushka Shetty, Baahubali: The Conclusion

Silk and spunk blend beautifully on Anushka's warrior princess avatar in ways that make her appear fierce, feminine and fabulous.

 

Sridevi, Puli

Trust Sridevi to have fun with the genre as evident in Puli's quirky flamboyance, where she plays a tyrant queen under an evil spell.

 

Ileana D'Cruz, Baadshaho

Ileana channels vintage royalty while conveying the dark impulses of aristocratic life during the Emergency with impeccable results in Milan Luthria's dispensable heist drama.

 

Madhuri Dixit, Dedh Ishqiya

The star with a million-dollar smile is every bit seductive and simmering as the sophisticated, stylish begum of Abhishek Chaubey's rollicking sequel.

 

Kareena Kapoor, Asoka

Bebo breathes fire and sensuality with kohl eyes, tattooed arms and Amrapali costumes as a medieval princess in the third century. And totally works it.

 

Rekha and Karisma Kapoor, Zubeidaa

Manoj Bajpayee's gorgeous queens sparkle in lavish, traditional, refinement in the most stunning fashion for Shyam Benegal's critically acclaimed Zubeidaa.

 

Hema Malini, Razia Sultan

Hailed for inherent regal grace, Hema Malini looks like she was born to rule in her magnificent turn in and as Razia Sultan.

 

Zeenat Aman, Dharam Veer

The 1970s hottie lends her bratty princess a kitschy touch befitting of Manmohan Desai's sensibilities in one of her biggest blockbusters, Dharam Veer.

 

Sadhana, Rajkumar

As the tribal princess who makes Shammi Kapoor go weak in the knees, Sadhana turns on the charm in her fashionable ensemble of silk and fur.

 

Vyjayanthimala, Prince

She played royalty on quite a few occasions, but her red-hot Badan Pe Sitare glamour is simply timeless in audience memory.