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Bollywood actresses of the ’90s and 2000s

The ’90s and early 2000s were Hindi cinema’s last pre-internet golden run — massive song-and-dance spectacles, 100-day theatrical runs, and a handful of leading ladies who carried entire films on their names. No social media, no PR teams managing every frame. Just screen presence.

Three of them are back in the conversation right now. Tanushree Dutta’s interviews keep making headlines, Ayesha Jhulka has been popping up in reunion coverage and streaming projects, and Manisha Koirala is in a career second act most people didn’t see coming after her cancer diagnosis. That’s a good excuse to look at the whole era — the stats, the fitness habits, and what these women are doing in 2024-25.

Heights and weights below are the figures most widely reported for each actress. Treat them as ballpark, not gospel — few Bollywood stars publish hard numbers.

1. Tanushree Dutta

Image: Bollywood Hungama / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Born 19 March 1984 in Jamshedpur, Dutta won Femina Miss India Universe in 2004 and went straight into films with Aashiq Banaya Aapne (2005), followed by Good Boy, Bad Boy, Bhagam Bhag and Dhol. At a reported 5 ft 8 in and around 128 lbs, she had the pageant frame studios wanted for item numbers and glamour roles.

She stepped away from films around 2010, then re-entered public life in 2018 when she detailed harassment allegations tied to the 2008 shoot of Horn ‘OK’ Pleassss — the interview that effectively kicked off India’s #MeToo wave. She’s been candid since about the health fallout, including weight fluctuation and stress-related issues, and credits yoga and a largely vegetarian diet for getting her back on track.

2. Ayesha Jhulka

Image: Atula Siriwardane. AtulaSiriwardane at en.wikipedia / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Jhulka debuted opposite Salman Khan in Kurbaan (1991), then had the kind of year most actresses dream about — Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar and Khiladi, both 1992, both huge. Balmaa, Rang and Waqt Hamara Hai kept her busy through the mid-’90s. She stands about 5 ft 4 in and has stayed near 121 lbs.

She cut back on work in the 2000s, ran a salon business, and came back for Genius (2018) and the Amazon Prime series Hush Hush (2022). She’s talked publicly about walking, swimming and staying off crash diets — the unglamorous stuff that actually works.

3. Manisha Koirala

Image: Bollywood Hungama / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Born 16 August 1970 in Kathmandu, Koirala built one of the era’s most respected filmographies: 1942: A Love Story, Bombay (1995), Khamoshi: The Musical (1996), Dil Se.. (1998). Height around 5 ft 4 in, weight reported near 130 lbs.

Diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012 and treated in New York, she went through chemotherapy, surgery and a long recovery — all of it in her 2018 memoir Healed: How Cancer Gave Me a New Life. Since then she’s played Nargis in Sanju (2018) and Mallikajaan in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi (2024). She practices yoga daily and says sleep and stress management did more for her recovery than anything else.

4. Madhuri Dixit

Image: Bollywood Hungama / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Born 15 May 1967, Dixit was the biggest female star in India for about a decade. Tezaab (1988) made her, Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994) made her untouchable, and Devdas (2002) proved she could still command a frame. She’s about 5 ft 4 in and holds around 121 lbs.

Trained in Kathak since childhood, she’s never relied on gym work alone — dance rehearsals do the cardio. At 57 she still judges Dance Deewane and performs full routines on camera.

5. Kajol

Image: Bollywood Hungama / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Baazigar (1993), Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) — Kajol’s run is arguably the most rewatched of the decade. Born 5 August 1974, she stands about 5 ft 4 in and weighs around 128 lbs.

She’s been blunt about hating the gym, preferring walks and home workouts, and has spoken openly about dropping weight after each of her two pregnancies without extreme dieting.

6. Karisma Kapoor

Image: Bollywood Hungama / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Kapoor debuted at 17 in Prem Qaidi (1991) and spent the decade reinventing herself — from masala heroine in Raja Hindustani (1996) to a National Film Award for Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), then serious dramatic work in Fiza and Zubeidaa. She’s about 5 ft 4 in, about 119 lbs.

A long-time yoga and Pilates devotee, she credits portion control over elimination diets. At 50 she still looks close to her Fiza-era frame.

7. Rani Mukerji

Image: Bollywood Hungama / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Born 21 March 1978, Mukerji broke out with Ghulam and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in 1998, then stacked up Hum Tum, Veer-Zaara, Black (2005) and the Mardaani films. At about 5 ft 3 in and 123 lbs, she’s one of the shorter leading ladies of the era — and never cared.

For Mardaani she trained in basic combat choreography and shed weight to look like a working cop rather than a movie star.

8. Preity Zinta

Image: Bollywood Hungama / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Zinta arrived in Dil Se.. (1998), played an unwed teenage mother in Kya Kehna (2000) when nobody else would, and anchored Kal Ho Naa Ho and Veer-Zaara. Born 31 January 1975, she’s around 5 ft 6 in and 123 lbs.

She’s co-owned the IPL’s Punjab Kings since 2008 and is a committed runner, favouring regular cardio over fad cleanses.

9. Bipasha Basu

The former model turned Ajnabee (2001) and Jism (2003) star was Bollywood’s first genuine fitness brand. Born 7 January 1979, she’s about 5 ft 7 in and has hovered near 130 lbs through most of her career.

She released her own workout DVD series starting with Love Yourself in 2010 and trains with weights, functional circuits and yoga. She’s also been open about postpartum weight after her daughter’s birth in 2022.

10. Tabu

Born 4 November 1971, Tabu took the critical route — Maachis (1996), Astitva (2000), Chandni Bar (2001) — and never left. At about 5 ft 7 in and around 132 lbs, she’s one of the tallest of the group.

Her late-career run is the real story: Haider, Andhadhun (2018), Drishyam 2, and the HBO series Dune: Prophecy in 2024. She keeps it simple — swimming, walking, and no interest in gym culture.

What stands out across this list isn’t the numbers. Most of these women sit in a narrow 5’3″–5’8″, 119–132 lb band. It’s the longevity. Koirala beat cancer and is headlining Bhansali productions. Tabu is on HBO. Jhulka’s back on streaming. Dutta changed an industry conversation. The ’90s stars didn’t fade out — they just stopped doing it on everyone else’s terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Bollywood actresses of the ’90s and 2000s are featured in this list?

The list highlights Tanushree Dutta, Ayesha Jhulka and Manisha Koirala, three leading ladies from Hindi cinema’s last pre-internet golden run. All three are back in the public conversation in 2024-25.

Who is first on the list of Bollywood actresses of the ’90s and 2000s?

Tanushree Dutta is listed first. She won Femina Miss India Universe in 2004 and debuted in Aashiq Banaya Aapne (2005).

How were the actresses chosen for this list?

They were selected for carrying major films during the ’90s and 2000s and for being back in the news in 2024-25 through interviews, streaming projects or career comebacks.

Who is the tallest actress on this list?

Tanushree Dutta, at a reported 5 ft 8 in and around 128 lbs, has the tallest reported frame of the three — a pageant build that suited the glamour roles studios cast her in.

What fitness habits do these ’90s Bollywood actresses follow?

Tanushree Dutta credits yoga and a largely vegetarian diet, while Ayesha Jhulka relies on walking and swimming and has publicly avoided crash diets.

Which actress on the list had the biggest comeback?

Manisha Koirala, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012 and treated in New York, returned with roles including Nargis in Sanju and wrote the memoir Healed: How Cancer Gave Me a New Life.