Pakistan's top 5 ladies for Bollywood
When it comes to leading ladies, Pakistan's exports to Bollywood have yet to create major waves.
While Meera, Veena and Sarah Loren failed to gain critical acclaim, we have our hopes pinned on award-winning Humaima Malik as she steps into B-town next to Emran Hashmi in her upcoming film Raja Natwarlal.
With the the recent launch of Zee Network's new entertainment channel 'Zindagi', which shows Pakistan television dramas to Indian viewers for the first time, the possibility of our talented actors catching the eye of Bollywood movers and shakers is higher than ever before.
While a number of sites have worked on their own lists, below are our top five picks of Pakistani actors ready for Bollywood roles.
Mehwish Hayat
Mehwish is beautiful and exceptionally talented. Not only is she a great actress who has played diverse roles, she can shake a leg like no other. With her upcoming item number in Pakistani film Na Maloom Afraad, actor-model-singer Mehwish Hayat is likely to make waves in Bollywood.
Fun fact: In 2008, Hayat won ninth place in sexiest Asian Women in the world in a ranking that included the likes of Priyanka Chopra and Katrina Kaif.
Mahira Khan
Pakistan television's darling Mahira started out as a VJ and made her film debut with Shoaib Mansoor's Bol. The cherub-faced Scarlett Johannson doppelganger is loved for her infectious personality and best known for her role as Khirad in Hum TV's widely successful Humsafar.
Can we see her in Bollywood films? Absolutely.
Mahira has all the makings of a Yash Raj heroine - and boy, can she dance!
Iman Ali
A few years ago, there wasn't a magazine or product that didn't have Iman Ali's sultry face endorsing it. The actress has proved her mettle as a talented actress and graceful dancer (throwback: Supreme Ishq), and was most recently seen in a supporting role in Bol. We weren't quite impressed with her performance in Khuda Ke Liye, but we're guessing the British accent demanded by her character Mary is to blame.
Ali is probably already on the Bollywood radar considering she is dating famed Indian film-maker Imtiaz Ali (maker of Rockstar and most recently Highway) and hobnobbing with B-Town A-listers like Ranbir Kapoor.
Sanam Saeed
We loved her in theater productions and we love her on television.Talented actress and model Sanam Saeed made her screen debut in Mehreen Jabbar's serial Daam. She has since played many unconventional characters and has startled audience and critics alike.
We can't imagine why Bollywood wouldn't nab an actor of her stature - she's gracefully slender and is oozing talent.
Aamina Sheikh
Does it get better than Aamina Sheikh's heart-breaking performance in Seedlings? She is a brilliant actor who has proved her mettle on TV and the silver screen. Aamina started with Barish Mein Dewaar, a telefilm aired in 2008, and has gone on to become a favourite of fashion designers for red carpet looks as well as big brands like Lux.
Her debut film Seedlings brought her international recognition for which she won two awards – the New York Film Festival Award and SAARC Film Festival Award.
The dusky beauty is definitely one to cast in a Bollywood film where the lead female role demands a versatile, confident actor.
Names have not been listed in any particular order