Birth date: 16th August 1970

Age: 37

Breakthrough: Manisha made her acting debut in a Nepali movie in 1989. Her Bollywood debut came two years later in 1991 in a Subhash Ghai film 'Saudagar'.

The film was a box-office success and established Manisha as an actress with potential instantly.

Where she is now: After gaining obscene amount of weight and developing drinking problems, Manisha's movie career became almost non-existent.

But two years and an effective weight loss programme later, Manisha is back on the social circuit with a bang. Her first movie after the brief hiatus, Sirf has released recently.

She is also active in protecting Nepali girls being trafficked into prostitution in India.

HOT Quotient: Manya, as she is called fondly, always had it in her, to light up the place she entered. She makes it to the list, simply because of her dazzling comeback from obscurity.

Photograph: A movie still from Company