1)Nutan-When it comes to acting of hindi film actresses who can beat nutan?With the most filmfare awards(I think five) she is one actress who has the most author backed roles in classics like Bandini, Sujata, Milan, Saudagar, Main tulsi tere angan ki.A brilliant performer, she always maintained a low profile.Her most memorable film-Bandini.She also was the highest paid actress in the madhubala-nargis era.
2)Waheeda Rehman-A classy beauty she was also part of projects which were classy.Be it guru dutt’s pyasa/kagaz ke phool, dev anand’s guide she always did justice to her roles.She was also the first actress to experiment with her films a lot(something that actors do now but not then).Her most memorable fil-Guide.
3)Rekha-Can anyone do umrao jaan better???(Aishwarya is going to receive a lot of flak for the remake , mark my words)She looked the part as she did in silsila, khoobsurat, khoon bhari maang, muqaddar ka sikandar, ghar to name a few of his hits.Which other actress of her gen can even imagine to do an item no the way she did in parineeta.She can suit any role, is a very powerful actress and has the best of asha bhonsle’s songs in her kitty.(umrao jaan and ijazat)
4)Smita Patil-She had a short but sparking career and is missed by directors and fans even today.You should watch bhumika, mirch masala, arth to see her range.She did a couple of commercial films with amitabh as well which were hits.
5)Madhuri/sridevi-I am keeping them together as excluding one would be severe injustice to her.Both were reighning queens of their times and were paid more than even the no.1 hero of their times.Sridevi had a great sense of comedy and hilarious expression(watch mr.india and chaalbaz) as well as a range of expressions(lamhe, chandni).When people talk of yash raj heroines she is the best.No yash raj heroine has ever looked better.And what do I say about madhuri.If there was any complete actress(acting, looks, dance) she was it.She carried films on her shoulders(*Hum aapke hain kaun, raja, saaajan).People waited for her item nos.She was also a very good actress of huge range.