Politics led to Bachchan taking a mid-1980s sojourn from the big-screen, the then-Congress neta turning in the starched white khadi for black leather and an arm made of chain-mail. Shahenshah was a smash hit, but his subsequent films bombed.

After Khuda Gawah in 1992, Bachchan left the greasepaint for five years, then returned in a corporate avatar with the Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited.

As his ABCL dream turned sour, Bachchan produced his own comeback film Mrityudaata in 1997, another dud. His forthcoming films left audiences cold, yet the megastar bounced back against all odds with television, resurrecting himself to complete glory in 2000 with Kaun Banega Crorepati.

Soon, as he took over living rooms, power and good films returned, and Bachchan remains Bollywood's biggest, ever.

Born Harikishen Goswami, he named himself after his idol Dilip Kumar's character in the 1949 film, Shabnam. As the years progressed, Manoj became a powerful leading actor, and soon the face of nationalistic cinema in India. In 1981, life came a full, glorious circle, and he directed his idol in the smash hit Kranti -- and immediately bowed out of the arclights while right on top, leaving a staggering legend behind.

Inexplicably, six years later, 'Bharat' popped back in Kalyug Aur Ramayan, playing a modern-day Hanuman in a poorly-conceived comedy. A string of embarrassing films ensued, being capped finally by the 1989 Clerk -- which had a sequence featuring the then 52-year-old actor as a college student. He left cinema after that, and besides an appearance in the forgettable 1995 film Maidan-E-Jung, there were to be no more comebacks (unless you count his recent complaint against Om Shanti Om one

The ravishing actress first gained attention playing a vamp in 1965's Mere Sanam -- delectable visuals from that Yeh Hai Reshmi song remain etched all across our brains -- and went on to sizzle the screen and flash many an unforgettable smile.

By 1969, Mumtaz was one of the top stars of the period, and acted in over a hundred films -- yet her career only lasted 12 years.

1977's Aaina, opposite Rajesh Khanna, was a flop, and Mumtaz chose the moment to bid Bollywood adieu, to retreat into a comfortable marriage. 12 years later, Mumtaz came back in the highly awaited Aandhiyan -- but this too was a failure and she heartbreakingly chose to turn down all film offers since. Sigh.

After arguably the greatest debut in Bollywood history, the 16-year-old stunner courted controversy and went off into married life with reigning superstar Rajesh Khanna. The year was 1973, and while the nation courted the actress to return, she chose to stay far away and raise her kids.

1985, then, was the big year. The year Dimple appeared in smash hit Saagar, again courting controversy with a brief topless scene. India, of course, was utterly smitten, and the graceful actress juggled both glamour and National Awards. She almost vanished from the radar in the late 1990s, but despite misconception was active in movies, albeit the ones best left ignored. It was a two year gap after which she rediscovered stardom in 2001's Dil Chahta Hai, though.

Damn the age (She was 50, June 8), very few can be as effortlessly ethereal.

When Gemini Ganesan's daughter, the former child-artiste waded into Hindi cinema in 1967, it took a while for things to come to a head. She got sexy roles, sure, but in fact, it wasn't until 1976, when she was paired with a lanky superstar in Do Anjaane that she actually got noticed. Since then Rekha and Amitabh made several hit films together, her starry career seemingly in attempt to parallel his.

Rekha did great through the early 1980s, but the approaching 1990s saw her graph falter significantly. New Age heroines had completely displaced her, and the actress fought defiantly against being consigned to secondary roles. The result was a slew of insignificant films. After 1991, she did movies but many of these weren't even given wide releases, so to the majority of the nation, Rekha had retired.

She bounced back 5 years later, in 1996, with Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi and Kamasutra, incredibly varied films that proved she still had what it takes. Now, she plays superhero grannies, but still manages to stay alluring.

Not everyone can mud-wrestle with actors half their age and still be called sexy, no sir.