7. Shabana Azmi: A prominent personality in cinema and theatre, she launched her career in parallel cinema. Her charming and elegant looks have always made her the hot favourite amongst parallel cinema directors. She was the first choice for movies like Water. She has played significant roles in movies like Fire where she played the role of a lesbian. She has bagged numerous awards for her exemplary performances. She is a prominent women's rights activist and a member of the upper house of parliament, Rajya Sabha.