Bollywood’s leading ladies are ‘sexiest’
This week sees the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s hugely anticipated Bollywood epic – Bajirao Mastani, in which the performances by Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra have been hailed has exceptional by the director. But ahead of the film’s release on 18th December, the leading ladies have been given another accolade – as the sexiest Asian women in the world.
Priyanka Chopra who plays Kashibai in the film, has once again beaten off stiff competition to retain her title as the sexiest Asian woman in the world as featured in 50 Sexiest Asian Women 2015 list. Deepika meanwhile is hot on her heels, climbing two places this year to be voted fourth sexiest Asian woman of 2015!
Millions of international fans voted Priyanka into the top spot of the popular annual poll conducted by the UK-based newspaper Eastern Eye. With a huge global fan base, it is not surprising that this is the third time in the past four years that Priyanka has topped the list. The stunning win rounds off another dream year for the actress, which includes winning accolades for her 2014 films Mary Kom, Dil Dhadakne Do and American TV series Quantico.
Not surprisingly, the former Miss World was clearly delighted to hold onto her crown. “Now that’s a title I’m happy to
hold on to. I’m bringing sexy back! A big thank you to everyone who’s voted for me. Thank you also to Eastern Eye for making me feel ‘sexy’; well, at least for another year. A piece of advice to the ladies – it’s all in the mind. Remember, sexy is as sexy does,” said Priyanka.
While Priyanka is making waves in the US, co-star Deepika Padukone is set to follow suit with a major new Hollywood project yet to be announced. One of the most popular and bankable stars in Bollywood since her debut in 2007, Deepika’s last two films have been huge box office smashes (Piku and Tamasha) and Bajirao Mastani is set to make it three in a row. She features at number 4 in the list this year having secured a huge legion of fans across the world. Deepika has a growing army of over 12 million twitter followers behind her. Such is her huge following and influence that Deepika is featured in FT Magazine’s ‘Women of 2015’, which celebrates extraordinary women who have made their mark and an impact in the world.
Eastern Eye’s Entertainment Editor Asjad Nazir, who founded the list, agrees: “Right now Deepika Padukone is the undisputed queen of the Bollywood box office. That has been demonstrated by her remarkable recent run at the box office, but also the number of votes she received from around the world. With the year’s most lavish Indian movie Bajirao Mastani on the way and a Hollywood film she will be going to even greater heights next year.”
“Priyanka Chopra is doing India proud on the global stage and winning lots of admirers. This was illustrated by the largest-ever number of votes by non-Asians that she received from all over the world. She is clearly building bridges internationally through her art and will continue to do so in the coming years. And by excelling in TV, film and music, the multi-talented actress has shown just how far hard work can take you,” said Asjad.
With two extraordinary women making huge waves across the world, all eyes will be on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus next week. There is no doubt that Bajirao Mastani is set to delight audiences across the world, and go down in cinematic history as one of the most iconic and highly anticipated films to be created in India. A project that has been 10 years in the making for the director, who finally sees his longstanding dream come true, with three amazing leading stars of Bollywood by his side.
Bajirao Mastani, which will transport audiences to a land of war, passion, grandeur and love, is released globally by Eros International & Bhansali Productions on 18th December 2015.
