Lost In Oblivion

A dream debut does not guarantee success. Bollywood has many newbies trying their luck ever year while some get lost among reels of the films, others shine through. But no one can point out what makes a newcomer click with the audience. Each year, we are introduced to many wannabe heroines who come to tinsel town with high hopes and beautiful dreams. Not all are successful in making a mark and become a name to reckon with in the industry. At times, even those who get noticed fade out of the limelight soon after for they are unable to charm audiences again and sustain the competition and challenges that this industry offers.

We profile for you some of those aspiring movie stars who blazed across the Bollywood firmament with a runaway debut hit only to experience darkness at high noon thereafter.

Mandakini

Remembered for – Ram Teri Ganga Maili

One cannot miss out on the woman in a white sari sans the bra from the hit movie Ram Teri Ganga Maili, Mandakini…. One never saw her again in any big banners after working with the RK Banner, except for a few B-grade movies. She will still be remembered for her dare bare act under the waterfall.

Vijeta Pandit

Remembered for – Love Story

Most of us couldn’t remember her after Vijeta sang the song ‘yaad aa rahi hai’ in the mega blockbuster Love Story. Rajendra Kumar cast her alongside with his son Kumar Gaurav. Though the film was a hit, it couldn’t secure the future of the stars. Vijeta had another hit four years later in the form of Mohabbat. But after this, she was never seen onscreen as the main lead. She final got into playback singing.

Bhagyashree

Remembered for – Maine Pyar Kiya

She became a star overnight. This sweet, innocent and beautiful actor was the dream girl of every guy. Even today, when one sees Maine Pyar Kiya, the film that went on to become the highest grosser after Sholay, one craves for having such a soft-spoken and loving partner for life. Bhagyashree bagged the Best Actress award for the MPK thereby outshining co-star Salman Khan’s performance that was quite unnoticed. However, destiny had other plans for Bhagyashree.

She was flooded with offers but the lady who tied the knot with Himalaya soon after the release of Maine Pyar Kiya refused to star against anyone else but hubby Himalaya. This proved fatal for her career that could otherwise have been quite enterprising. The two movies, Qaid Mein Hai Bulbul and Paayal, in which she was paired opposite her husband, were super-flops. This marked the end of her film career.

Zeba Bakhtiyar

Remembered for - Henna

Zeba Bakhtiyar stole the heart of millions with her Bollywood debut in Henna under Raj Kapoor banner. Henna was a huge hit on both sides of the border about two decades ago. Zeba should have made it really big in tinselville but to the great surprise of one and all, she is just recalled as a one-film Bollywood wonder from Pakistan now.

Anu Agarwal

Remembered for - Aashiqui

The promos of Mahesh Bhatt’s ’s Aashiqui claimed — this face can stop a crowd — when he launched dusky damsel Anu Agarwal in the 90s. However, little did he know that Anu will soon relegate to the archives after a series of forgettable films thereafter. Aashiqui did well and the music was a massive hit. However, luck did not favour the long legged beauty who was once compared to dusky sexy siren Smita Patil.

Pooja Batra

Remembered for - Virasat

Virasat got this Former Miss India (1993) the Best Supporting Actress Award in 1997 but not the kind of success one could have expected thereafter. After trying her luck in the film industry with movies like Haseena Maan Jayegi, Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya and Kahin Pyar Na Ho Jaye, she packed her bags to settle down with her orthopaedic doctor husband in California.

Sandhali Sinha

Remembered for – Tum Bin

A cute and fresh face, Sandhali Sinha made her debut against Rakesh Bapat and Priyanshu Chatterjee in Tum Bin, probably her only film in the lead. The music of the flick went on to make record sales and the film was a runaway hit too but did not help the careers of any of the leading actors in anyway.
Though the central character of the movie was Sandhali and her work was appreciated, she never starred in any other movie after that in the lead role.

Mayuri Kango

Remembered for – Papa Kehte Hain

This light-eyed beauty looked fresh as a daisy amidst her other counterparts. The innocent looking Mayuri Kango made her debut in Papa Kehte Hain against child actor Jugal Hansraj. But Mayuri's acting skills and dialogue delivery was a complete turn off and her Bollywood career never really took off.

Chitrangada Singh

Remembered for – Hazaaraon Khwaishen Aisi

Chitrangada Singh ,who debuted in Sudhir Mishra's Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi was never able to firmly place her feet in tinsel town. The movie was critically acclaimed and did help the careers of most people associated with the movie, but could not help this young and pretty actress anyway.

Shamita Shetty, Kim Sharma, Preeti Jhangiani

Remembered for – Mohabbatein

Mohabbatein was a big hit. So much so that it was considered to be a dream debut for actresses Shamita Shetty, Kim Sharma, Preeti Jhangiani and actors like Uday Chopra and Jimmy Shergil. However, none of them could actually hit the top bracket of Bollywood. Preeti knew that her career as goody-two-shoes was short-lived unless she joined the bare dare brigade. So, like her co-stars Kim and Shamita, Preeti also joined the brigade of bare-it-all. However, nothing could help the career of these starlets from sinking.

Gracy Singh

Remembered for – Lagaan

Gracy Singh was the object of envy for many actresses when she was chosen to play the lead opposite Aamir Khan in Lagaan. Her performance was liked by the audience as well as the critics. Not just that, she found a bigger hit with Munnabhai MBBS. But the actress was stuck with a behenji image and could never break away from it. A few flops like Aarman, Wajahh: A Reason to Kill, Shart and Muskaan ensured that Gracy was forgotten by all.

Gayatri Joshi

Remembered for – Swades – We, the people

“Well, we just have to wait and watch for that. Your guess is as good as mine,” Said Gayatri Joshi soon after the release of her one and only film, Swades, We The People when asked whether she might just be a one-time wonder and be in danger of slipping into the oblivion once the euphoria of Swades was over. After gainig name and repute in the world of modeling for seven years, Gayatri entered Bollywood with high hopes. Getting introduced in Bollywood by filmmaker Ashutosh Gowarikar and being cast opposite Shah Rukh in the very first film is a dream start for any debutante actor. But her luck was as unfavourable as was Gracy Singh’s.

Bhoomika Chawla

Remembered for – Tere Naam

Bhoomika too had similar fate. With a huge hit like Tere Naam under her belt people felt Bhoomika would be perfect as the girl-next-door. But the actress couldn’t repeat her success and despite working opposite actors like Salman Khan and Abhishek Bachchan she couldn’t make it big!

Shilpi Shukla