1. Vyjanthimala: Did she rule the roost? As one who held her won with the big three: Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar and Dev Anand, she was arguably one of the most successful actresses’ of her times. From Bimal Da to Raj Kapoor and the Chopra camp, she collaborated with them all. She is said to have performed before the Pope when about six.

2. Padmini: Another South Indian beauty who was the buxom type that naturally attracted the attention of Raj Kapoor. Part of the Travancore sisters, she made a great pair with Raj Kapoor and her O Basantipavanpagal on screen was a gem. Sharing space with the likes of Dharam and Rajesh Khanna, surely her juniors, she proved her staying powers.

3. Waheeda Rehman: This actress has spent over half a century on the screen and yet maintains her grace. Guru Dutt’s muse and people flocked to see this Rajamundry- born actress in ‘Rojuluu Maraayi’ or ‘Kahin Pe Nigahein’ and waited to watch with awe when she did Sasural ghenda phool. What a journey!!

4. Hema Malini: After Vyjayanti, she truly was the one with the midas touch. An actress who withstood the Rajesh mania and worked with him on her own terms, she was the dream of an entire generation of men and even actors. Her suitors included the highly talented Sanjeev Kumar; the successful Jeetendra till it was Dharam to whom she would say ‘Sharafat Chod Di Maine’

5. Rekha: Be it on screen or off it she always made news. Till she met her Prof Higgins on the sets of D Anjaane she was every bit the Southie buxom that the south saw as a brand, but there wards she stayed on to be a diva of sorts and to this day is a fashion statement. Her antic jewellery and Kancheepuram silks are a statement at every wards evening to this day though stylists would like her to tone down a little. An actress of tremendous skill sets.

6. Sridevi: Ms Thunder Thighs with Jumping Jack was a formula for filmmakers to sing their ways to the bank. Even her return ‘English Vinglish’ showed that her popularity is still in place and how!! She reigned for a long while and shared screen space with none other than Big B with great success. People are still waiting for the sequel to ‘Mr. India’......

7. Jayaprada: When Satyajit Ray called her the most beautiful actress, she sure drew attention across the board but well before this she had alreadymade her mark. The dumb furl of ‘Sargam’ was not a dumbo. She played her box office cards well and was often on screen with the likes of Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan and thus sure had a special place at the box-office till she travelled to politics.

8. Tabu: Ramanaidu? Boney Kapoor? Who discovered her? Moot question. She is a success story who walked from commercial cinema to serious cinema with consummate ease. Be it Priyadarshan or Mahesh Manjrekar when a role demanded an actress they went to her and with films like ‘Astitva’ and ‘Chandini Bar’, she made a genuine claim to be placed alongside her famous aunt Shabana Azmi.

9. Aishwarya Rai: Well before she made the Friday tryst, she walked the ramp with international success. A regular at the Cannes, she is not just a product ambassador who rakes in the moolah but as an actress had the likes of Yash Chopra, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Mani Ratnam, Aditya Chopra, Ashutosh Gowarikar.......

10. Asin: Having shared screen space with the likes of Abhishek Bachchan. Ajay Devgn. Salman Khan and Aamir Khan she sure has her place entrenched at the box-office of main stream cinema. May not be yet in the league she is placed above but well on her way.

The list is inclusive and surely would miss a few. The likes of Vidya Balan, Deepika Padukone, Shilpa Shetty may be South Indians but are not south based actor and the likes of Rati Agninothri are South Indian actors but not south Indians and thus not in the list.