Birthday feature: Yash Chopra and his leading ladies

New Delhi: Director, producer and the founder of Yash Raj Films, late Yash Chopra's 83rd birth anniversary falls today, the 27th of September. His movies had a unique touch, which no one else could ever bring out on screen. From heroes who would go beyond all borders to see their loved ones happy, to heroines who were women of substance and took a firm stand to beautiful locales and amazing songs, his movies taught audiences how to dream.This legendary filmmaker brought glamour and fresh meaning to the performances of his actresses. Chopra worked with all the leading ladies during his five-decade-long glorious cinematic journey. His heroines looked ethereally gorgeous - remember Parveen Babi's carefree love in Big B's blockbuster Deewaar, Rakhee who immortalized Sahir Ludhianvi's ghazals in Kabhi Kabhie, Rekha of the menage a trois fame in Silsila, Sridevi's screen-scorching performance in Lamhe and Chandni, Juhi Chawla in longtime friend Shah Rukh Khan's film Darr, Madhuri Dixit in SRK's Dil Toh Pagal Hai, Preity Zinta in the Indo-Pak romance film Veer Zaara and Katrina Kaif with SRK in Jab Tak Hai Jaan. On his birth anniversary, let us take you down memory lane with a glimpse of all the leading ladies he worked with. Parveen Babi ----- Parveen Babi gave many blockbuster hits with Amitabh Bachan. But the movie Deewar established her as the "new Bollywood woman”, whose character Anita is "a liberated working girl, smoking, drinking and sleeping with her lover, defying every "sati savitri" Hindi film heroine persona. Rakhee--- Yash Chopra beautifully captured her innocence in the movie 'Kabhie Kabhie'. Sahir's poems and the romantic scenes between Amitabh and Rakhee, make you fall in love with the very idea of love.Raakhee singing 'Kabhie Kabhie' on her wedding night is still etched in the minds of many cinegoers. The actress beautifully brought forth the pain of turning down her lover in the film. Also read: Yash Chopra Birthday Special: 5 of his best romantic movies Sridevi --- Yash Chopra gave Sridevi two of the best films of her career...Chandni and Lamhe. Sridevi's saris and style in Chandni became a big craze on those days (ask the saree shop owners). Yash Chopra was a trendsetter in every way. Rekha---- He managed what nobody else could. He brought Rekha, Amitabh Bachchan, and Jaya Bachchan together to share screen space in Silsila. A real life drama enacted on the silver screen. Rekha's persona on celluloid made many hearts skip a beat. Her long tresses and dark lip colour became a trademark for the diva's eternal beauty. Preity Zinta ---- Veer Zaara redefined the meaning of romance in Indian cinema and made us believe in love in its purest, truest, ideal form. Preity, who used to look tomboyish, was given her complete makeover in Veer Zaara by Yash Chopra. She never looked so beautiful and Indian in any other movie. To complete her Pakistani Muslim girl look, she wore nose pin for the first time in any movie. Madhui Dixit ---The original 'Dhak-dhak; girl who ruled the screen during the Nineties came back with a gorgeous performance in Dil Toh Paagal Hai. The actress popularised the simple suits back in late 90s. Her portrayal of a young woman faced with a moral dilemma fetched her a fourth Filmfare Best Actress Award. Juhi Chawla ---- Juhi Chawla's curly hair and off shoulder dress became the trademark in 90s with her blockbuster 'Darr'. This movie became the third top-grossing film of the year in Indian cinema. Katrina Kaif ---Since the release of the first trailer of 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan', everyone seems to be talking about Katrina and her looks in the film. Yash Chopra made a conscious effort to give Katrina a makeover in the film, but he did not remain alive to see the reactions of cinegoers to the persona of his latest heroine.