A History of Bollywood Actors in Swimwear

Known for breaking stereotypes with her progressive career choices, actor Begum Para circa 1951, poses for a photoshoot by the sea.

Nargis in the film Awaara circa 1951.

Nutan in the 1958 film 'Dilli Ka Thug'. We love this feminist storyline where Nutan (who is a championship swimmer) dives into the sea to rescue Kishore Kumar during the film's climax sequence. P.s. Is that a monokini we spy she's wearing?

A rare photograph of legendary actress Suchitra Sen during a summer photoshoot

Tanuja sets fashion goals in 1965, picturised here in a backless, skirted swimsuit in the film 'Chand Aur Suraj'.

Welcome to the world of technicolour! A style icon who was wayyy ahead of her time, Saira Banu channels Hollywood legend, Esther Williams, donning a gold sequined swimsuit with matching headgear in the film 'April Fool' in 1965.

Breaking stereotypes, Sharmila Tagore's icon bikini shoot for the cover of Filmfare in 1966 created quite a stir. It is said that the cover (featured here) was even brought up during the question hour in parliament!

The groovy 60s had truly arrived in Bollywood. Who can forget Sharmila Tagore's waterski-song-sequence fo the 1967 film 'An Evening in Paris'.

Nutan in Yaadgar

The year is 1973. A 16-year-old Dimple makes her debut starring opposite Rishi Kapoor in the film' Bobby'. The film became one of the biggest hits and fashion trendsetters of the decade. Case in point—Dimple's red bikini, a look that is emulated till date.

Enter Zeenat Aman. The OG 70s style icon. Her printed beach ensemble from the 1973 film 'Heera Aur Panna', complete with a delicate waist chain, is considered fashion-relevant to this date.

In the 1979 film 'The Great Gambler', you can see Zeenat wearing a bikini with a printed bottom and solid top, another fashion-forward choice.

By the eighties, wearing swimwear was no longer considered to be risque. One of the most popular actors of the time, Praveen Babi glamourized beachwear by donning matching sarongs, jewellery and ruffle-adorned styles.

The actor Mandakini, who shot to fame in 1985, is seen here posing for a photoshoot in a shiny, iridescent bikini with a ruched bottom, a style that has made quite a comeback off-late.

Madhuri Dixit dons an eighties-style striped swimwear as she makes her debut in the 1989 film 'Tezaab'.

Kajol can be seen wearing a tropical-printed maillot suit with high-cut sides, a style that was extremely popular in the 1990s.

Actor Juhi Chawla dons an all-black, form-fitting suit with noodle straps (another nineties rage) in the 1993 film 'Darr'.

Sonali Bendre introduces a more modern beach aesthetic to Bollywood, in a stylish, all-white bikini, worn with a diaphanous printed wrap and sunnies for the 1995 film 'Takkar'.

Come 1995 and Urmila Matondkar's sartorial choices in 'Rangeela' set fashion trends for years to come. Her all-black, ruched, plunge-neck bathing suit is synonymous with nineties glam to this date.

Bollywood enters the noughties clad head-to-toe in designer outfits. Stylists now scan the fashion runways to keep actors kitted-out in the latest trends. Here, you can see Bipasha Basu rocking siren-red bikini accessorised with chunky gold bangles in the 2002 film 'Raaz'.

Priyanka Chopra channels a Bo Derek vibe in a gold, sequined monokini for the 2008 film 'Dostana.'

Deepika Padukone in a neon, striped 3 piece suit for the film 'Bachna Ae Haseeno'.

Lara Dutta wears a fabulous sequined bikini in 'Blue'—Bollywood's 2009 foray into making an action-thriller filmed underwater.

Kareena Kapoor in a neon-green Bikini from the '2009' film Tashan, the look that sparked the whole 'size-zero' craze (and debate).

Swimwear becomes more stylised than ever, from Alia's Bandeau style to Katrina's neon Monokini, Kangana's iconic Discount Universe sequined bikini on our 2018 Cosmo cover and more. Bollywood actors now wear the latest styles and trends, but not without a nod to those fashion-pioneers who paved the way in the years gone by.