Shilpa Shetty to Deepika Padukone: Top Bollywood Actresses Who Made Their Debut With Shah Rukh Khan

Mahima Chaudhry: Formerly known as Ritu Chaudhry, Mahima Chaudhry changed her name at the suggestion of director Subhash Ghai, who considers 'M' as his lucky alphabet. Starting as a successful model, Chaudhry made her Bollywood debut in Ghai's 1997 romance musical drama "Pardes" alongside Shah Rukh Khan. Despite the film's soundtrack becoming a sensation and its success as the fourth highest-grossing film of the year, Chaudhry's performance as the village girl Kusum Ganga received mixed to negative reviews.

Shilpa Shetty: Shilpa Shetty entered Bollywood with a memorable debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Abbas-Mustan's thriller "Baazigar" (1993). The film, inspired by the Hollywood classic "A Kiss Before Dying," featured Shetty in the supporting role of Seema Chopra, a character tragically killed by SRK's protagonist seeking revenge. "Baazigar" became a blockbuster hit, earning Shetty nominations for her performance and paving the way for her enduring presence in the film industry.

Preity Zinta: Known for her adorable dimples and effervescent smile, Preity Zinta made her mark in front of the camera with a Perk chocolate ad, followed by a popular Liril commercial. Born and raised in Shimla, Zinta, initially set to debut under director Shekhar Kapur, found her way to Bollywood through Mani Ratnam's "Dil Se.." (1998). Her small yet impactful role, coupled with her spunk and confidence, set the stage for a successful career.

Deepika Padukone: Former Indian badminton player Prakash Padukone's daughter, Deepika Padukone, transitioned from modeling to acting with her debut in the Kannada film "Aishwarya" (2006). Post her appearance in Himesh Reshammiya's music video, Padukone entered Bollywood with Farah Khan's "Om Shanti Om" (2007), recommended by designer Wendell Rodricks. Playing a double role in her first Hindi film opposite Shah Rukh Khan, Padukone's pairing with the superstar became synonymous with success in films like "Chennai Express" (2013) and "Happy New Year" (2014).

Anushka Sharma: Anushka Sharma, a Bengaluru native initially pursuing modeling, achieved a dream debut in Bollywood opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Aditya Chopra's "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi" (2008). The film portrayed Sharma as a young bride married to a middle-aged man, earning her mixed reviews but establishing her as one of the industry's best actors. The partnership continued in films like "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" (2012), "When Harry Met Sejal" (2017), and "Zero" (2018).

Suchitra Krishnamoorthi: A Mumbai-born model and actor, Suchitra Krishnamoorthi commenced her Bollywood journey with the Malayalam film "Kilukkampetti" in 1991. In 1994, she played Anna in "Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa" alongside SRK, marking her first Hindi film. "Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa" is recognized as one of Khan's most endearing performances and enjoyed success at the Box Office. While Krishnamoorthi ventured into pop singing and writing books over the years, her recent appearance in the 2022 film "Odd Couple" received positive reviews upon its release on Amazon Prime Video.