One of the most talented finds of Bollywood, Nargis Dutt, would have turned a year older today. The beautiful actress was known not only for her personal life, but also for her powerful onscreen portrayals. From heart-wrenching romance dramas to women-empowering movies, the actress has done it all. On her birth anniversary today, we take a look at her epic Bollywood roles…read on:

Mother India:
The movie redefined women-empowerment in Bollywood is this 1957 classic. The movie not only fetched Dutt a National Award, but also gave her the love of her life, Sunil Dutt, who saved her from the flames like a true B-Town hero. Today’s actresses can learn so much from this character.

Barsaat:
In this complicated love story, Nargis plays Pran’s lover. The pair, despite having genuine feelings, for each other, has to face many tribulations before finally uniting. The movie was deep on many levels, and Nargis aced her character with an ease that only she could exude! Filled with memorable songs and fine performances, this 1949 movie is a must-watch.

Shree 420:
The movie that gave us one of the most romantic songs of the century, ‘Pyar Hua Iqraar hua’, has to be on this list, no? The powerful plot of a con man-turned-good guy was lapped up by the audiences. They were also intrigued by the alleged roaring romance between Raj Kapoor and Nargis. The latter, as a simpleton, was a sheer pleasure to watch on the big screen.

Awara:
Offering an glimpse of the society of that time, this blockbuster movie saw Nargis as a feisty lawyer who strives to fight for the truth. She defends the errant Raj Kapoor in the movie, along with setting an example for the women. When most ladies were dropping out of schools to get married, here was a woman who was training to be a lawyer.

These are our favorites of the talented actress. Which are yours? Shout to us in the comments section below!