Bollywood's Sexiest Divas who started Their Careers As Calendar Girls

Madhur Bhandarkar, who has explored dark themes set in glossy backdrops of films, fashion and high society, is busy working on his next project.

Slated to release in September, his Calendar Girls stars five newcomers playing the titular characters.

While we wait to find out just how close to reality the film is, here's a look at some of the hottest calendar girls who made it big in Bollywood:

1. YANA GUPTA

 Also making her calendar debut along side Kaif was Czech beauty Yana Gupta, who would later go on to do her first item number in Dum (which also released in 2003).

2. KATRINA KAIF

 The year 2003 marked two milestones in Katrina Kaif's showbiz career.

While she made her silver screen debut with Kaizad Gustad's atrociously quirky Boom, she also debuted on the annual Kingfisher calendar.

Which is a sort of a big deal for new models.

3. DEEPIKA PADUKONE

 Bollywood's reigning queen once had a fledgling modelling career that also landed her a Kingfisher spread in 2006.

She made her high profile Bollywood debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Farah Khan's Om Shanti Om the next year.

The rest, as they say, is history.

4. PREETI DESAI

 After winning Miss Great Britain in 2007, Preeti Desai rose to fame in India by appearing in the 2008 Kingfisher calendar.

Initially initiated in Bollywood as Abhay Deol's girlfriend, Desai went on to work in Hindi films like Shor In The City and Deol's home production One By Two.

5. NARGIS FAKHRI

 Nargis Fakhri did quite a bit of modelling before her first movie role came along and it was well worth the wait.

Imtiaz Ali's Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Rockstar happened in 2011, two years after Fakhri's sensational turn on the Kingfisher calendar. 

She recently made her Hollywood debut with Melissa McCarthy, Jude Law and Jason Stathom starrer action-comedy Spy

6. ESHA GUPTA

The following year, 2010, saw the gorgeous Esha Gupta grace the calendar; she would go on to star along side Emraan Hashmi in Jannat 2.

While the film went on to replicate its predecessor's success, Gupta is hot property in fashion weeks and multi-starrer comedies.

7. SONALI RAUT

 The Xpose starlet Sonali Raut made her calendar debut along side Gupta.

Younger sister of modelling veteran Ujjwala Raut, Sonali went on to appear in the controversial reality TV show, Bigg Boss.

8. LISA HAYDON

 The reed thin Lisa Haydon is quite the stunner, so it was little surprise to see her on the calendar in 2011.

After starring in average fares like Aisha and Rascals, she seemed to really come into her own as the free spirited Vijayalakshmi in Queen.

9. TENA DESAE

 Tena Desae was one of the 12 smouldering models to grace the Kingfisher calendar in 2012.

While she had appeared in forgettable Hindi fare like Yeh Faasley and Sahi Dhandhe Galat Bande, she got her breakout Hollywood role in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and its sequel.

She is currently seen on Netflix show Sense8, a science fiction drama that also stars Naveen Andrews and Anupam Kher.

10. NATHALIA KAUR

 Nathalia Kaur, who was also a Kingfisher calendar girl in 2012, had her breakout moment with Ram Gopal Varma's Department in which she had an item number.

11. SAIYAMI KHER

Saiyami Kher, 23, was another stunner to appear on the 2012 Kingfisher calendar.

All eyes are now on her as she gears up for her Bollywood debut with Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's Mirziya.

(with inpus from rediff )