Mumbai, May 12 -- In today's age, the spotlight of Indian cinema is mostly on contemporary stars like Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, Rashmika Mandanna, Kareena Kapoor Khan and others. Conversations around film and glamour largely revolve around the current generation, occasionally dipping into nostalgia with references to the 1990s or 2000s.

But few pause to appreciate the pioneering beauties who graced the silver screen nearly a century ago. We are speaking about women, who were not only gorgeous and talented but also pathbreakers of their time.

Long before the era of social media fame and red carpet glitz, Indian cinema saw the rise of remarkable actresses during the silent film era and the early talkies. Names like Patience Cooper, Zu...