The correct number would be closer to 4,500.There must be as many or more women out there, who deserve to be in here. But since we are celebrating our 45th anniversary this year, we sifted through the young and upwardly mobile to find 45 women, who are making their presence felt on the fast track.

Mind our words, we know how to spot talent. We have done it for 45 years. And today, most of the ones who have stood the test of time, from a Shobhaa De to a Poonam Sinha (nee Chandiramani) to a Madhuri Dixit and a Sushmita Sen will vouch for the fact that they were celebrated by Femina much before they became full-fledged celebs in their own right.

We've scanned various disciplines and scoured the length and breath of the country to shortlist 45 fine young women who will burn bright in the coming years. Whose grit, determination and inner strength, combined with their vision, will shape their destinies and that of their universe too.
More power to them!

Yamini Reddy
Emerging as: A naturally talented Kuchipudi dancer, the next generation from the Reddy 'gharana'.

Lineage: Daughter of Raja and Radha Reddy, virtual institutions in Kuchipudi. But while there are many who shy away from what their parents excel in, Yamini took to it because, "Dance was part of my life, my growing up. I'd come from school and eat my lunch in the practice room and see what they were doing. When I took to it, I never realised I was dancing. To me, it was as natural as eating, drinking...."

Why we think she's special: Young Yamini has drawn applause at major dance festivals including the Parampara National Festival of Music and Dance, 2003, Delhi, and the Elephanta Festival at Pune. She has extensively toured abroad, performing in the UK, Europe, the USA and Dubai. Recently awarded the 'Yuva Ratna Award' for the performing arts, Yamini is also the proud recipient of the Key to the City from the Mayor of Dublin and Fort Lauderdale.

Miles to go: "Art is something that you can never master, you'll have to keep learning, keep practising. I would like to be one of the top dancers and carry my parents' teaching forward."

Ujjwala Raut
Profession: Supermodel, much sought after by international couture and cosmetics houses. Just graced the cover of 'Time' magazine.

In 1996, Femina unleashed the then 17-year-old Ujjwala on an unsuspecting world as the Femina Look of the Year winner. Since then, she has regularly notched up one success after another.

Why we think she's hot: Ujjwala has walked the ramp for names like Emmanuel Ungaro, Roberto Cavalli, John Galliano, Angelo Tarazzi, Paco Rabanne, Veronique Leroy, Chanel, Claude Montana, Hugo Boss, Bally, Michael Kors, Victoria's Secret and was selected the face of YSL cosmetics last year.

Winning attitude: "It's not easy to survive there, but it isn't impossible."

Konkona Sen-Sharma
Family tree: Daughter of filmstar-director Aparna Sen and writer-editor Mukul Sharma. Grandpa is well-known film critic and filmmaker Chidananda Dasgupta.

Profession: Acting
Why Konkona is a hot bargain: She picked up a national award for her very third film, 'Mr & Mrs Iyer'. For this, mommy sent her off to South India to learn the way the Iyer women live their lives, their English accent and the Tamil tongue. The hard toil paid off, though she admits, she was the most scolded person on the set.

Present project: 'Page 3', almost near completion
Life so far: Childhood was spent mainly at school or travelling with mommy to film festivals, reading or hanging around on film sets and being thrown in to act in a scene because the child artiste didn't show up...

Surya Mallapragada
What she does: An IIT-Mumbai alumnus, she teaches chemical engineering at Iowa State University, USA, and does research in the area of polymeric materials for medical applications.
Why we think she's a champ: For one, many people in her scientific world think so. And having understood something of her highly specialised research, we are more than impressed too. Needless to add, she's won many awards.

So what is her work about? She has developed a way to help guide neurons so they grow in the right direction. In medical science, that could mean enabling the paralysed to walk or the blind to see.
How she did it: By using plastic tubes with micropatterns inside them to guide nerve growth. This plastic is introduced into the body. Degradable as it is, it chemically breaks down after a few months and is eliminated from the body.

Her winning attitude: "Just believe in yourself and the sky is the limit!"

Mamta Kharab
Why she's famous: Plays for India in the women's hockey team.
Position: Forward-winger
Why we think she's a champ: She was awarded the Arjuna Puraskar in 2003, a huge achievement by any standards. She's been tagged the 'golden girl' of the women's hockey team, and has scored the winning goal (the golden goal as it's called) on more than one occasion, recently scoring a clincher that won them the gold in the Commonwealth Games (Indian women's hockey's first gold at the games!) She's been moving ahead with each game, once scoring 11 goals in one game (at Jabalbur in 2002)

Why she's so hot at her 'job': There's a quiet confidence about her. Her petite frame and unassuming little 'boy' look throws her opponents off guard on the field. She uses her slight body to advantage and weaves in and out of formations on the field with a swiftness that only comes from dedicated practice and sheer talent.

She says: "I used to play with my sister when I was younger but never thought I would play at a national level some day. People look at me differently now, but fame has made no difference to the person I am. Hockey has given me a lot; but I have much to achieve yet. I wish to win at the Olympics some day."

Ksemya Mehra
Age: Just turned five.
Plays: The synthesiser; often calls it the piano.
Why we think she's a big deal: She can play 35 'ragas' on her casio. As of now, that is. She virtually picks up a 'raga' a day. She's just performed with aplomb at her first solo show organised by The Art and Cultural Trust, playing all 35 'ragas' from 'Bhopali' to 'Vrindavani Sarang' to 'Yaman', 'Malkauns' to 'Ahir Bhairav'. She is an old hand on stage, having debuted at just three-and-a-half years of age performing alongside senior classical artistes.

Early beginnings: Mama Pooja says Ksemya was one when her grandmother gave her a casio as a birthday present. That was the beginning of the almost mystical connection between the two. The observant parents put her under the tutelage of noted guitar exponent Thakur Chakrapani Singh and Ksemya has proved that a combination of magic fingers and 'ragas' in the head can work wonders. Is she a child prodigy? Judge for yourself.

Kirithika Subrahmaniam
Who she is: A Chennai based architect and interior designer. As a student, she won two gold medals awarded by the University of Chennai.

Why we think she's made it: Because, in a career where establishing one's identity takes years of practice and work, Krithika created the brand name, 'TransForm' as early as in 1995. Nine years ago, this company was established with a mission to deliver quality design service with a young perspective, to a diverse portfolio of clients. Today, her firm specialises in custom designed corporate offices and in retail designs for brands looking to establish or enhance their identity.

What makes her stand apart: Clearly, her way of thinking. She wants to create an awareness among people through design works on the psychological impact design has on individuals and on groups of people. She also uses non-standard details that have visually striking features, enhanced by lighting.

Pallavi Saran Mathur
Identity: Upcoming Bharatnatyam dancer who wants to "make my art understood by everyone in Gen-next."
Why we think she stands out: With her arangetram in 2001, Pallavi, a student of stalwart Sonal Mansingh for over 13 years now, drew praise from the likes of Pandit Ravi Shankar. Pallavi however says, "I still have a long, long way to go. Though I'm a professional dancer I still don't think of myself as one. I'm still a performer; it takes years of 'sadhna' to become a dancer. I'm still seeking it. Besides, there is no end to learning."

Pallavi's notable solo performances have been at the Lighthouse Centre, New York, the Narada Gana Sabha at Chennai, the Natyanjali festival in Chidambaram temple, the Swarn Nritya Pratibha festival in Vadodara and Rang Bhavan, Guwahati. She has also started a series of presentations titled, 'In Search of the Essence of India- Journeys with a Bharatnatyam dancer.'

The future: "I would like to make dance more approachable to the common people. I would like to build a bond between youngsters, my generation and Indian tradition, culture and heritage."

Preeti Zachariah
Who she is: A retail store designer
Why we think she's dunnit: She's bagged the Gold medal for both her graduation as well as her post grad course in Interior Design. After her daughter was born in 2000, she would take her little baby to the office everyday to work on her projects and would then complete the designs at home. In the past 18 months, she continued to work for the RPG group as an interior design consultant and functioned out of her home office.

What's more interesting and commendable: Is her attempt at using products made by rural artisans, in all her projects. To enable this, she works along with several NGOs and artisans to design and create novel, exclusive, functional and diversified products interiors, like floor cushions, lampshades and tablemats from leather, roman blinds embellished with fabric, bells, bags, gift wraps and gift boxes from woven mats, from different parts of India.

Mithu Sen
Identity: 'I hate pink' was how poet-artist Mithu Sen put across her views on gender politics existing in the Indian society at her last solo show where all her 35 works were in pink! For Mithu, it was just her way of putting across her innermost feelings. But then, you can trust the Shantiniketan product and Charles Wallace India Trust Award (2000-2001) winner to be completely original: "I know what I want to do, how to convey my main message. Sometimes my art is weird, like working with my hair. That's my reaction to the outer world."

Why we think she rocks: With solo shows and major exhibitions at home and abroad from New York to Edinburgh, London to Pakistan. After a one-year postgraduate programme (Visiting) at the Glasgow School of Art, she is presently an Art Omni International Resident Artist in New York.
Winning attitude: "I want my work to speak for itself. I'm not a page-3 artist."

Anjali Bhagwat
She is: An ace shooter.
Why she's likened to 'Arjuna': Her fantastic shooting skills have shot her to the number one spot in the world. She's bagged four Commonwealth gold medals and a silver at both, the World Cup and the Asian Games. And that was just the start. With many more titles in her arsenal, she refused to take her exclusion from the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2003 sitting down. She put up an honest and sincere argument and the award was later shared between her and athlete KM Beenamol.

Bulls eye moment to fame: When she became the first Indian to win the gold medal at the World Cup championship (held in Milan) in 2003. It was a contest between 10 of the best - the world over.

Why she's so hot: Determination, honesty and a passion for the sport. She's one of the torchbearers at the Olympics, where she's all set to make her mark, practising relentlessly for the gold.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
Identity: Does the Pope need one?
Charm factor: Unbounded. Enviable charisma and dimpled smile.
Will she, won't she? Whatever the opposition parties might say, there is no disputing that Priyanka comes armed with the ideal candidate qualities. Looks to kill, charm to wither even the most die-hard misogynist, a political pedigree that can equal that of any political family anywhere in the world. (Did someone mention the Kennedys?). Add to that the perfect image for the soap opera-driven middle class - a young, beautiful mother of two campaigning for a party that is almost like a family firm.

Enigma quotient: Total. Priyanka has surprisingly managed to keep out of the glare lights, though occasionally surfacing at an Ashish Soni fashion show or a Lebanese dinner. She briefly worked in a kindergarten before settling for matrimony with the then little-known businessman Robert Vadra. She is said to be involved with the creative aspect of his jewellery export business.

Uma Prajapati
Class: NIFT (1991-94)
Best friend: Shiva
Loves: Shiva, Shiva and Shiva
Favourite hero: Sri Aurobindo and The Mother
Favourite song: 'Purushasuktam'
Designs: Clothes with diversity and a hint of the divine!
Why we think she's special: She has quietly created a collection of garments that reflect the exciting diversity of Auroville - cotton hand woven pin-tuck fronts with silk zari borders at the sleeves, gorgeously sensuous crinkled skirts in rich colours, Turkish trousers in bright traditional Indian patterns, asymmetrical dresses and trendy Indo-Westerns all make an understated but chic fashion statement. She maintains that designing is only one aspect of her life as a karmayogi.

Attitude: "I see design and the divine in everything, in every atom and particle, every aspect of the work that I do. I design for only one user - the Supreme Self who dwells in all of us."

Shruti Khanna
Claim to fame: National women's golf champion for two consecutive years. Also known as 'the one with the long hair' on the golf course.
She's a champ because: She plays to win. But sometimes accepts that every game need not be about standing on the winner's podium. She's just returned from China after heading a three-member team for the Queen Sirikit Cup. It's busy time ahead with the coaching session on government grant at the prestigious Leadbetter Institute in the States and with the Malaysia Open closing in fast.

And to think that: Shruti took to golf only because the former basketball player could not find a regular partner for tennis! Accepts: That "time is running out on me" and gives herself two more years on the circuit to excel further.

Dipika Padukone
Get to know her: She's the latest Liril water babe; also the daughter of erstwhile badminton champ Prakash Padukone.
Why we think she's hot: She has natural effervescence and joie de vivre. See her in the Liril Orange Fresh ad. Interestingly, it was Dipika's first major still, the Limca hoarding in Chennai, that got her the Liril campaign.
On the rocket trail: Dipika is eyeing the international ramp (her first ever ramp walk was for a Tommy Hilfiger show in Delhi). ''Though there have been many film offers, I would like to focus on modelling.''

Share her take on life: ''Just be true to yourself, follow your gut instincts on what you want to do and what makes you happy. And yes, nothing like a strong family backing. I was a state-level badminton player, so people around were disappointed that I didn't take badminton too seriously and got into modelling. But my parents solidly backed my decision, and here I am.''

Mithali Raj
What she does: Plays in India's women's cricket team
Why we think she's a champ: Her unbeaten 214 knock at Taunton against England was the highest score in the history of women's Test cricket. She holds up the middle order impressively enough, with an average of 78.25 (in Test cricket) and 46.2 (in one dayers). She started out at 10 and seven years later, she opened her ODI career with a whopping 114 at Milton Keynes against Ireland.

Why she's so hot: A cool cucumber, she has what it takes for big scores - loads of energy and focus - to stay out on the field for as long as it takes to get a dominating edge. Oh, and she bowls too. Any team would be more than happy to have a multi-tasker on board. Her idol? Sachin Tendulkar. Well, if she's thinking of following in his footsteps, she's pretty much made a good head start.

Brinda Charry
She is: A doctoral candidate and teacher of English literature at the Syracuse University, USA.
Favourite Author: Too many to list, but I've loved Charles Dickens since childhood.

Writes: In a simple, unpretentious way. Her novel 'The Hosttest Day of the Year' is a sensitive, keenly observed story set in South India, and introduces her as an emerging and evocative new voice in Indian writing. "I try to write about a slice of Indian society, that is quite comfortable with the English language yes, but is still distinctly 'middle-class'... even 'lower middle-class,' that does know economic hardship, has the dreams, needs, fears and anxieties (the need for 'security', for instance, or the need to 'settle down') that is typical of this section of society," she says.

So, what's the big deal: Her writing is distinctive, affirming and she is seen as a 'new literary voice' in Indian writing today. Says Charry, "It is when I write that I feel I am doing something that gives me a great sense of satisfaction. Personal satisfaction apart, I hope it touches readers too...somewhere, somehow..."

Nisha Pillai
She is: Presenter and reporter, BBC World, London
Why we think she's got it: For BBC's flagship current affairs programme 'Panorama', she spent nine months investigating the financial empire of newspaper baron Robert Maxwell. The result was the 'The Max Factor,' a story that won a Royal Television Society Award in London. Five weeks after the story was aired, Robert Maxwell, who had even dipped into his employees' pension fund, was dead. Nisha thinks the timing of the story was perfect. It also taught her the importance of detail and meticulous research, though this is something that, she admits, comes naturally to her.

Moment of challenge: 9/11 occurred during Nisha Pillai's bulletin. "It was an extremely challenging experience. Breaking news is about thinking on your feet. I had to make sense of an unfolding story as well as talk about the latest information from the scene."

Loved interviewing: Shah Rukh Khan: "I had a very low opinion of actors, but he was articulate, thoughtful and intelligent." Rupert Murdoch: "Fascinating. He's his own boss and one of those rare people who really answers the question he's been asked.

Kanti Shetty
She is: A plastic surgeon, specialised in microvascular surgery, working at the Tata Memorial Hospital, a cancer institute in Mumbai.

What she does: Her team is largely involved in restoration of body parts after the tumour-bearing organ has been removed. One of the ways in which they do this is by microvascular surgery. This involves transfer of tissue from one part of the patient's body along with its blood supply and using it to restore the deformed part. The blood supply of this transferred tissue is then reconnected to the recipient site to keep it viable. Rejoining of the blood vessels is done under the microscope, as the blood vessels are only a couple of millimetres in size.

Why we think she's special: She and her team have brought immense solace to cancer patients who have to cope with the devastating effects of cancer surgery. Over the last two years, Dr Shetty and her colleagues have performed a huge 225 such surgeries and many of these have been for reconstruction of the head and neck region. Others have been for limb salvage, breast reconstruction and reconstruction of other body regions.

Birju Chaudhuri
She's our heroine because: She dreamt of going to school, college and becoming a teacher in a society where child marriages were the norm and where sending girls to school was unheard of.

Her story: Birju was betrothed at the age of four months to a stranger in her village in the Barmer District of West Rajasthan. "All I wanted to do was study. And that was the most difficult," she said. When she came of age and it was time for her to go to her husband's home, she refused. It was at this point that the village panchayat decided to take matters in their hands. Once they did, the entire village turned foe.

"Sometimes, they would threaten to cut off my ears. They even threatened to deface me if I did not stop going to college. In my three years of college, every single day there was the fear of the panchayat. The threats continued unabated. Every single villager thought it their birth right to make lewd comments at me. My only support was my father and brother. Finally, I decided to complain to the police," said Birju. Finally, there was some justice.

Today, Birju wants to work for social reform. She dreams of eradicating the evil of child marriage. She has taken the entrance exam for BEd and hopes that she will one day become a qualified teacher.

Bhargavi Joshi
Why we think she's hot: At 19, she's pursued her passion for photography resulting in several exhibitions of her work. She's also shot for a Canadian documentary on street children which has already received good reviews. Says she, "After my 12th grade, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I had to start searching my soul to see what really moved me. I realized that I had to find something which made me feel passionately involved to the point of obsession...

"I met a cinematographer who changed my life. Avishek ("we're going to be engaged soon") asked me to go back to my early days as a kid and relive what made me happy the most. I loved Nature to the point of obsession, a passion I moved away from along the way as I grew up. I did a course in studio and fashion photography. The more I learnt about photography, the more I wanted to know. Though Creating the perfect picture became an obsession, so I starting shooting in the outdoors."


Monica Oswal
Who's she? The extremely low-profile brain of the Rs 2,000-crore Nahar Group who has revolutionised the Monte Carlo brand. If, on hearing 'Monte Carlo', the immediate recall is not the Mediterranean island but the collection of enviable 'generation me' woollens, it's thanks to the marketing strategies of Monica.

From only attractive winter wear, Monica has managed to smoothly expand the company production to cater to every age group beginning with the 'generation me' kids' collection to the adults range. And now, to all- season clothes for all age groups.

Why we think she's got it: After making Monte Carlo a family brand, she has capped that with a one-stop solution retail outlet in one of the Gurgaon malls. There's much more coming from her, including more retail stores. The reclusive Monica, who shies away from all media projections, still finds time for her other loves - books and music. A true blue 'generation now' businesswoman indeed!

Audrey Maben
Get to know her: The only solo woman flier in the three-day Air Race 2003.
Why we think she's va-va-vroom: We love her spirit and soaring ambition. The skies were stormy, the other planes were supersonic, and she had just 176 flying hours under her belt. But 27-year-old Audrey - her own aircraft grounded by a documentation snag - finished the race in a tiny microlight that she was flying for the first time ever! She had planned, practised and waited three years to participate, and the fact that she had to put in 25 hours of flying over five days to get from Bangalore to Nagpur and back, and stop at eight airstrips, some of them barely usable along the way, didn't faze her any.

On the rocket trail: The mother of a five-year-old daughter Amy, who helps her husband, Wing Commander Ashok Mehta, run Bangalore Aerosports Pvt Ltd, is determined to be the first woman microlight flying instructor in India. And to participate in the World Aerobatics championships.

Her take on life: "Nothing is impossible; what you can achieve is all in the mind. I think most of us are capable of a lot, much more than what we think we can do."

Neha Nagpal
Favourite song: 'Arms Wide Open' by my favourite band Creed, and 'Hero' by Mariah Carey
Sings: Like a dream. Cut her first album two years ago titled 'If I Could Dream', for which she wrote the lyrics for a number called 'Can you feel it?'

Why we think she's a big deal: She's hit the music marquee with her lilting husky voice, which incidentally has trained only in Western classical music, with a hip-hop pop album 'Man Doley'. Signed on by international star manager Richard Grabel, (he manages careers of pop icons Madonna and Ricky Martin) at the MTV Summit, Neha would probably even sing something for a Hollywood film! She was also approached by Fat Music in London to do a few song recordings, and it was this exposure that led her to form her own favourites - "I like world music, the spiritual kind, or gospel music fills me with excitement. I've sung alternative kinds of music, besides pop.''

Purva Dhanashree
Why we think she is making a splash: As a Bharatnatyam dancer of repute, she has been marked out as one of the most outstanding Bharatnatyam dancers of generation now.
Purvadhanashree is also one of the youngest 'A' grade artists of Doordarshan. She was judged the best dancer at the Spirit of Youth concert 1999 and walked away with the MGR award. She already has under her cap the title of 'Nrityashree' from the Saregamapadhani Foundation. And in 2001 the Kala Bharati Foundation, Montreal, Canada awarded her the Oniel de Memorial Fellowship.

"Dance was my calling. Dance should be part of one's life and psyche but I would also like to extend my interests to social issues."

Joshna Chinnapa
What she does: Is a squash champion
Why we think she's a champ: She ranks at second place in the world in the under-19 group and is number one in Asia (also U-19). She's the youngest National women's champ (a feat achieved by no woman in squash for 48 years) and recently won the gold at the 9th SAF games. She was the first Indian girl to win the British Squash Championship in UK, and held the senior national title at the age of 14. Her other conquests include wins at Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Scotland.

Why she's so hot at her 'job': She's a 'cool' dudette. And obviously in love with the game. She's confident but not arrogant. In fact, she's embarrassed with the attention she attracts. She comes from a long line of squash players - her father, his father, his father's father... you get the drift. Of course, she also brings in her talent and relentless practice. There's a combination for a world ranking if there ever was one...
Winning attitude: "I try preparing mentally and physically before a tournament. I talk to myself a lot on the court - as part of maintaining a strong mental edge. "

Anju Bobby George
Loves: Breaking world records
Coaches: Mike Powell and husband, Bobby George
Jumps: Into every record book in the country and is aiming for the ultimate jump of glory - The Olympic medal. She came one step closer to this Olympic dream on August 30, 2003, a day she will always remember - she jumped 6.70 metres to clinch the bronze medal at the World Athletics Championships in the Stade de France, Paris.
Winning attitude: "I want the whole world to stand to attention to our National Anthem at the Athens Olympics. My inner strength will come from a billion Indians praying for my success. For all aspiring athletes, my message is that you have to stick it out and give it your best shot. I have."

Deb Agarwal
Who she is: A computer scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the US.
Why we think she's got it: Has been named one of the top 25 women on the Web. Deb served as an independent expert at the Vienna headquarters of the treaty organisation for three months in 1999, and as a member of the US delegation on subsequent occasions.

What is her work about: Her work provided reliable multicast communication for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty monitoring system. Her report showed that multicasting technology provides the reliability required by the treaty as well as flexible network configuration. Huh? Well, esoteric as that might be, we assure you it's top quality, groundbreaking stuff...

Ayesha Dharker
What she does: Is an actress.
Why she's famous: 'Cos she sets the screen and stage on fire.
Why we think she's a champ: She's doing brilliantly well in putting India on the entertainment map. She bagged a nomination for Best Actress from the National Film Awards of India and the Cairo Film Festival Award for Best Artistic Contribution by an Actress for her role in Santosh Sivan's 'The Terrorist'. And her role as Rani in the hit Broadway musical 'Bombay Dreams' has made the normally stingy-with-praise-for-Asians British media sway along to 'Shakalaka Baby'! And hey, anyone who is part of the 'Star Wars' legend (she played Queen Jamilla in 'Star Wars Episode II') is cool in our book!

She says: "I don't fit the Bollywood mould of 'fair, thin woman' but I have never craved those looks. I know my face - it's basically two fried eggs, an aubergine and a slice of watermelon on a side plate, but look at all the work I'm getting."


Sania Mirza
She is: Ace tennis player and the first Indian girl to win at Wimbledon.
Early beginnings: Started playing at six, though never to become a champion. She practises for eight hours every day. "It's a great honour to play for the country. When I step on the courts to represent India, it's a great feeling."

Her strengths: Groundstrokes and her sense of timing. Sometimes when her commitment weakens, she takes a break to come back with more resolve. "I want to be among the top 50 in the next three years."

Winning attitude: "Everything counts for your success: Physical and mental health. You have to be able to take eight hours of practice every day and it's important to be on solid ground physically."

Tejal Desai
Who she is: An Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Boston University, USA.
Why we think she's on the fast track: Because: a) 'Popular Science' magazine chose her as one of the 10 most brilliant scientists in the US. b) Her professor Mauro Ferrari at the University of California, Berkeley, said of her, "Nobody expects you to cure diabetes before you graduate. And then Tejal did!"

How she did it: 'After four years of coaxing cells to grow on chemically modified silicon surfaces, she finally had it: A microscopic device that, when implanted in diabetic rats, delivered ongoing, regular doses of insulin. The device functioned like a tiny tea strainer; a hollow bit of silicon perforated with tiny holes, it was filled with pancreas cells doing what pancreas cells do naturally - produce insulin. The holes were large enough for the insulin to diffuse out, but small enough that the pancreas cells stayed inside, and the rat's immune agents - which would normally mark the cells as foreign and attack them - could not enter. Desai's implant is now being developed by a private company for human use.' ('Popular Science')

Schauna Chauhan
Get to know her: She's the 27-year-old director of Parle Agro.
Why we think she's va-va-vroom: This is no Minnie-come-lately into the family business - Schauna's worked alongside Daddy, Thums Up king Prakash Chauhan, since she was little. And we really like the fact that it's this young woman with a degree in international management from Lausanne, Switzerland, who's played a large role in moving the company from just being a runner in the beverages market to being the group to watch for new innovations. We're kicked that she can read the liquid pulse - giving the growing health-conscious consumer 'N-Joi', putting Frooti into PET bottles, and getting Frooti Green Mango into the market...
On the rocket trail: Schauna's mentoring little sister Alisha as she spearheads the group's foray into the health and fitness market, which has been kicked off with the opening of the V3 health and fitness centre in Juhu, Mumbai. And she vows that she's going to get Frooti onto the international market, even if she has to carry it there herself!

Her take on life: "We believe in being leaders," avers Schauna. "I am constantly inspired by this quote of Helen Keller's: 'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope or confidence.'"

Farah Khan
What she does: Is a choreographer and director.
Why she's famous: She claims to have made dancing to Hindi music cool. We agree.
Why we think she's a champ: She showed us that it is possible to dance atop a train (albeit a slow moving one). She's won many awards (including a Tony nomination for 'Bombay Dreams'), her fantastic choreography and almost all her steps become a rage in India and abroad (Hrithik's in 'Ek Pal Ka Jeena', Saif in 'Woh Ladki Hai Kaha', the Big B in 'Shava Shaava'...). Has moved to direction, and proven that she has a finger on the pulse of the new generation.
She says: "We should be proud of our choreography and not be pseudo and arty about it."

Kriti Arora
Known as: The emerging visual artist and photographer.
Believes in: Going to the very soul of whatever she does. There's no piecemeal or halfway measure for her.

Why we think she's got it: Kriti studied sculpture at the Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda, before moving to the University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA, on a four-year scholarship. She topped that with a double Masters in ceramics and photography and film. While still in the US, she had two solo shows that were noted by the 'New York Times' too.
She says: "As a sculptor, I work mainly with clay, combined with other materials. My works are about our time. I give them a political touch, a political connotation. My being a woman is also reflected in my works. I also did this series of photographs of women police, how from being custodians of family they go to being custodians of society."

Kriti has just done a show at Oslo - "lot of documentation, different images. How a young girl marries an older man; random photos that I took."


Shreya Ghoshal
She is: A playback singer
Why she's famous: Because of her vocals in 'Devdas' and 'Jism'. She's won many awards, including the National award.

Why we think she's a champ: Sheer talent - a deliciously melodious voice you could listen to again and again. She began training when she was just four years old. She moved to Mumbai from Rajasthan a few years later to pursue professional singing. She was spotted at a singing competition by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and the rest, as they say, is history.

She says: "The Hindi film industry is not as bad as it is made out to be. I had a blast and everyone is really nice to me. My aim is to be a versatile singer."

B R Lath
She is: India's only 'kanjira' player.
Why we think she has promise: Hear this: "My proudest moment came when I played for a year, for different concerts with M S Subbalakshmi. It was thrilling. My other memorable performance was playing with Dr Balamurali Krishna, who also encouraged me. And of course when we played for both ex-prime ministers P V Narasimha Rao, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee; the latter came up and told me, "Itni choti si ho, lekin itna achha bajati ho?''
And she has plans: She travels abroad for many concerts and is already booked to perform in London next June. Her aim, like her father's, is "to get more women into the field of music. Both my father and I have set up the Karnataka Mahila Laya Madhuri, a platform that promotes women percussion players, and organises performances all over India."

Jhumpa Lahiri
She is: A fiction writer who won the prestigious Pulitzer Prize in 2000 for her first published book of short stories titled, 'Interpreter Of Maladies'.
Work: 'The Namesake', 'India Holy Song', 'Interpreter Of Maladies', 'A Temporary Prayer: What Happens When The Lights Go Out', 'Sexy' and 'The Third And Final Continent'. All published in 'The New Yorker'.
Favourite writers: Many, amongst them who influenced her writings are James Joyce, Virginia Wolfe and Chekov.

Favourite book: 'Midnight's Children' by Salman Rushdie, which as Jhumpa herself states, "Undoubtedly, remains the best book I have read.''
Flashback: "I didn't grow up there (Kolkata), I wasn't a part of things. We visited often but we didn't have a home. We were clutching at a world that was never fully with us. No country is my motherland. I always find myself in exile in whichever country I travel to, that's why I was tempted to write something about those living their lives in exile.''

Last quote: "What used to be a mere pastime seven years ago has metamorphosed into a serious passion, an inseparable part of my life.''


Aparna Popat
She is: The reigning national badminton champion, who is quietly empowering herself to play a mean, tough game at the Olympics this year.

She's a winner because: Like her coach says, "She's got it in her to be a winner.''
Winning attitude: ''My form is quite good. And I've had a couple of good wins the last year over players in the top 20 bracket (Aparna's rank is 23 in the world). But I need to improve my mental stamina. Right now, it's practice and more practice. I'm training to focus my mind in a controlled way. Indians score by using complex wrist movements, and our mental state of mind is more focused on the game. We make for stable, committed players as a race, which is good.''

Honey Kalaria
Who is she: A dance trainer in the UK.
Her journey to fame: At 13, she could perform a plethora of dance styles including Indian classical dance, disco, Latin American, rock 'n roll and belly dancing. She began by starting her own academy out of her garage. Today, she has 11 schools across London, training students in modern Indian dance, There's more: Nominated for the 2003 Asia Businesswoman of the Year Award, Honey also owns and runs an agency, Diva Entertainment, which choreographs the London concerts for Bollywood stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Govinda and others.
Honey has also produced and presented for a programme on the Namaste television channel and worked as on-air presenter for a local radio station.

Nandita Basu
Get To Know Her: A Delhi-based designer; works with Abhishek Gupta.
Why we think she's got it: Her fashion is cutting edge and contemporary with an excellent sense of fabric innovation, detailing and finish. All this is matched with enough marketing savvy that finds her collections release to coincide with global season timelines.
On the rocket trail: A concealed pocket here and an eye-catching feature there - that's her art! This NIFT graduate and student of Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design, London, had a stint with Suneet Verma, one of our design gurus, for a period of five to six years. She later went on to launch her label.
Skirts, T-shirts, shirts, tops, jackets, coats, trousers... You name it and she
has it at her flagship store in Delhi or in other design stores in Bangalore,
Mumbai or Hyderabad. And she would craft them for you in fabrics like denim, lycra, cotton, silk, georgette, and even linen.
Her take on life: "Believe in yourself and the positive energies around you. Don't ever get bogged down by the low phases in life."


Rina Shah
What she does: Owns the designer store 'Rinaldi'.
Why we think she's a champ: Five years after she launched Rinaldi Design (the only label for designer shoes, handbags and belts in India), Rina has a roaring business on her hands. But that's not all that makes it so hot - she's a member of PETA and believes in non-cruelty to animals, so imports leather look-alike material for her designs.
Why she's so hot at her job: Trendy designs, durable quality and attention to detail have won her quite an impressive clientele - Urmila
Matondkar and Sonali Bendre, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, and Jackie Shroff. Rina recently opened Rinaldi in Soho, New York. That makes her one of the few Indian designers to have their own store in NY City. And this one's frequented by celebrities like Goldie Hawn and Naomi Campbell.

Monikangkana Dutta
Who's she? The supermodel-in-the-making that everyone is talking about. This half-Assamese, half-Marathi girl called 'Moni' has set the ramps in Paris on fire. After all, not everybody is 5.10" tall; boast a svelte figure, stunning features and a glowing - "I love my dusky complexion" - look.
In the footsteps of: But naturally Ujjwala Raut: "I love Ujjwala, she's my favourite model." Moni has made a right beginning in the same direction. During her short stay in Paris, she's walked the ramp for Chanel and Christian Dior, John Galliano.
What next? "I'd love to shift base to New York, I'd love to do the Milan fashion week."

Shibani Jain
Get to know her: An NID (National Institute of Design) graduate in graphic design, she is the CEO of Craftsbridge India, which designs and markets Indian handicrafts.

Why we think she's va-va-vroom: She turned around her dotcom venture (a victim of the late '90s dotcom bust) into a Rs 2.5 crore company within four years. Thanks to the design (NID and NIFT designers) and marketing (IIM grads) inputs, Craftsbridge is able to provide a contemporary edge to artefacts sourced from artisans at the grassroots level. Online shopping for handicrafts has never looked (and been priced) so good before. Thanks to its tie-ups with about 25 NGOs and its aesthetically designed webpage (www.craftsbridge.com), you can shop for those chic dhurries from your home.

On the rocket trail: Armed with a venture funding tie-up, Shibani plans to expand to other states (right now, it is in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Orissa) and export to the US and the UK. "I want to bring to the customer the best artefacts that our Indian artisans have to offer at the best prices, and provide the artisans with round-the-year employment."
She says: "Time is short; do the most you can with what you have."

Rajeshwari Ayyar Karthik
She is: A silversmith-cum-artiste who brings the yin and yang into her jewellery ever so subtly.
Why we think she's got it: She has won prestigious prizes for her design work, and has been finalist at the De Beers India International Jewellery Design Competition of 1998. Now that she's no longer heading the design studio at Carbon, and is an independent designer, she's often called on as consultant for her experience on the domestic and export jewellery markets.

Why her jewellery is special: It's in the texturing, where she uses techniques like granulation, twisting, surface texture creation and metal fusing. Rajeshwari explains that the fusion of sterling silver with 24K gold in her pendant is called 'knitting', which she does herself. She calls her collection, a reflection of her personality, which is mix of trying to make a bold, different statement, yet offering simplicity and grace to the wearer. "My aim is also to go beyond the two-dimensional look of jewellery.''


Anamika Khanna
Get to know her: Kolkata-based fashion designer who carries the she-dares-to-be-different image on her shoulders with flair.
Why we think she has it: From an ingenious blend of Indian and Western wear, she has done it all, in both natural and traditional fabrics.
On the rocket trail: She started with designing for herself and advising her friends. Then came along her Africa-inspired Shoowa line at the Damania Fashion Awards and the Kingfisher Designer Of The Year Award. Both catapulted her to stardom. Her flagship store in Kolkata and the off-the-shelf sales in the metros across the country speak of her success. Sure enough, Boho, a UK company, is offering to market her creations across Europe.
Her take on life: "Whatever you do, give it all you have and it will get you results."