Shilpa Shetty
This tall, curvaceous girl was noticed when she appeared with Khan in Baazigar, despite the fact she was not the female lead. The film was a hit and she appeared in a few more successful movies, but her career didn't exactly take off.
Unexpectedly, Shetty went on to become an international star overnight when she emerged victorious in the UK's Celebrity Big Brother reality-TV show.
There is talk that Shetty will tie the knot with businessman Raja Mundra and settle down, but she has definitely had an interesting career.
Suchitra Krishnamurthy
Krishnamurthy made her debut in Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, a film that many believe is Khan's best to date and which achieved both commercial and critical success.
However, she soon shifted her attention to singing and then married Shekar Kapur (director of the Oscar-nominated film Elizabeth). She recently broke things off with Kapur and tried to make a comeback opposite Anil Kapoor in My Wife's Murder. Krishnamurthy is a rare example of a Khan girl who didn't capitalise on a good start.
Mandira Bedi
Bedi played the second lead in trend-setting blockbuster Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge. Though the focus was on Khan and Kajol (the female lead), Bedi's cute looks and endearing performance made many a heart skip a beat.
Her hosting a TV show in 1999 for Cricket World Cup (in a sexy make over) didn't exactly kickstart her acting career, but it kept her in the public eye.
Preity Zinta
In Dil Se, Zinta played the second lead opposite Khan, but her effervescent screen presence and fresh performance captured Bollywood's imagination. Dil Se flopped, but Zinta was a hit. She went on to star in some of the biggest blockbusters and won multiple awards for her performances.
Her chemistry with Khan was the best among all of those who have made their debuts opposite him and she went on to appear in hits such as Kal Ho Na Ho, Veer-Zara and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. In short, Zinta is the most successful of the Khan girls to date.
Mahima Chaudhary
Chaudhary stole the show with a terrific performance in Pardes. Many believed she had the potential to usurp Madhuri Dixit's throne as the new queen of Bollywood.
Despite having the looks, the talent and a big hit, Chaudhary's career stumbled after she got involved in a relationship with Indian tennis star Leander Paes and missed out on a few plum roles. After she broke up with Paes, Chaudhary tried to resurrect her career by appearing in her trademark plunging necklines, but to no avail.
She later got married and settled into motherhood. Hers was a great start that was squandered due to poor decisions on the personal front.
Deepika Padukone
Padukone made her debut in the much-hyped Om Shanti Om and all eyes were on her. Happily, she passed her big test with flying colours. The film went on to become the highest grossing Bollywood film to date and she swept all of the major awards in the Best Female Debutant category this year.
Padukone has already delivered her second hit Bachna Ae Haseeno, and is all set for Chandni Chowk To China. Padukone is all set for a long stint in Bollywood.
Gayathri Joshi
A model who started off in TV commercials, Joshi found herself in the limelight after she made her debut opposite Khan in Ashutosh Gowariker's Swades. She wasn't your run-of-the-mill Bollywood heroine, but she definitely wowed the critics with a confident performance.
Many expected her to go on to better things, but she decided to quit the movie industry and settle down instead.
Anushka Sharma
Like Padukone, Khan's latest co-star Sharma is a Bangalore-based model and created quite a flutter at the Lakme Indian Fashion Week last year. She was cast to appear opposite Khan in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, because the Chopras were convinced that she had the simple, beautiful face and the qualities required for the role.
She may turn out to be the film's surprise package and steal some of Khan's thunder. It remains to be seen whether the actor's magic will rub off on her.
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