The Year of Preity Zinta

In Kya Kehna and Dil Chahta Hai, Zinta strongly held her own alongside breakout star Hrithik and the ever reliable SRK - in two landmark SciFi and Drama movies. If we had to take away a moment from 2003, it will be her grooving to Mere Dil Ka Tumse Hai Kehna (Armaan, also 2003) around a nonplussed Anil Kapoor.

2003 was also the year of new talent. Dhanush's second film and breakout role, Shahid Kapoor and Siddharth's debut, Suriya's first blockbuster and Vijay's action hero turn, are all quite a trip to revisit. Each of these actors have gone on to become acting powerhouses and given us some of the biggest films of the past few years. From Boys to Aval, Kaadhal Kondein to Karnan, Kaakha Kaakha to Soorarai Pottru - are all journeys to cherish. We hope more and more female actors get similar graphs.

2003 also belongs Vikram, who won his first National Award in 2021 for Pithamagan, besides featuring in hits like Saamy and Dhool. (The cult Anniyan was just around the corner, and Vikram was showing no signs of slowing down.)

This year is also memorable for Charlize Theron's transformative Oscar winning turn as a serial killer in Monster - a performance Roger Ebert called "one of the greatest performances in the history of the cinema". Flexing her range, she also starred in a diametrically opposite role in the bonkers heist film, Italian Job. Tell us what are the most memorable early roles of your favourite actors.