Gracy Singh.
She worked in a few TV shows before getting a dream launch opposite Aamir Khan in his home production - Lagaan (even though she did minor roles in Gulzar's Hu Tu Tu and played Kajol’s sister in Ham Aapke Dil me rahte hai but Lagaan was her launch as an actress. The film was a success and one of the most acclaimed film of all times. The film won 8 national awards (which is still a record ) and 8 Filmfares. She won the Zee cine award, Star Screen awards etc for Best debut and nominated for Best Debut Filmfare. The film went to Oscars. What all a debutante can ask for.
In 2003. She had 3 releases, out of which two films were highly acclaimed and won National awards. The first was Gangajal starring Ajay Devgan and directed by Prakash Jha. The film was a success and won the National award for other social issues. Her other film was Munna Bhai MBBS, another cult classic which won hearts, money and awards. The film won the National award for best popular film providing wholesome entertainment and also won 4 Filmfares. She had 3 releases and all of them cult classics and National award winners.
But then she had a downfall so bad that nobody understood why? I never understood why after working with Ajay Devgan, Aamir Khan, Sanjay Dutt and also Amitabh Bachchan and Anil Kapoor in her fourth film Armaan, she chose to do continuous films alongside Aftab Shivadasaani, Arbaaz Khan, Tusshar Kapoor. Suddenly the business of her films fell from 29 crores of Lagaan to 7 crores for Armaan (featured a stellar cast of Amitabh, Anil and Preity Zinta who stole the show making Gracy Singh the second lead), 2 crores for Muskaan (a dismal failure despite its terrific music) to 70 lakhs for Wajah (again two heroine film) to 58 lakhs for Shart (two heroine film). By 2005 she had officially relegated to B grade cinema with films like Ye hai Zindagani with Pravin Dabas in lead role. And this transition was completed in 2008 when she worked in the film Deshdrohi with the legendary actor KRK. From there none of her films earned even a crores or even 10 lakhs. Her film Aseema earned a grand total of 50 thousand rupees at the box office.
According to her she was not comfortable doing glamorous roles which limited the kind of roles she was getting. In an interview she said that she was very possessive about her clean image. Also she was more focused on her dancing (she is a trained Bharatnatyam and Odissi dancer). Lastly she became more and more inclined towards spirituality with open association with Brahmakumaris. After 2008 many of her films were mythologicals or religious films like Barbareek, Ramka Peer, Jai Santoshi Maa etc. So she ignored her film career and then Bollywood ignored her like she never existed. A few years ago she worked in a TV show Jai Santoshi Maa playing the title role. Anyways it was really sad to see an actress with such great potential losing out and doing pathetic roles that ruined her career. It is difficult to understand what made her choose those roles that she did after such great start?