Bollywood always delivers glitz, glam, and high-octane entertainment - and when looking to inject energy and spice to the screen, item numbers are professionals! This larger-than-life category of song-and-dance, some call it a put-on-a-pair-of-dancing-shoes-sit-down-with-an-exotic-beverage-then-sing-and-dance-in-a-way-suddenly-have-a-enlarged-physique, is a staple of Indian cinema, and whether as standalones or as eye candy that overshadowed the film, item numbers with their foot-tapping pulse, dance energy, and star energy remain a category unto themselves, and scream India. At the centre of doubtless are item dancers. Over the decades Bollywood has featured several actresses or dancers who singlehanded moved the camera with their killer moves and unique star energy; and with sultry expressions and power packs, costumes to drool over, and memorable hook steps, these individuals stand at the head of defining "item girl" in Indian cinema. Some graduates of the role or play professional “item girls" made the item acts part of an iconic career moment, maintain a super loyal audience, and critical acclaim for such fierce presence. Whether it is the tantalizing charisma of Madhuri Dixit in "Choli Ke Peeche", the scintillating exuberance of Malaika Arora in "Munni Badnaam Hui", or the electrifying presence of Nora Fatehi in "Dilbar", each of these dancers has made a unique impact. They are more than mere dancers — they are trendsetters, pop culture icons, and queens of movement. In this list, we pay homage to the Top 10 hottest item dancers of Bollywood — women who have raised the heat and intensity of its performances, who have had millions and millions of people dancing to their beats, and who have stamped their names in Indian cinema. Get ready to remember some of the most memorable moments and the awesome performers behind them.
10. Jacqueline Fernandez:
Jacqueline Fernandez's star power shines through in the in 2025 precision action-thriller, Raid 2, where she makes a magnetic special appearance with the high-octane item number "Money Money". Using all the possessed dance skills and swag like a boss, Jacqueline teams up with Yo Yo Honey Singh and appears with Ajay Devgn in a glamorous dance number that is designed to be over the top in order to raise the amusement value of the film. Although Money Money was released recently as part of the film's press rollout, the song has Jacqueline dancing in modern choreography with high energy beats, lots of production value, and suggestive trappings. The song adds to her established reputation for entertaining high-impact dance music, and it's just another example of her staying power in item songs for over a decade in Bollywood.
9. Katrina Kaif:
Katrina Kaif’s stellar performance inside “Sheila Ki Jawani” from 2010's Tees Maar Khan set an altogether fresh precedent in style for item numbers in Hindi film. The upbeat track, penned by Vishal-Shekhar with a powerful vocal performance by Sunidhi Chauhan, soon became a popular commercial success. The choreography led by Farah Khan, showcased Katrina's stylistic integrity of dance which synthesized sensuality with a breath of shaktishali energy. Her potential to blend shringar and bhaya in personality, and to be decisive in her performance, upended traditional expectations for performers. The bold stylization and Katrina Kaif's ownership of the frame effectively connected significant audiences who screamed and cheered for the length of the song, as well as the broader pop-culture rivalry with “Munni Badnaam Hui.” The song accumulated many awards, including the Filmfare's Best Choreography award, and echoed as one of the ten most memorable item numbers of the decade, along and along with Bollywood's ethos. Katrina's Sheila remains a pivotal bookend in the sweep of her dance career and the histography of Bollywood dance as portrayed through hindi cinema.
8. Deepika Padukone:
Deepika Padukone made waves with the remixed “Dum Maaro Dum” item song in Dum Maaro Dum (2011) that Pritam composed and choreographed by Bosco‑Caesar. Donning a skimpy costume (under her instruction), she worked hard in extensive rehearsal to perform the energetic, sultry dance number—even if there was some backlash in the form of the lyrics and styling. Deepika was paid roughly ₹1.5 crore to become Bollywood’s highest-paid item girl at the time. In the later film Happy New Year (2014), she appeared in the glamorous “Lovely” item dance number that was choreographed by Farah Khan and styled for extreme mass appeal. It has also become one of the most well-known item songs of the year, and highlights Deepika’s expressive dance style with her confident screen presence. Although Deepika has described the label “item song” as “strange” because of her classical dance background, they remain in some of her most iconic special appearances on screen.
7. Malaika Arora:
Malaika Arora gave a game-changing performance in the item song "Munni Badnaam Hui" from the 2010 hit Dabangg with Salman Khan. Sung by Mamta Sharma and Aishwarya Nigam and set to a catchy folk-pop beat from composer Lalit Pandit, this bop quickly became a hit. With energetic choreography, playful facial expressions, and a sumptuous costume, Malaika added jaw-dropping aesthetics that set the tone for inimitable special song performances. Mamta Sharma won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer, while the number inspired broad comparisons with Katrina Kaif's Sheila Ki Jawani, which created the viral "Munni versus Sheila" conversation of the day. "Munni Badnaam Hui" cemented Malaika's title as Bollywood's preeminent "item queen."
6. Urvashi Rautela:
Urvashi Rautela dazzles the reader with an energetic item number "Touch Kiya" in the 2025 action-drama Jaat, also starring Sunny Deol and Randeep Hooda. Composed by Thaman S, and sung by Madhubanti Bagchi and Shahid Mallya, the energetic track is underpinned by throbbing beats paired with glamorous visuals. Urvashi Rautela appears in a stunning red outfit and each dance-floor movement bursts with energy while she performs behind colorful backdrops that emphasize her sensuality through high-energy choreography. The video is infused with behind-the-scenes looks that highlight the vibrant making-of energy while highlighting Urvashi's on-screen charisma, which generated great feedback from viewers stating she commanded the screen. Clearly, her appearance consolidated her status as a more permanent Bollywood diva, recognised to drop in and create bold, show-stopping dance numbers like this!
5. Sonam Bajwa:
Sonam Bajwa makes her debut in an item-number for Bollywood in the upcoming action-thriller Baaghi 4 (due to release on September 5, 2025), starring Tiger Shroff and Sanjay Dutt, and filmed over three days in Mumbai with well-known choreographer Ganesh Acharya. This item number is already being dubbed 'song of the year' for its size and spectacle! According to Bajwa, "It has always been my dream to dance in a full-on, Hindi item number, adding an amazing factor of adrenaline, and with Ganesh sir, I got that opportunity!" This unforgettable experience combined with successful styling, Bajwa's unique presence and charisma, this track should plant her as an emerging player in mainstream Bollywood item numbers.
4. Nargis Fakhri:
Nargis Fakhri's introduction as an item girl occurred in her vibrant song performance called "Dhating Naach" in Phata Poster Nikla Hero (2013) with Shahid Kapoor. The song, sung by Neha Kakkar and Nakash Aziz, composed by Pritam and lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya, opened with energetic "latkas-jhatkas," carnival style choreography, dazzling costumes and elaborate sets foreshadowing her glamorous stature in future song sequences. To master her performance, she trained in several dance styles; Kathak, jazz, hip-hop - referring to the training as "fun, but very intense." Nargis followed with "Devil - Yaar Na Miley," featuring her alongside Salman Khan in Kick (2014). Composed by Yo Yo Honey Singh (and co-sung by him) - the song featured a gothic look and high energy beats - and though it was physically difficult, the choreography garnered very minor injuries in the process, though Nargis was applauded for her bold stylings.
3. Nora Fatehi:
Nora Fatehi's phenomenal item song "Saki Saki (Remix)" for Batla House (2019) transformed the trajectory of her career. With a compelling fusion of fire-breathing acrobats, belly-dancing and core-strength choreography she owns every frame while staying inventive with her moves and performing gymnastic stunts. It's a refreshing retelling of the original song that was writ in a visual stylistic that balances manic energy and stylization, which led to comparisons after her earlier smash "Dilbar". Critics, as well as audiences, praised her fearlessness - she learned fire dancing in just three days - and the way she brought choreography to the number beyond spectacle. The song solidified Nora as Bollywood's dance queen for high-voltage item songs, evolving the genre for modern cinema.
2. Sunny Leone:
In Petta Rap, the Tamil musical action-comedy directed by SJ Sinu and starring Prabhu Deva and Vedhika. Sunny Leone puts in a high-energy special number. Although the title hasn't been widely publicized, her special claim to fame in any broad cultural conversation is made possible by this performance. Sunny defended item songs at a Kochi press event in September 2024, firmly dismissing accusations of "objectification," and responding to criticisms of item songs being perceived as the pandering of male fantasies or bigotry against women performers, purportedly objectifying them by presenting them in the risque attire they wear. "People watch the movies and want to see it in the theatres because its entertaining; that’s why they are flocking,"Sunny said, while defending item songs. Sunny Leone's career has seen her feature in popular chart-busting numbers like "Baby Doll," "Paani Wala Dance," "Piya More," "Trippy Trippy," and "Pink Lips," in different languages. Sunny's special number in Petta Rap draws from and continues her work of creating glamorous and mass appeal dance-song items that foreground her charm and showmanship within Indian cinema.
1. Mouni Roy:
Mouni Roy recently made headlines with the infectious item song titled “Mummy Ji” from the highly anticipated film Vedaa (John Abraham and Sharvari). The film is due out in theatres on August 15, 2024. The song was released digitally on August 7, 2024, on Zee Music Originals, with Mouni performing in a striking red‑and‑black ghagra choli made of shells and mirrors. Sung by Prajakta Shukre and Himani Kapoor, composed by Manan Bhardwaj, and choreographed by Adil Shaikh, the dance number features an exciting mix of traditional and contemporary moves that create a high‑energy viewing and listening experience, rich with visual and aural details. Social media quickly described the song as a “banger”, and fans applauded Mouni for her charisma, stunning costumes, and emotive dance style. With this song, Mouni strengthens her image as a glamorous dance leader who can command the cultural conversation.
