Birthday Wishes: Priyanka Chopra

In her eleven years in the film industry, Priyanka Chopra has seen nearly every high and almost every low both personally and professionally, and yet, come out fighting every time. From winning beauty pageants and National Awards, to being the only Indian face of international fashion brand, Guess, a fledgling pop career and more recently, representing Dr Dre's famous colourful Beats headphones, Priyanka has done it all, and yet continues to soar.

The actress will next be seen in Sanay Leela Bhansali's biopic of world boxing champion and Olympic bronze medalist Mary Kom, and is also mid way through Zoya Akhtar's Dil Dhadakne Do, a family drama which sees her with Farhan Akhtar, Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma. She will also feature as Kashibai in Bhansali's period romance Bajirao Mastaani, alongside Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone.

The actress/songstress celebrates her birthday today, 18 July, and turns 32 and as a tribute BollyBrit® brings you five of our favourite Hindi dance numbers that featured her and ascertain why they made a splash, and were a rage with her fans and audiences alike.

Do you agree with our list?

'I Wanna Make Love To You' – Aitraaz (2004)
The lyrics to this song were atrocious, but Priyanka raised temperatures with it, especially because it suited her man-eating, power hungry character in the film to a T. Sonia Roy was and will probably remain one of my favourite of PC's characters.

'Desi Girl' – Dostana (2008)
I stand by this. I don't think Priyanka Chopra has ever looked as gorgeous as she did in this song or in fact, the film. It's a benchmark, that I don't think she ever quite recreated. She was styled to perfection and it was only after this film, that the tag 'Desi Girl' stuck to her, and she's still fondly referred to as the same by fans and media alike.

'Raat Ke Dhai Baje' – Kaminey (2009)
Probably one of Priyanka's finest and underrated films, the actress scorched the screen in this song as a Marathi 'mulgi' out to dupe her lover (played by Shahid Kapoor) into marrying her. The chemistry beftween her and Shahid was the talking point in this film, along with Priyanka's desi moves which she performed to gay abandon.

'Ram Chahe Leela' — Ram Leela (2013)
Trust Sanjay Leela Bhansali to add panache and style to an item number. Priyanka scorched in this rather rustic, off beat item number with a strong Gujarati flavour. The sanskrit tattoo around her stomach, the sultry buttoning of the blouse and Priyanka's 'thumkas' made this one of the best and most different item numbers in recent times.

'Asalaam e Ishqum' — Gunday (2014)
I love this track. Not for its rather questionable lyrics but for its choreography and the 'Moulin Rouge' feel to it. Priyanka looks smokin' hot even if her outfits aren't really from the era the film's based in. As a side note, what's perhaps most admirable is that the actress shot for it just a week after she lost her father. If that isn't dedication I'm not sure what is.