MANMOHAN SINGH
REFORM ECONOMIST TO TOP GUN
The architect of the economic reforms of 1991 and the darling of India Inc. became the most educated prime minister in Indian history. The 74-year-old may never have won an election, but he has a billion fates in the palm of his hand.

KAPIL DEV
HARYANA HURRICANE TO MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
The only Indian captain to lift the World Cup in 1983 was known for his appetite for wickets and huge sixes. Next, he was seen crying on TV, denying matchfixing charges. These days, the 47-year-old Wisden Indian Cricketer of the Century is often seen swinging a golf club with elan.

H.D. DEVE GOWDA
SLEEPING BEAUTY TO TROUBLEMAKER
Caught napping in Parliament many times, the former prime minister (1996-97) has just woken up to the perils of the IT revolution. The 73-year-old recently supported an opportunistic alliance in his home state.

MITHUN CHAKRABORTY
DISCO DANCER TO C-GRADE PRODUCER
From Disco Dancer (1983) to playing a sinewy tribal in Mrinal Sen's Mrigaya (1989), to C-grade producer, the FTII graduate has come a long way. Three national awards notwithstanding, the 59-year-old is now a mini hotel magnate in Ooty.

VINOD KHANNA
SEXY SANYASI TO PARIVAR POLITICIAN
The shining star of Bollywood had a series of hits in the 1970s, before Osho beckoned. Sixty-year-old Khanna's latest innings has seen him enter Parliament twice.

SHOBHAA DE
RAMP-SCORCHER TO BESTSELLER
Shobhaa De nee Kilachand was a model and editor of glossies who never minced words. In her avatar as author, she forayed into forbidden territory. Now it's another day and another De, as the 58-year-old turns de-signer.

J. JAYALALITHAA
CELLULOID GODDESS TO PURATCHI THALAIVI
When the star of southern cinema became AIADMK chief in 1988, people professed their loyalty by walking on burning coal. Toppling union governments or stocking up shoes, the 58-year-old never lost her steel resolve.

SHEKHAR SUMAN
FAILED MOVIE STAR TO SMALL SCREEN SUPERSTAR
After entertaining audiences for more than a decade, the 46-year-old king of blah is now laughing his heart out as a stand-up comedy show judge.

SHAH RUKH KHAN
TELLY FAUJI TO BOLLYWOOD BADSHAH
He shot to fame with his disarming dimples and impassioned dialogue delivery. The 41-year-old trained stage actor became a superstar despite "hair like a bear".

V.P. SINGH
MANDAL MESSIAH TO RECLUSIVE ARTIST
He played the quota card that threatened to split the nation. Undone by coalition politics, he dreams of making the Third Front a reality. The 75-year-old has now taken up the brush.

KANWAR PAL SINGH GILL
SUPERCOP TO DRAG FLICK
The 71-year-old former Punjab Police chief stormed the terrorists' bastion but his strong-arm tactics in other areas earned him self goals. After Rupan Deol, he played ping pong with Indian hockey.

HEMA MALINI
DREAM GIRL TO CROWDPULLER MP
Hema Malini is juggling films and politics as effortlessly as she switched between the serious and the comic. Even as MP, the 58-year-old has not lost her Basanti chutzpah.

VIJAY MALLYA
LIQUOR BARON TO AIRLINE TYCOON TO MP
Just 28 when his father died, he is now a veteran of the hi-life. The face of the UB group loves adventure, be it in the form of sponsoring derbies, bidding for the sword of Tipu Sultan or publishing swimsuit calendars.

MANEKA GANDHI
AGGRIEVED BAHU TO ANIMATED ACTIVIST
Be it circuses or films, the 50-year-old Gandhi bahu has made it her business to speak about animal rights abuse.

AMITABH BACHCHAN
ONE-MAN INDUSTRY TO LIONISED OLD ICON
In 1973, there was the smouldering inspector in Zanjeer, then the larger-than-life Coolie (1983) and finally the megabrand of Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2000. At 64, the world still steps aside for Bollywood's Big Daddy.

GOVINDA
VIRAR KA CHOKRA TO AAJ KA NETA
After many dreary family films, he veered to slapstick comedy, but the new millennium proved unlucky for Chichi. Turning over a new leaf, the 43-year-old gave the Congress a thumping poll victory from North Mumbai.

SHATRUGHAN SINHA
VIPEROUS VILLAIN TO ACTION HERO
Chhainu of Mere Apne (1971) effortlessly changed gear, emerging as a crowd-puller for BJP. His histrionics weren't suitably rewarded though. The 65-year-old was last heard giving soundbites on the Narmada Dam.

NATWAR SINGH
MAN OF THE WORLD TO NOWHERE MAN
He was the pundit of international affairs till an internal affair regarding an oil deal came out in the open. Post spillage, the 75-year-old was last seen replying to a show-cause notice and contemplating writing a book.

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