/> Top Newcomers Of The Year

Deepika Padukone: SRK's dreamy girl from Om Shanti Om made a dream debut in a double role. Before her only Hrithik Roshan made his debut in a double role. Her next film has her kicking butt with Akshay Kumar.

Ranbir Kapoor: rock-solid pedigree endearing screen presence and oodles of selfconfidence made the newest Kapoor on the block every girl's favourite Saawariya. Ranbir wooes Bipasha, Katrina, Deepika Padukone and Minissha Lamba in his next film.

Sonam Kapoor: She's been compared with Waheeda Rehman and Rekha. Sonam is being seen as the lambi race ka ghoda. Everyone from Ekta Kapoor to Preity Zinta finds her interesting.

Ruslaan Mumtaz: Mera Pehla Pehla Pyar was a damp squib. But Ruslaan created a ripple in a quiet way. Watch out for him in his second film Tere Sang.

3 Hot Directors

Shimit Amin: He made hockey sexy. Shah Rukh Khan in his soberest role to date was putty in Shimit's hands. The guy has taken a long sabbatical after the triumph of Chak De India. Of course he returns to a Yashraj Film.

Imtiaz Ali: And so what if Jab We Met came jab the lead pair parted? Shahid and Kareena never seemed to share stronger chemistry in any of the films that they did together as a real-life pair.

Ali who earlier directed Abhay Deol and Ayesha Takia's debut film Socha Na Tha is flooded with offers. He has agreed to direct a film for producer Saif Ali Khan.

Priyadarshan: Only director of 2007 with two hits, a minor Dhol and a major Bhool Bhulaiyya, Priyan sure has come a long way

Stars Of The Year

Shah Rukh Khan: Undisputed king of the boxoffice with two super-hits Chak De India and Om Shanti Om oozing star-power in every frame. Next feature is with good friend Karan Johar.

Akshay Kumar: Take a bow, Kumar Saab. 4 hits Namaste London, Hey Babby, Bhool Bhulaiyya and at year-end Welcome....the man is the new invincible midas at the boxoffice.

Gold maal hai bhai ....A word of caution: the comic formula is running out of steam...and esteem. Cleverly Kumar Saab reinvents himself in 2008 as an action king

Aamir Khan: With Taare Zameen Par Aamir proves he a man of intergrity and an artiste who puts his money where his mouth is.

Top Music Directors

Monty Singh: The scintillating score of Saawariya has single-handedly revived the era of pure melodies

Pritam: Delivered rock-solid modern songs in Metro, Bhool Bhulaiyya and Jab We Met. Needs to come out of the plagiarist's image.

Vishal-Shekhar: Sajna ji vari-vari in Honey Travels Pvt Ltd at the beginning of 2007 and Dard-e-disco in Om Shanti Om at year-end rocked the charts Top 3 Actresses

Kareena Kapoor: One rousing performance in Jab We Met, and she's back at the top. But where does Kareena go from here? Yashraj Films' Tashan is her next release. And the buzz is she's bagging Karan Johar's Khan with SRK.

Vidya Balan: 3 solid hits Guru, Hey Babby and Bhool Bhulaiyya have suddenly made Vidya Balan a force to reckon with. In 2008 she'll be competing with Priyanka Chopra who has a solid lineup of lavish releases, and Aishwarya Rai whose Jodha-Akbar could be the biggest.

Konkona Sen-Sharma: From Rani's chirpy sibling in Laga Chunari Mein Daag to Kunal Kapoor's besotted Laila in Aaja Nachle...Konkona didn't really deliver the hits. But her solid performing powers put her among the formidable actresses.