The first quarter of 2019 has already come to a close and looking at the films that have released from January to April 2019, there is no denying that Bollywood is in a decent space so far. In terms of films, we have already seen successes such as Uri, Total Dhamaal, Gully Boy which have managed to rake in a good moolah at the box office. There has been a good mix content as well since we have seen films ranging from period dramas to thrillers. For actresses, the first quarter has been interesting considering they got to experiment in biopics as well as slice-of-life films.

In particular, actresses such as Alia Bhatt, Kangana Ranaut, and Taapsee Pannu have put up stellar performances in their respective films, Gully Boy, Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi and Badla. In the past three years, we have seen a change in the handling of female character and it has been a breath of fresh air to see the female leads don strong characters that are not laden with stereotypes. Let's look at the actresses who have impressed us in the first quarter of 2019. Vicky Kaushal’s Uri, Ajay Devgn’s Total Dhamaal, Akshay Kumar’s Kesari – 7 Biggest Hits in the First Quarter of 2019, Ranked!

1. Alia Bhatt in Gully Boy

Alia Bhatt swept away almost all the coveted awards in the Best Actress category for her performance in 2018's Raazi last year. She kicked off 2019 with a bang starring in Zoya Akhtar's Gully Boy. Even though the Ranveer Singh starrer had its focus set on the male lead, Alia Bhatt's Safeena was no sidekick. Her character was not only progressive in terms of her 'possessive girlfriend'angle but also had an arc of its own and with Alia's phenomenal performance, we could even say there's another movie waiting to be made as Safeena's story. Alia aced the accent that was required for her character and made the catchphrase 'Dhoptungi' viral. Gully Boy was just the start and we will soon see her in Kalank which releases this May.

2. Kangana Ranaut in Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi

Despite being hit by several controversies, Kangana Ranaut's Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi open to mixed reviews in terms of its execution but the actress made sure to impress everyone with her performance as the Rani of Jhansi. From learning sword-fighting to horse-riding, Kangana's portrayal of the fearless historic female warrior was commendable. The film's box office numbers showed how well the audiences had lapped up the period drama. From Queen to Queen of Jhansi, Kangana's unparalleled efforts to excel in the movies need to recognition.

3. Taapsee Pannu in Badla

Taapsee Pannu may give you the girl-next-door vibe but it is her performances that set her apart from her contemporaries. She has shown a lot of versatility so far and with her distinct film choices, we look forward to seeing more of her on-screen. Taapsee Pannu has started off 2019 with Sujoy Ghosh's Badla. Sharing screen space with Amitabh Bachchan once again after Pink, Taapsee was brilliant in the film. It is not easy to hold your own opposite Mr. Bachchan but Taapsee managed that just right. The suspense/thriller was well-received by the audiences and after Naam Shabana and Pink, Taapsee put another stellar performance under her belt with this.

4. Kriti Sanon in Luka Chuppi

Kriti Sanon is growing as an actor with almost every performance. The actress has come a long way from her debut film Heropanti. After impressing us with her performance of Bitti in Bareilly Ki Barfi last year, Kriti tapped into the small-town vibe rightly once again with her performance in Luka Chuppi. Her chemistry with Kartik Aaryan in the film revolving around the existence and moreover fate of live-in relationships in small-towns was affable. Luka Chuppi left audiences with a smile on their faces and Kriti deserves a mention for making it a success.

5. Sonam Kapoor in Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga

Ek Laki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga was not a perfect film but it will remain to be a milestone for being a mainstream Bollywood film that had a lesbian character in its lead. Sonam Kapoor's performance in the film was liked by many. The film's heart was in the right place and with Sonam on board, the film managed to receive the kind of attention it needed and helped throw light on a topic that needs more inclusivity.

All of the above-mentioned actresses impressed us with their contributions. Their diverse roles were loved by audiences and if this was only the first quarter, we can only imagine what's in store for us in the coming months. Tell us whose performance you enjoyed the most!

Which Actress Impressed You the Most in the First Quarter of 2019?

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 05, 2019 08:39 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).