Seven Indians on BBC 100 Women list

Making a mark on the global map, seven Indian personalities have made it to BBC’s list of 100 most aspirational women. They are singer Asha Bhosle, tennis star Sania Mirza, veteran actor Kamini Kaushal, Rimppi Kumari, farmer, Smriti Nagpal, entrepreneur, Mumtaz Shaikh, campaigner, and Kanika Tekriwal, entrepreneur.

The list was announced on Wednesday, a statement said.

Each year, BBC names 100 women — a mix of influential personalities who are world leaders in politics, science and entertainment, as well as less popular but inspirational women from all over the world.

Asha, who started working in Bollywood in 1943, has recorded songs for 1,000 films. Kamini, better known as the Vivienne Leigh of her generation in Bollywood, has acted in more than 100 films. She was the leading actress in Neecha Nagar , which won the best film award in Cannes in 1946, the first Indian film to do so.

Rimppi is a farmer who, along with her sister Karamjit, took over a 32-acre farm in Rajasthan after their father died.

Sania’s story is not hidden to anyone. She is one of India’s most successful tennis players and in 2015 was the Wimbledon and U.S. Open women’s doubles champion.

Smriti was inspired by her work as a sign language interpreter in India, which has the largest aurally challenged population in the world, to set up Atulyakala.

Mumtaz’s fight to get free facilities for women through the Right to Pee network earned her the honour. She ensured 96 free toilets for women in Mumbai and made the government set aside Rs. 50 million to build women-only urinals around the city.

After being diagnosed with cancer in her early 20s, Kanika was determined to make her mark. She established India’s first and only marketplace for private jet and helicopter charters.

Complementing the list, the BBC will offer audiences a raft of special content across its platforms. As part of the season, Sania will be interviewed by BBC World News presenter Yogita Limaye.

The list is part of the “100 Women season” on BBC World News starting Wednesday.