Characters, songs, and plots change but the emotions evoked are timeless. Thanks to legendary actors, engaging storylines and catchy songs, Hindi Cinema has made us laugh, cry and even fall in love all over again - happy birthday Bollywood!

This year, there's one extra occasion to celebrate as the Indian film industry turns 100. Bollywood is only a branch of Indian cinema. Did you know that this industry makes over 1000 films a year? And they are not all in Hindi - some of the local languages include Malayalam, Gujarati, and Tamil.

Here are my favourite contributors to the indian film industry:

The Showman of Indian Cinema:
Raj Kapoor, actor and filmmaker, became very well established during the golden era of the 1950s. In this time, bollywood began to evolve, with themes changing and adapting to social issues as opposed to religious ones. One of his successes includes "Awara."

The Pioneer of Indian Cinema
Dilip Kumar, otherwise known as "King of Hindi Cinema," achieved immense success thanks to his 1947 film "Jugnu". This talented actor was the first to win a Filmfare Award for Best Actor, for his contribution and excellence,he was awarded Padma Bhushan in 1991.

The Legend of Indian Cinema
Amitabh Bachchan, one of the most popular actors of all time. Some of his blockbuster hit films are Chupke Chupke, Mr Natwarlal and Sholay. Not only is he an actor, but also made his debut as a playback singer, film producer and TV presenter. His unique characterisation and distinctive dialect have made him one of the most memorable actors.