But, as those outside of India are quickly learning, this predilection for mirchi isn't confined to just food. Take one look at our hoardings, movies and television shows and you'll know exactly what we mean. Indian women are super-sexy!

In recent years, our actresses and models have pushed boundaries and upped the hotness quotient to hitherto unseen levels, leaving us, the general populace, grateful and gawking. So how to make sense of this profusion of skin? A list, by jolly!

Of course, any effort to name India's 'sexiest women' will surely run into problems, simply because there's so many to choose from! But, in the interest of your time and our bandwidth, we've pared the finalists to twelve hotties. Enjoy!

Kareena Kapoor

The UK's Eastern Eye recently ranked Kareena Asia's eighth sexiest woman, and it's easy to see why. Whether it's the innocent girl next door, the bitchy villainess or the sultry seductress, she can do it all.

Recently, she caused waves by shedding a few extra kilos to attain the ever-elusive size 0. Add in the Saif Ali Khan relationship, and 2008 has seen Kareena as not only the queen of hotness, but also the queen of controversy! And, while the movie flopped, Tashan gave us a Kareena that we'd never seen before: in a super sexy, sizzling bikini!

So who do you think deserves to be on this list? And who doesn't? Post your picks on the messageboard below!

Text: Matthew Schneeberger

Also see: India's best-looking dusky women

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