Bollywood's hip-n-happenin' single moms

Bollywood has always revered moms. Unlike Hollywood where the mom is pivotal in just a handful of films such as Stepmom or The Deep End of the Ocean (Michelle Pfeiffer), mothers dominate our cinema in a big way.

But till very recently, single moms (irrespective of the reason they were single) were shown as poor hapless creatures.

Prematurely grey hair, faces devoid of lipstick or eye shadow and white long-sleeved blouses was the standard dress code. Even the slightest hint of sexuality was not permitted. That was then, but these days things and changed and how.

Finding a second husband isn't exactly top priority with the new-age mothers. In fact it's the men who are keen to woo them. As we count down to Mother's Day on May 9, here's a look at some of the 'hottest' screen mothers in recent times.

Kajol in Fanaa

Zooni is all set to explore life. Her friends warn her against the roadside Romeo Rehan Qadri (Aamir Khan) but she enters into a casual relationship without any commitments from Rehan.

Post-interval she lives with her father and 7-year-old son (whom she calls Rehan). Zooni looks glamorous but is no pushover and confident about bringing up her child by herself!

Lara Dutta played a single mom (Naina) in Partner. And though she dotes on her little brat Rohan she's also devoted to her career.

Her beau Prem (Salman Khan) has never been married but he's only too willing to be a hands-on father provided the love of his life (Lara) says 'I do'.

Naina is quite concerned about her son accepting Prem who willingly babysits and chauffeurs the kid around. The lover boy or 'love guru' as he is called has learnt to play second fiddle.

Diya is from a small town but she's passionate about dance. She falls in love with an American and elopes.

Ten years later she returns with a 12-year-old daughter and largely unconcerned about her single status.

That's Madhuri Dixit in Aaja Nachle. Sporting jeans and tees, she doesn't hesitate to lock horns with Raja Uday Singh (Akshaye Khanna).

He is attracted to her the minute he meets her. And doesn't hesitate to show it! But Diya has her own life figured out and romance isn't the uppermost thing on her mind.

Alisha (Priyanka Chopra) is the college hottie-turned-single mom. But even post-motherhood she retains her gorgeous figure.

And the college geek Abhay (Uday Chopra) still lusts after her just as he did in the good old days.

Although he's set to earn the mega bucks, no other woman in this world means as much to him as Alisha who looks so stunning in most of the scenes you wonder why her husband moved on.

The single mom who has stolen everybody's hearts is Vidya Balan in Paa.

She plays Dr Vidya, a caring gynaecologist and single mother to Auro, an amazingly bright but challenged child. Though she's sari-clad through most of the film Vidya manages to look quite sensuous.

And she has no regrets about the choices she made in life. In fact it's the ex-boyfriend Abhishek Bachchan suffering from enormous guilt pangs about not being a part of his son's life.

Kajol makes another appearance in this list as Mandira, a not-so-young mother.

She has a 12-year-old son Sam whom she loves dearly. Mandira looks drop dead gorgeous, with her curvaceous figure and flowing tresses.

Her western outfits are modest, the saris and kurtas are far from revealing, yet Kajol oozes a sensuality which is hard to define. Truly a new age-mom in every sense of the word!