Four months of 2010 are over. And none of the Bollywood reigning queens — Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra — have actually opened their accounts so far.

(PC’s Pyaar Impossible would have sunk even it had Kate Winslet, so one is discounting the film altogether.) “But this is the lull before the storm,’’ promises trade guru Taran Adarsh who feels that these four fabulous actresses will be locked in a fierce battle for supremacy in the coming months. “What’s more, they are absolutely on par with each other,’’ adds Taran, “all of them have the same advantages and disadvantages.’’

Now when you think of the fantastic four, you don’t want to visualise them in a cat-fight. But that’s exactly what is happening behind the scenes. Katrina keeps repeating that Kareena, Priyanka and herself are equally marketable, and that’s why they’re being constantly pitted against one another. Also, while Kat believes it’s the over-active media that is using the box office to make enemies out of the actresses, the fact is that these four are engaged in a race for the top. “We actresses are all grown-ups. We don’t make our career decisions based on idle gossip,’’ says Kat. Yet you hear from reliable sources that if Katrina has opted out of Anurag Basu’s film, the decision is to do with the presence of Priyanka in the project. While Priyanka conveniently floats stories of how she was the first choice for Tees Maar Khan and not Kat, etc., etc.

Her love for Saif Ali Khan notwithstanding, Kareena Kapoor is ruthlessly ambitious. Bebo says, “People can keep assuming that I’m a girl in love and so I’m less inclined towards work. But that is far from true. I hold a position of power in the industry and I’m not giving it up for anyone or anything.”

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s followers subtlety point out that the actress who handles her home expertly also continues to be a thoroughbred professional. Trade sources estimate that Rs.300 crore is riding on Ash this year, making her the No.1 at least for 2010.

And though they’re secretly ready to scratch each others’ eyes out, the poised four are always being so polite. Priyanka refutes allegations that it is asphyxiating on the top. “I’m very Gandhian in my approach. I’m so consumed by work there is no time to breathe (yeah, in that sense it could be asphyxiating — but not otherwise). I have four films to complete by February 2011. And also one season of Khatron Ke Khiladi. So I have no time to pay attention to anyone’s career. I have so much on my own plate and gratefully so,’’ says PC. She adds, “I’m not insecure. I’m sometimes No 1, sometimes No 7 or sometimes No 10. The number game is just up to your last film. One film does well they prop you up there, one flops and they push you down. But for me it is about being consistent in my performance. ‘’

Brave words. However clever they are in camouflaging their feelings, the fact remains that these four girls are vying for the same pie.