BEST ACTORS IN INDIA

Perhaps no other actor has influenced the evolution of mainstream Bollywood as Amitabh Bachchan's Angry Young Man. His many characters have been indelibly etched into Indian consciousness, from the various Vijays in Zanjeer, Deewar and Sholay.

ANAND
SHOLAY
DEEWAR
PINK
PIKU
BADLA
CHUPKE CHUPKE
BLACK
ABHIMAAN
DON
AGNEEPATH
KAALA PATHTHAR

If ever there was a one-man industry, Kamal Haasan is it. Actor, director, screenwriter, producer and choreopgrapher, there is nothing that he can't do. Known for his willingness to experiment with roles.

NAYAGAN
ANBE SIVAM
THEVAR MAGAN
MAHANADHI
MOONDRAM PIRAI
PUSHPAK
VIRUMAANDI
APOORVA SAGODARANGAL
INDIAN
SAGARA SANGAMAM
MICHEAL MADANA KAMARAJAN
KURUTHIPUNAL
SADMA
PAPANASAM
GUNA
SATHI LEELAVATHI
PANCHATHANTHIRAM
VISWAROOPAM
16 VAYATHANILE
UNNAIPOL ORUVAN
HEY RAM
VETTAIYADU VILLAIYADU
DASAVATHARAM
SALANGAI OLI
VARUMAIYINU NIRAM SIGAPPU
VASOOL RAJA MBBS
SWATHI MUTHYAM
AAKALAI RAJYAM

Three-time National Award winner Mammootty is a matinee idol in Kerala, star of hit films like Athirathram and Oru CBI Diary Kurippu. A frequent collaborator of director Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Mammootty has also appeared inMalayalam,Tamil,Telegu,Hindi,Kannada and English movies.

DR BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR
ORU VADAKKAN VEERAGADHA
THANIYAVARTHANAM
PRANCHIYETTAN AND THE SAINT
KAZHCHA
AMARAM
VATSALYAM
ORU CBI DIARY KURIPPU
PERANBU
YATRA
UNDA
MUNNARIYIPPU
PATHEMARI
VIDHEYAN
MATHILUKAL
DHRUVAM
PONTHAN MADA
KAYYOPPU
PALERI MANIKYAM
THALAPATHI
MRIGAYA
NEW DELHI
UTHARAM
PAPPAYUDE SWANTHAM APOOSE
BOOTHAKANADI
KERALA VARMA PAZHASSI RAJA
LOUDSPEAKER

Malayalam titan Mohanlal started his tryst with destiny as a villain. 25 films later, he switched to playing the hero and also forged a hit partnership with director Priyadarshan. He has since played a variety of roles.

DRISHYAM
DRISHYAM 2
KIREEDAM
MANICHITRATHAZHU
KAALAPAANI
YODHA
NADODIKAATU
DASHARADHAM
CHITHRAM
DEVASURAM
KILLUKKAM
GURU
SPADIKAM
THOOVANATHUMBIKAL
IRUVAR
THANMATHRA
BHARATHAM
NAMMUKU PAARKAAN MUNTHIRI THOPUKAL
SADAYAM
VAANAPRASTHAM
PATTAPRAVESHAM
AARAM THAMPURAN
THENMAVIN KOMBATHU
VARAVELPU

In the Tamil lexicon, Sivaji Ganesan is legendary. The first ever Indian star to win a Best Actor award at an international film festival, Sivaji Ganesan is cited by many South Indian actors as their biggest influence.

THEVAR MAGAN
ANNAN ORU KOVIL
PADAYYAPPA

Kannada star Dr Rajkumar began acting at the age of eight and starred in over 220 films. Winner of two National Film awards for Best Actor, his popularity was unmatched while he was active in movies.

NATSARVA BHOWMA
BADAVARA BANDHU
LAGNA PATRIKE
BANGADARYA MANUSHYA

A pioneer actor from the parallel cinema movement, Naseeruddin Shah's impact on Indian pop culture has been immense. In the ‘80s and ‘90s, there were almost no art-house films made that did not feature Naseeruddin.

A WEDNESDAY
JAANE BHI DO YAARO
IQBAL
MASOOM
IJAAZAT
SARFAROSH
MAQBOOL
SPARSH
PONTHAN MADA
HEY RAM

The term “superstar” was coined for Rajesh Khanna, who inspired fan frenzy and hysteria of unprecedented proportions. Film lore says that the mere sight of him caused women to faint, he was sent letters written in blood.

AANAND
AMAR PREM
BAWARCHI
KHAMOSHI
AARANADHANA
ITTEFAQ

Described as the ultimate method actor by director Satyajit Ray, Dilip Kumar was the first ever winner of the Filmfare Best Actor award.

MUGHAL E AZAM
MADHUMATI
DEVDAS
NAYA DAUR
SHAKTHI
GUNGA JUMNA

The thinking man’s actor. That’s how he is usually portrayed. Unconventional looks, lanky figure but a powerhouse of acting. That’s how he’s known all over the world. One of the earliest actors to do crossover cinemas, Irrfan Khan is renowned for his acting skills, his mannerisms and ability to do any role. An alumnus of National School of Drama, he started his career by doing bits and pieces roles along with television. Soon he started making waves with his unconventional choice of roles. Over the years, his work has made him a known face in the international diaspora of cinema.

LUNCHBOX
MAQBOOL
HINDI MEDIUM
TALVAR
PAAN SINGH TOMAR
SLUMDOG MILLIONARE

The Showman – This is how the world of cinema will remember Raj Kapoor. Born to Prithviraj Kapoor, who himself was a big actor of the forties, Raj Kapoor established himself as actor and a film maker. Known for his tramp like characters a la Chaplin, his films made name all over the world. His ambitious magnum opus ‘Mera Naam Joker’ which was part autobiographical and failed at the time of its release, is considered to be a cult classic. Later part of his life, saw him as a filmmaker whose sensitivity towards his female protagonists, came alive on screen in the form of ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram’, ‘Prem Rog’ and ‘Ram Teri Ganga Maili’. His popularity and vastness of work earned him the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke award.

SANGAM
MERA NAAM JOKER
PREM ROG
RAM TERI GANGA MALLI

It’s a pity that people remember Nana Patekar for his over the top acts in mundane masala movies and tend to overlook some of his best works. His gangster act in Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s ‘Parinda’ is just an example of the versatility of this man. Be it the deaf and mute father of ‘Khamoshi’ or the wife beating husband of ‘Agnisakshi’, his range of acting has been no lesser than vast. An alumnus of Sir J J school of Applied Art, Nana Patekar started his career in Marathi films, which eventually took him to Hindi films. He played the antagonist Baba in Mira Nair’s ‘Salaam Bombay’. For his directorial debut ‘Prahaar’ to understand the psyche of an army man, he went through the rigorous training under National Defence Academy. Reclusive and keeping a low profile, he recently resurfaced for his philanthropic activities. A two time national award winner, his latest role in the Marathi film ‘NatSamrat’ garnered him great accolades from every strata.

KRANTIVEER
PRAHAAR
APHARAN
NATSAMRAT
HEMALKASA

The eighties weren’t a good time for Indian cinema, as the films were run-of-the-mill kinds and appealed particularly to a specific group of fans. But the true fan was getting restless for the lack of good cinema. At this time a new genre took form, what was later known as the parallel cinema. The person who became its flag bearer, was Om Puri. An alumnus of National School of Drama and Film and Television Institute Of India, he was the perfect anti hero. He was neither tall, nor handsome. But his craft spoke for him. In a way, he was the face of the common man. He came up with several critically acclaimed works in films such as ‘Aakrosh’, ‘Ardh Satya’, ‘Mirch Masala’, ‘Dharavi’, ‘Maachish’ ,’Drohkaal’, ‘Aastha’ etc.. Showcasing his versatility, he also appeared in several comical roles in films such as ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron’, ‘Chachi 420’, ‘Hera Pheri’, ‘Maalamal Weekly’. He was one of the few Indian actors to have been renowned internationally, for his portrayal in many English films. A great talent, he passed away in 2017.

HERA PHERI
ARDH SATYA
MAQBOOL

Swades
Chak de india .
DDLJ,
Kal ho naa ho
Devadas
My Name is Khan
Veer Zaara
Kabhi Haan Kabhie Naa
Dil se
Kuch Kuch Hota
Don
Rab Ne Banadi Jodi
Darr
Baazigar

BELLARY NAGA
APTHAMITHTRA

Mr perfectionist known for the selection of good scripts and one of the best actors in the country

Dangal
3 Idiots
PK
Taare Zameen Par
Lagaan
Ghajini
Ghulam
Earth
Rang De Basanti

Anniyan
Pithamagan
Deiva Thirumagal
Sethu
I

Kumbalangi Nights
Super Deluxe
Bangalore Days
Maheshinte Prathikaram
Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum
Take Off

Iruvar
Asuran
Anniyan
Mahanati
Rangasthalam
Paavai Kadhaigal

Vikram Vedha
96
Soodhu Kavvum
Super Deluxe
Pizza
Master

Asuran
Vada Chennai
Aadukalam
Pudhupettai
Vellayilla Pattadhari

SPADIKAM
INDIAN RUPPEE
KIREEDAM
THANIYAVARTHANAM
NADODIKATTU
PERUMTHACHAN

HIS HIGHNESS ABDULLAH
INDIAN
BHARATHAM
ORU MINAMINIGINTE NURUNGUVETTAM

A WEDNESDAY
SARFAROSH
HOTEL MUMBAI
DDLJ
ACCIDENTAL PRIME MINISTER

SANDHESHAM
NADODIKATTU
PATTANAPRAVESHAM
KAALAPAANI
PATHEMARI
MIDHUNAM
VADAKUNOKIYANTHRAM
CHINTHAVISHTAYAYA SHYAMALA
THALAYANAMANTHRAM
VARAVELPU
MEGHAM
KADHA PARAYUMBOL