3.2 billion People like Shah Rukh Khan, Indians almost god worship Salman Khan and Ranbir Kapoor is the new poster boy of Bollywod. But amidst all the big heavyweight names, between all the Aamirs and the Shah Rukhs and the Salmans, there is a clan of creatively talented actors, altogether different from the A-listers who are at par and most times, even above par excellence. But people hardly talk about these unconventional superstars who might not be successful in breaking records at the box office but are definitely more than just capable of gifting Indian cinema with a touch of elegance, supremacy and cinematic brilliance.
When the Awards season are all set to crown in the best actors of the year going by almost, we at Koimoi.com take that special initiative to choose from the Best Actors who Delivered Stunning Performances with an Added dash of difference. Completely unique in characterization and their choice of films, some of these names are huge stalwarts when it comes to reasonable but less profitable low budget films.
Let’s take a look at our picks before we open the polls for the same.
Manoj Bajpai in Gangs of Wasseypur I :
Manoj Bajpai in a still from Gangs of Wasseypur I Movie
An actor par excellence, one who made the nation scream to his dialogues when he debuted with Ram Gopal Verma’s Satya and immediately bagged away numerous awards for the Best Actor-Critics section, with a scintillating stint with Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs Of Wasseypur, a poltical chronicle of sorts this year, Manoj Bajpai easily found his way transforming from the gentle, megalomaniac womanizer to the feisty and brutal murderer, we just went Wow!
Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Gangs of Wasseypur II:
Nawazuddin Siddiqui in a still from Gangs of Wasseypur II Movie
The Undisputed Rising Star of B-town, Nawazuddin Siddiqui has left the audience awed, longing for more. From the strict and calculative top cop act in Sujoy Ghosh’s Kahaani to the first edition of GOW establishing his actor prowess, it was Gangs Of Wasseypur 2 which prominently put him as one of the biggest names today in the world of unconventional actors. His limped Tehmur in Talaash added the cherry on the cake and how!
Irrfan Khan in Paan Singh Tomar:
Irrfan Khan in a still from Paan Singh Tomar Movie
One actor who had created ripples with his brilliant performances in even the scariest flops right at the onset of his career, Irrfan Khan had always shown promise. With a striking performance as the athlete in Paan Singh Tomar biopic; he hopped from one film festival to another, basking in all the glitter and glory. Plus, the effective metamorphosis of Irrfan in the film from the gold medal winning athlete to the violent, vindictive bandit carved a milestone in the history of Indian cinema. We agree!
Sharman Joshi in Ferrari Ki Sawaari:
Sharman Joshi in a still from Ferrari Ki Sawaari Movie
A disastrous debut with a lack luster script might have stolen B-town cool dude Sharman Joshi’s much desired stardom but what infused life back into this fading star was a certain Vidhu Vinod Chopra. It was the average opener Ferrari Ki Sawaari that brought his acting credibility to the fore. Emoting aptly as a troubled loving father all set to fulfill his son’s desires, Sharman slipped into the shoes of the character with a stunning amount of comfort.
Emraan Hashmi in Shanghai:
Emraan Hashmi in a still from Shanghai Movie
Famous or rather infamous for sticking to a particular genre of films: the bold and gutsy actor had always taken the seductive route to Fame. But when he did, he nailed it with aplomb. A vengeance-imbibed-director in The Dirty Picture to Dibakar Banerjee’s Shanghai where he underplays the adult film maker with an effective amount of passion, Emraan Hashmi has definitely held up the banter proving all his critics wrong and giving all his ardent fans reasons to rejoice.
Paresh Rawal in OMG Oh My God!:
Paresh Rawal in a still from OMG Oh My God! Movie
A superlative script, powerful dialogues and an extraordinarily talented versatile genius in the form of Paresh Rawal were key ingredients in racing away Akshay Kumar produced OMG Oh My God! to super success. And what a marvelous and effortless performance by this otherwise soft speaking gentleman, who has donned all roles: from a supporting hero to a comedian to a villain with equal panache. In the war between God and Kanjibhai, Paresh Rawal definitely took his character on a victory march.
Abhay Deol in Chakravyuh:
Abhay Deol in a still from Chakravyuh Movie
With oodles of grey cells, this young Deol is high on intellect and independence. Since the inception, Abhay Deol has been categorically specific about the films he decides to be a part of, the directors he chooses to work with, and that’s what adds to his on screen persona. Abhay’s Kabir from Chakravyuh stand as an embodiment of strength, determination and grit: three adjectives that amplifies Abhay’s personality too. With an otherwise compelling act of producing the political sabotage and nationalistic ideas so magnificently on screen, we bow down to you, Abhay!
