Versatility is the key…. Review on Five Best Actors of Hindi Movies

The line with which most members, who have written on this topic, have begun is “it’s a difficult task to pick 5 out of the numerous actors who have….” So I guess I don’t need to repeat that line. As you read this review you will find that many popular choices are missing from this review, it is a conscious omission. I have left out the STARS… No I don’t have anything against them (in fact I have enjoyed a lot of their movies) but I guess all stars need not be great actors. Yes some of them have certain acting abilities in them and that is what led to them becoming stars. But unfortunately in my opinion most stars after achieving “stardom” chose to stick to the images and started getting type cast. The famous AB “angry young man”, the SRK “stutter and stammer”, the Salman Khan “topless scenes”, the Govinda “dance routines” etc are a few examples .

For me an actor is one who gets into the skin of the character and then never shows himself out too prominently. As in when you watch them perform, you are feeling a character not the actor. A true actor in my opinion is one who has never got stuck with a label…… Many of you members out there might not agree with this concept, but hey, if we all agreed on everything wont this world become too boring a place to be…. So with that let me list down a few of the very good “actors” I have enjoyed on the bollywood scene….

Ashok Kumar (Kumudlal Kunjilal Ganguly): “Dadamoni’ as he was popularly called, Ashok Kumar is said to have taken up acting with a lot of reluctance. But then this is one man who stood through the evolution of Bollywood right from his first film in the year 1930 (Achut Kanya) to 1996 (Return of the Jewel thief), making a smooth transition from hero to character roles (which some of our heroes fail to do with ease). He was a natural actor with his own style and rarely over acted. A very popular person off screen Ashok Kumar to me is one of the pillars of Bollywood. In his earlier films you can see him playing the average man on street with as much credibility as he would play the suit clad, pipe smoking foreign return. Has played characters with varying shades and done it in style…..

I recommend: Parineeeta, Mahal, Kanoon, Bandini, Victoria No 203, Aashirwad and Jewel thief.

Sanjeev Kumar (Harihar Jariwala) : A great actor who was known for his off beat roles and as someone who never clamored for an image. He was always playing challenging roles and excelled in roles that required melodrama. He has also few comic films to his credits. Sanjeev Kumar acted along side great stars like Dilip Kumar (Sangarsh and Vidhatha), Amithabh Bachan, Dharmendra, etc and yet managed to hold his own. He has done a film in which he stars in nine roles (Nayi Diin Nayi Raat), essaying each of those roles brilliantly. His ability to emote without the help of dialogues is visble in the movie Koshish where in he plays a deaf and dumb man who is married to a deaf and dumb woman; a few of the scenes from that movie are truly amazing.

I recommend: Anamika, Manchali , Aandhi , Sholay, Shatranj ke Khiladi, Pati Patni Aur Wo, Angoor, Silsila, Vidhaata

Naseeruddin Shah: A product of the National School of Drama, Naseer needs no introduction to both art film and mainstream film audiences. He shot into prominence with Shyam Benegal movies. He made his mark with off beat commercial cinema, but has never shied away from the mainstream formula movies either. He has played a variety of roles, Hero, Villain, Supporting cast, comedian, you name it he has done it.

I recommend: Jane bhi do Yaron, Mirch Masala, Alfred Pinto ko Gussa Kyon atha hain,

Om Puri: An actor who proved that looks don’t matter, to be successful. He is another of the actors who have excelled in both mainstream and parallel cinema, with great ease. Though he started of with smaller roles, a film which made people to sit up and take note of him was “Ardh Satya”. From then on he has churned out several memorable performances in various roles. Only thing that seems to be constant about his characters is the believability he brings into them. Playing the Villain or the comedian with the same finesse as he would play the protagonist in the art film is his forte. He also has a couple of memorable Hollywood films under his belt.

I recommend: Mandi, Ardh Satya, Aastha, East is east, Bollywood Calling (a time pass movie), Chachi 420 (a brilliant cameo)

Kamal Hassan: Starting his film career as child artist in the Tamil Movie “Kalathur Kannamma” Kamal Hassan has come a long way. A thinking actor that he is Kamal is one of those stars who has done it all. He has rarely ventured into main stream Hindi cinema and even more rarely achieved popularity, but his acting skills can never be questioned. He tries to innovate and experiment with his characters. A truly dedicated actor has played almost all kinds of roles even as a dwarf (Appu Raja), middle aged lady (Chachi 420), 75 year old man (Indian- Tamil). The ease with which he fits into roles, whether it is comic, serious, hero, anti-hero, simpleton from the villages, sophisticated city bred is really commendable.

I Recommend: Almost all his recent movies show case his talent (give Abhay a miss), but do check out Nayagan, Guna and Kurudhi Punal in Tamil.

Special Mention:

Star value:

AB, Rajesh Khanna, Dev Anand, Shah Rukh Khan, Ameer Khan

Melodramatics:

Guru Dutt, Raj Kapoor , Dilip Kumar, Nana Patekar, Anupam Kher

Comic ability:

Mehmood, Kishore Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Govinda and Salman Khan (especially when he does the Thums up Ad).

Comments and brickbats awaited……