Memorable male performances in Bollywood (1998-2009)

- Tanuj Manchanda           Let us know what you think about this article

Bollywood is full of talented actors who bring joy and entertainment in everyone’s life. There are many performances that have made us laugh and cry, sometimes even made us proud. They have become an integral part of our lives. Many young talents are being introduced everyday in Bollywood but very few of them are able to make a mark.

In this article, I will mention that performances that have made a permanent mark in Bollywood and in everyone’s heart. (Not in order of preference)

Shah Rukh Khan’s performance in Swades was one such performance. He played the role of ‘Mohan Bhargava’ an NRI working in NASA with such purity and sincerity that it has gone down as one of the most flawless performances of Indian Film Industry. His conviction and dedication towards the character was seen in his eyes which made it so true and believable. This performance of his was a tight slap on the faces of his detractors who had labeled him as a ‘romantic hero’ and who were hell-bent on degrading him.

Amitabh Bachchan as ‘Auro’ in the movie ‘Paa’ stole everyone’s heart with his playful antics and naughtiness. His mannerisms and voice modulation was so perfect that it impossible to figure out that it was him playing the role of a child. He also made everyone cry in the end when he is about to die. This one is the most nuanced performance of all time.

Hrithik Roshan’s portrayal of a mentally-challenged in ‘Koi Mil Gaya’ gathered all the sympathy of parents and captured children’s fancies with his adorable act. His chemistry with other children in the film is to watch out for. Arguably, the best performance of his career.

Aamir Khan’s role of a Senior Cop in ‘Sarfarosh’ is his career best performance. The role demanded gentleness and toughness both which were fulfilled by his talent. Although many actors have played the role of a cop in the past, but this one was closest to reality.

Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of a spoiled brat in ‘Wake Up Sid’ was a benchmark performance for all the budding young actors. The transformation of his character from a spoilt brat to a sincere boy was so smooth that it felt as if we are peeping into someone’s life. That performance cemented his position in Bollywood and earned him respect.

Sanjay Dutt’s portrayal of a gangster turned doctor in ‘Munna Bhai MBBS’ is the most hilarious act of all time. His comic timing in this film was impeccable and his ‘Jaadu Ki Jhappi’ was truly heart-warming. No one in this industry can play a better Munna Bhai than him. The character matched his real life personality of a carefree person. This performance of his started the new phase of his career and became a hallmark.

Shah Rukh Khan’s portrayal of a Muslim man suffering from Asperger’s Syndrome in ‘My Name Is Khan’ was another gem of his career. The audacity with which he played the role was applaud worthy. He breathed life into his character of ‘Rizwan Khan’ while displaying maturity in emotional scenes. The outburst of emotions in the church scene is so touching that it makes you moist-eyed. Such is the impact of his performance and only an actor of his caliber can carry off such a role. This performance can be appreciated by only those who are human at heart as it displayed humanity in its purest form.

Ajay Devgan’s performance in ‘The Legend Of Bhagat Singh’ was remarkable and showed his versatility as an actor. The passion and patriotism with which he performed; only a true Indian can do that. He relived the character of legendry freedom fighter ‘Bhagat Singh’ with such aplomb that it ignited the patriotism in everyone’s heart.

Although there are many more brilliant performances, but these were the ones that made an impact on everyone’s mind and left an everlasting mark in Bollywood.

Editor’s Note: The views put forth in this article belong strictly to the writer, and in no way represent the views and beliefs of Planet Bollywood or its management.

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