It is a real difficult task to list down just five great actors from Indian Cinema. Indian Cinema has gifted some of the best actors in history of cinema who have excelled in their performances and have ruled the hearts of millions all over the world.
They have entertained us with their charm and charisma, with their action, with their sense of humour and their memorable performances and acting. Some have been all time favorite superhit heros, trend-setters and others excellent actors but whatever they have been they have entertained us and have become a part of our lives.
Some touched are hearts by just a single performance in some memorable character like Balraj Sahani in Do Bhiga Zameen or singing Aye Mere Zohrazabeen in Waqt... Shashi Kapoor in New Delhi Times or Junoon (Shyam Benegal), All time favorite Amitabh Bachchan in Deewar or in portrayal of Jaidev in Sholay, Mili, Abhiman. Johnny Walker in is hysterical performances say in Guru Dutt’s Pyaasa, Mehmood, Kishore Kumar, Sunil Dutt, Dilip Kumar in Madhumati, Ashok Kumar, Devanand, Om Prakash, Amrish Puri, Amjad Khan as Gabbar or Wazed Ali Shah in Ray’s Shatranj ke Khiladi, Rajesh Khanna in Anand are just a few names of the endless list without whose mention my further list of five would be meaningless and unfair. All these have been great performers but selecting my five best actors somehow they fell a bit behind. The choices are totally mine, comments and criticism is welcomed.
I have been an AB fan and have enjoyed watching him in many of his performances, Aanand, Mili, Abhiman, Silsila, Deewar, Sholay, Chupke Chupke, AKS etc. But somehow I feel in many of his films he has been Amitabh Bachchan and not the character within the film as a result he has been a secluded entity in the film and I couldn’t relate him to the character he portrayed
My list doesn’t comprise of Super Heros or Macho man but simple actors and the list is not 1 - 2 – 3. I like all of them and the listing is purely by memory...
Sanjeev Kumar - One of the finest and most versatile actors Hindi cinema has gifted us. This talented actor born as Harihar Jethalal Jariwala took Sanjeev Kumar as his screen name and ruled the hearts of millions with his breathtaking performances be it Thakur in Sholay or a deaf and dumb person in Koshish which earned him a National Award for Best Actor. He is the only actor to portray nine roles of nine different characters in a single film (Naya Din Nayi Raat) effortlessly switching from one persona to the other. Aandhi, Mausam, Angoor, Shatranj Ke Khiladi, Anubhav, Silsila, Naukar, Pati Patni Aur Woh, Khilona are just a few of the memorable films of this evergreen actor.
Naseeruddin Shah - He is one of my very favorite actors. He is simply the best in each of his performances whether it is in Masoom or Monsoon Wedding. He gels into the character with such perfection that at instances it becomes very difficult to identify him as an individual other than that character. His versatility forays out in all of his films, Sparsh as a blind man, I simply cant imagine any other person doing that role to such perfection, in Paar with Shabana Azmi, a perfect rural farmer. Masoom (one of my favorites) a loving dad, dancing to the tunes of ’Tirchhi Topi Wale’ in Tridev. As a villain in Sarfarosh or Mohra. A perfect cameo in Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro. A few of his acting extravanzas - Ardha Satya, Paar, Mirza Ghalib (A TV Serial by Gulzar), Umrao Jaan, Mirch Masala, Mandi, Monsoon Wedding, 3 Deewarein, Droh Kal, Izzazat, and many more. The list is endless. He dwelled beautifully between parallel and mainstream cinema and that makes him my favorite.
Om Puri - Another versatile and brilliant actor gifted to us by Bollywood. Like Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri also effortlessly gels into the character let it be as a poor farmer/woodcutter in Sadgati or in his characters in Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, Tamas, Aakrosh. He has enacted out a variety of roles and in each his performance was at its best and couldn’t possibly be bettered. His versatility and performances can be enjoyed and experienced in this worth mentioning films Tamas, Aakrosh, Sadgati, Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho, Droh Kal, Machis, East is East, Mirch Masala, Ardh Satya, Chachi 420, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, Mrityudand, Aastha, Mandi etc. He has often been teamed up with Naseeruddin Shah to bring out the excellence in Indian cinema.
Farooque Sheikh - His sobre and very unconventional looks has always made him my special actor. His comic timings and brilliance in bringing out the character of the film has always put him in a stature above many others of his time. His films like Chasme Buddoor, Saath Saath or Katha with Dipti Naval have been close to many a hearts. His acting excellence and calibre can be seen in his performances in Katha, Saath Saath, a small role in Shatranj ke Khiladi, Chashme Buddoor, Bazaar, Garam Hawa, Ek Pal, Biwi Ho To Aisi, Lorie etc. I can’t simply forget him lipping to a Jagjit Singh classic ’Tumko Dekha to Khayal Aaya’ in Saath Saath...
Utpal Dutt - I simply love him... His expressions are so characteristic that he can make you love, laugh, cry and hate altogether... I am too little to sum up his skills and talents whether in theatre or in films. He has been the most loved comedian with a sense of wit and at the same time most hated villain. His performances in Gol Mal or Naram Garam have made people laugh out of their skins. And also his performances as a hated villain in Amanush, Safed Haathi, Hirok Rajar Deshye and Joi Baba Phelunath (last 2 in Bengali) have been remarkable. Whichever character he had played the characters have become immortal and has lived even after his death. A few of his most memorable films - Bhuvan Shome, Kotwal Saab, Anurodh, Gol Mal, Naram Garam, Bahu Rani, Kissa Kursi Ka, Julie, Paar, Guddi, Swami, Safed Haathi and a long list of Bengali films, the list is endless. His best can be seen in Aagantuk (The Stranger) in 1991 by Satyajit Ray.
I really wish I could include a few more to this list - Amol Palekar, Girish Karnad and Robi Ghosh (Bengali Films), Rahul Bose, Manoj Bajpayee, Rajat Kapoor...