Indian cinema is renowned for its larger-than-life narratives and an array of unforgettable performances. Often, the brilliance of a film is defined not just by its lead actors, but also by those who deliver extraordinary performances despite having lesser screen time. Here’s a tribute to ten such Indian actors who stole the show with their limited but powerful roles:
Ajay Devgn in “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam” [1999]:
You have one of the most sought after, most high-profile actors of that time. You also get one of the most high-profile actresses, alleged to be his muse. Yet, the entire limelight of the movie is stolen by an actor, who has just some action films and 1 National Award-winning performance to his credit. That’s precisely what Ajay Devgn did as Vanraj in the Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam”. The rest, as they say, is history.
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Paresh Rawal in “Hera Pheri” [2000]:
What do you remember Hera Pheri most for? Akshay Kumar? Suniel Shetty? In my humble opinion, most would actually root for the hilarious, yet important role of Baburao Ganpatrao Apte. Undoubtedly, Raju and Shyam have their importance, but Paresh Rawal did what even Innocent couldn’t accomplish in the original “Ramji Rao Speaking”: create a space of his own. Even today, the most savage memes of “Hera Pheri” have the presence of Baburao, because in his own words, “Ye Baburao ka Style Hai!”
Vijay Raaz in “Run” [2004]:
Imagine a guy who can turn even an average flick into a near cult classic. But that is what Vijay Raaz is known for. Initially content with character roles, Vijay Raaz made the role of Ganesh a visual treat. As the simpleton who has his own of adventures while attempting to meet his best friend Siddharth [Abhishek Bachchan], it was Vijay Raaz, who actually made “Run” worth watching. Some even are of the opinion that this director deserves his own spinoff.
Nana Patekar in “Welcome” [2007]:
This movie was one hell of a roller coaster. However, the X factor of this movie, who actually deserves a spinoff of his own, is undoubtedly Nana Patekar, aka Uday Shetty. Portraying an underworld don, who wants his sister to be married to an honorable family at any cost, the way Nana Patekar portrayed this role is what made this movie a masterpiece. Had it not been for misplaced priorities, Nana still gave his best in the second movie, “Welcome Again”, though he couldn’t salvage a sinking ship all by himself.
Kay Kay Menon in “Shaurya” [2008]:
Imagine a character, that was written in a negative light, with an ulterior motive, and yet the actor portraying it delivers such a mind-blowing performance. But that is Kay Kay Menon. His role in “Shaurya”, as a no-nonsense officer Brigadier Rudra Pratap Singh, is still talked about. This role was in a way a slur at the ethics of the Indian armed forces, but given the current political scenario of India, one can’t help but wonder if Brigadier Rudra Pratap Singh was actually right!
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Deepak Dobriyal in “Tanu weds Manu” [2011]:
Dobriyal, as Pappi, friend to the film’s lead, R. Madhavan, provided comic moments that made the audience laugh out loud. His charm and timing made him a standout performer. Forget the original, the sequel released in 2015 proved why in terms of acting, Deepak Dobriyal is a force to reckon with.
Annu Kapoor in “Vicky Donor” [2012]:
Despite the film being a launchpad for Ayushmann Khurrana, it was Annu Kapoor’s portrayal of Dr. Baldev Chaddha, a fertility clinic doctor, that won hearts. His impeccable comic timing and expressions made him a standout performer.
Saurabh Shukla in “Jolly LLB” [2013]:
As the witty and sarcastic Judge Tripathi, Shukla stole the show. His comic timing and dialogue delivery provided the much-needed relief in the courtroom drama, making his character a crowd favorite. It was his performance that compelled the makers to retain him from the sequel.
Irrfan Khan in “Karwaan” [2018]:
Irrfan Khan was an institution unto himself. He proved that with Akarsh Khurana’s “Kaarwaan”, which is still counted as one of the best Indian movies yet to get its due. This was the debut of Dulquer Salmaan as a Hindi actor, a role which he ably performed. However, the real showstopper was Irrfan as Shaukat, who made almost everyone roll on the floor laughing at his wacky, yet impactful performance.
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Kamlesh Sawant in “Drishyam 2” [2023]:
Imagine a movie, where you have stalwarts like Ajay Devgn, Tabu, and even Akshaye Khanna. Yet, your character is such that the makers are forced to make a special place, and you nail that role to perfection. Now that’s something you don’t see every day. But that’s what Kamlesh Sawant achieved with his role of suspended SI Laxmikant Gaitonde. He was one of the other reasons why both the Hindi version of “Drishyam” is anyday better than the original, directed by Jeethu Joseph.
These actors, despite not being in the spotlight, have managed to turn heads with their phenomenal performances. They remind us that, in cinema, there are no small roles, only small actors. Their work underscores the importance of supporting roles in shaping a film, making them the “real stars” of the movies they were a part of.
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