Who's Who in Bollywood - Actors
Despite the truth that Bollywood exceeds Hollywood in film output, Bollywood has a much smaller star system, which suggests Indian actors show up in far more films than their American counterparts-some doing possibly five movies per year. Luckily, that makes it easier for brand new fans to figure out who's who. Nepotism is normal in Bollywood and many actors and filmmakers are derived from family dynasties that have been inside the movie business for generations-however, there are numerous celebrities with the same common surnames, particularly Khan and Kapoor, who definitely are not related. The subsequent, while by no means comprehensive, is actually a rundown of the biggest and brightest male stars inside the Bollywood universe.
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Shahrukh Khan
Known as King Khan, the Badshah of Bollywood, or maybe, SRK, Shahrukh is one of the "big three Khans"-along with Aamir Khan and Salman Khan-who have dominated Bollywood for a couple decades, although Shahrukh has arguably surpassed additional two in terms of commercial power and global recognition, and unlike the other two, Shahrukh isn't going to come from an established film family. He made his debut in 1992 in Deewana and catapulted to superstardom in 1995 with Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, or DDLJ as it's know, which is still showing in theaters in Mumbai, rendering it the longest running movie in history. His character in DDLJ, Raj, became the archetype for the modern romantic Bollywood hero-brash, hip, and Westernized, but Indian in mind. His top hits include Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001), Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003), and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006). Despite his age (he came into this world in 1965), he revealed a surprisingly ripped physique in Om Shanti Om (2007), which became the highest-grossing Hindi film of all-time, proving that they was far from being eclipsed by younger aspirants to his throne (while poking fun at Bollywood's standards of male beauty). In 2008, Newsweek magazine named him one of several 50 most powerful people on the globe. He's married to his childhood sweetheart, Gauri, with whom he's got a son plus a daughter.
Amitabh Bachchan
If Shahrukh Khan is king, then Amitabh is god. His 1975 film, Sholay, the primary "Curry Western" (the Indian version of the Spaghetti Western), is amongst the most beloved Bollywood films ever. That same year, he appeared in Deewaar, a groundbreaking film that established him because "angry young man," a character type that reflected the frustration and disillusionment of the times. Amitabh went on to succeed in drama, action, romance, and comedy, making him the quintessential "masala" actor. After he was nearly killed in 1982 from an automobile accident sustained during a fight scene, he made unsuccessful forays into politics and business and struggled for years to make a comeback in film-but comeback he did. In 2000, he became the host of India's version of the TV show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and film success-some commercial, some critical-followed, including Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001), Bunty Aur Babli (2005), Sarkar (2005), Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (2006), Baabul (2006), and Eklavya (2007). He's married to actress Jaya Bhaduri in addition to their son is actor Abhishek Bachchan, who's married to actress Aishwarya Rai.
Aamir Khan
Aamir is most likely the "serious" actor of the big Khans and widely thought to be the most talented Indian star regarding sheer acting ability. While he's experienced plenty of commercial hits, he's always had a creative bent, and his projects are generally of the highest quality. Shortly fater he began his career as a kid actor in 1973, made his first film being an adult in 1984, and after several nominations, won his first Filmfare Best Actor Award in 1996 for his turn in Raja Hindustani-in which he famously kissed his co-star Karisma Kapoor (kissing would have been a rare enough occurrence then to result in quite a stir). He received international attention for his role in Lagaan (2001), that was the first film he produced. The film was critically praised all over the world and received an Academy Award nod for optimum Foreign Film. (It turned out only the third in time history that an Indian film may be nominated, and no Indian film has ever won the award.) Mangal Pandey: Ever rising (2005) and Rang De Basanti (2006) are usually among his best pictures. He debuted like a director in 2007 with Taare Zameen Par. His 2008 film Ghajini became the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time. In 2002, he divorced his wife of Fifteen years, with whom he's got two children, plus in 2005, he married an assistant director. He doesn't attend film award ceremonies.
Salman Khan
With bedroom eyes, bulging biceps, plus a velvety voice that would make any woman swoon, Salman is definitely the ultimate heartthrob-and his bad-boy reputation only contributes to his sex appeal. He's experienced trouble with the law, several fatwas are already issued against him, and the romantic relationships-with ex-girlfriend Aishwarya Rai and current girlfriend Katrina Kaif (who's Two decades his junior)-have been stuffed with tumult. His combativeness with the press doesn't help his image nor do the well-publicized blow-ups he's had with colleagues. But he's known for his generous philanthropic work. He began in film in 1988 and appeared in their first smash-hit, Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya, a year later-and he's been churning them out ever since, including Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), No Entry (2005), and Partner (2007). He's had plenty of flops, too-including an English-language Hollywood production, Marigold (2007), opposite American actress Ali Larter (who currently stars inside the U.S. Tv program Heroes).
Akshay Kumar
Part action hero with martial-arts skills, part comedian having a knack for farce, part handsome idol who can dance-like a mixture of Bruce Willis, Jackie Chan, Jerry Lewis, and John Travolta-Akshay is simultaneously a difficult guy and a goofball-and he always has the girl. While he's enormously popular in India for his everyman qualities, he's an acquired taste for almost all Americans. His first film arrived in 1991 and he hit the big time a year later in Khiladi. He's appeared in nearly 80 movies after that, with a decent track record, only recently has he been challenging the 3 Khans for supremacy at the box office. 12 months 2007 belonged to Akshay with four hits-Namastey London, Heyy Babyy, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, and Welcome. In 2008, his film Tashan still did not do well, but Singh is Kinng (including a cameo by American rapper Snoop Dogg around the title track) a record opening. In '09, his film Chandni Chowk to China became the first Bollywood movie released inside the U.S. by a major American studio (Warner Brothers), nevertheless it flopped in both India and America. Later that year, he starred inside the successful Kambakkht Ishq, playing an Indian stuntman in Hollywood, and the film featured cameos by Sylvester Stallone and Denise Richards. He's a son along with his wife, Twinkle, occasion actress.
Hrithik Roshan
Hrithik's 2000 film debut because romantic lead in Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hai made him an instantaneous star-and his dreamy green eyes and buff bod made him the perfect sex symbol. He's the son of director Rakesh Roshan, who's directed Hrithik in many of his most important projects. (Rakesh was famously shot at close range outside his office in 2000 after being threatened by the mob, which has a long reputation of extorting Bollywood actors and filmmakers, and hubby survived the murder attempt.) Hrithik received accolades for his turns in Mission Kashmir later that year plus in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham the following year. After three flops in 2002, he made a comback in 2003 with the sci-fi film Koi...Mil Gaya. He took an escape from acting and returned in 2006 like a super hero in Krrish, the sequel to Koi...Mil Gaya. His next two big films were the hit action flick Dhoom 2 (2006) and the award-winning historical drama Jodhaa Akbar (2008), both opposite Aishwarya Rai (with whom he shared an ardent and controversial kissing scene in Dhoom 2). He and the wife Suzanne have two sons.
Abhishek Bachchan
While he's the son of screen icon Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek has struggled to prove himself being an actor. And even though he's tall, dark, and oh-so handsome, he nonetheless catches flak because of not being as muscle-bound as his peers. He appeared because lead in his first film, Refugee, in 2000, opposite Kareena Kapoor in their debut, and then spent our next four years making a dozen abysmal movies. Finally, in 2004, he was critically praised for his performance like a thug in Yuva, which year he also starred in their first commercial hit, Dhoom. In 2005, he four hits with Bunty Aur Babli, Sarkar, Dus, and Bluffmaster and also more in 2006 with Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna and Dhoom 2. One year afterwards, he received accolades for his performance in Guru, opposite his then-fiance Aishwarya Rai. He's a spotty record owing to winners such as Dostana (2008) and losers for instance Drona (2008). Abhishek's mother is actress Jaya Bhaduri and the grandfather is famous Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan. Abhishek became engaged to actress Karisma Kapoor in 2002, nonetheless they broke it off in 2003. He married superstar Aishwarya Rai in 2007.
Sanjay Dutt
Sanjay, or Sanju Baba as he's known, is actually a man's man, a John Wayne-type who oozes testosterone-but there is also an endearing vulnerability in their eyes. Primarily an action hero, he's got more than 120 films to his name, finding comfort his debut almost 30 years ago. But his troubled personal life has garnered equally as much attention as his acting career. He's struggled with drug abuse, his mother and the first wife died of cancer, his second marriage ended in divorce, and for the worst situation, he spent nearly Fifteen years in and out of jail, fighting criminal charges that they illegally possessed weapons purchased from gangsters who were involved in the 1993 terrorist bombings of Mumbai. He was cleared of the worst of the charges, sentenced for lesser ones, and it is now free. He is constantly crank out films, including action flicks that place great physical demands on his 50-something body. He's currently married to his third wife. His adult daughter lives inside the U.S.
Shahid Kapoor
Shahid's brooding characters made him the Heathcliff of Bollywood. From Chup Chup Ke (2006) to Jab We Met (2007) to Kaminey (2009), he's perfected the melancholic hero who finds redemption in love. He made his debut in 2003 in Ishq Vishk, which earned him a Filmfare Best Male Debut Award. But several so-so films later, including Shikhar (2005) and 36 China Town (2006), Shahid still hadn't lived up to his full potential. Shortly fater he began to come into his own in Vivah-his first hit-in 2006, and hubby finally blossomed inside the blockbuster Jab We Met in 2007. Program took his acting to the whole new level in '09 in the edgy drama Kaminey, playing a double role by which he shed his trademark boyishness and transformed into two rugged, world-weary men. Following your amicable end of his three-year relationship with Kareena Kapoor in 2007, he's got been linked to actresses Vidya Balan and Priyanka Chopra and tennis star Sania Mirza.
Saif Ali Khan
The son of the nawab (an Indian prince), Saif is definitely the heir apparent to the royal houses of Bhopal and Pataudi (princely states in India). His father and grandfather were captains of India's national cricket team. Is actually his devastating looks and solid acting chops, Saif is becoming prominent in his own right. However, his career was slow to take off. He debuted in 1992 and had some early successes, but he mostly floundered in the 90s. He started to achieve traction in supporting roles in Dil Chahta Hai (2001) and Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003). His 2005 film Salaam Namaste with Preity Zinta would have been a huge hit, and hubby won accolades for his be employed in Parineeta (2005), Omkara (2006), and Eklavya (2007). Shortly fater he began his own production company in '09 and its first film, Love Aaj Kal, by which Saif starred opposite Deepika Padukone, would have been a major hit. Within the age of 21, he married women 12 years his senior. The pair had two children and divorced in 2004 after 13 numerous marriage. He is currently involved with actress Kareena Kapoor. Saif's mother, occasion actress, is head of the Indian film censorship board. His two sisters, Saba Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan, are usually actors.
John Abraham
A model-turned-actor who's equal parts sexy and sweet, John is definitely regarded as Bollywood's favorite eye candy-a position he perceived to cement in Dostana (2008), by which he famously emerged with the ocean Ursula Andress-style-a shimmering Adonis in tight swim trunks. But John surprised everyone ninety days later with his astonishingly strong performance inside the terrorist-thriller New York (2009), which proved he might take on serious roles and show off good doing it. He made his debut in 2003 in Jism (which suggests "Body" in Hindi), opposite screen siren Bipasha Basu, and the two became a couple off-screen. To remain together ever since (despite rumors how they both have strayed), making them the most well liked couple in Bollywood-or anywhere even.
Ranbir Kapoor
Ranbir is the grandson of the granddaddy of Indian film, actor Raj Kapoor. And he's the son of actor Rishi Kapoor and the cousin of actress Kareena Kapoor. He made his debut in 2007 in Saawariya, opposite newcomer Sonam Kapoor (no relation). The film featured a racy scene by which he danced in merely a towel. His next film was the romantic comedy Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008), which suggests "Beware, O beautiful ones." Beware, indeed, much more babe with a mischievous smile has already been setting hearts racing as he scorches his technique to the top. He is currently dating his Bachna Ae Hasseno co-star, Deepika Padukone.
Vivek Oberoi
The son of actor Suresh Oberoi, Vivek created a promising debut in 2002 inside the edgy gangster film Company, established himself like a matinee idol that same year inside the romantic drama Saathiya, started dating one of the primary stars in the business, Aishwarya Rai, and proceeded to blow his momentum having a string of poorly chosen projects plus a growing reputation for being difficult. But perhaps the move most detrimental to his career was his decision in 2003 to call a press conference and announce on live television that they was being harassed and threatened by Aishwarya's ex, Salman Khan. The stunt received enormous media attention and many industry insiders were angry that Vivek had aired dirty laundry about certainly one of their own in public. He and Aishwarya split in 2005. He was praised for his performances inside the multistarrers Yuva (2004) and Omkara (2006), nevertheless it wasn't until 2007 that they had a modest comeback because lead in Shootout at Lokhandwala, by which he delivered an explosive performance playing real-life gangster Maya Dolas. His next big film, Mission Istaanbul (2008), would have been a critical and commercial failure. Along with count Vivek out yet-he's an immensely talented actor with offbeat appeal and hubby has some interesting projects on deck.
Ajay Devgan
The son of the stunt and action choreographer, Ajay naturally aimed at the action genre ater he experienced acting in 1991. But he branched out into comedy and romance, and later on, serious dramatic roles. In 1998, he starred opposite his future wife, Kajol, in Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha, a remake of the Hollywood hit, French Kiss. One among his notable critical and commercial successes was Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) with Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai. He gave astounding performances because smoldering lead characters inside the gangster drama Company (2002) plus in Omkara (2006), an adaptation of Shakespeare's Othello. He married Kajol in 1999 and so they had a daughter in 2003. He starred opposite his wife in their directorial debut, U, Me Aur Hum, in 2008. An intensely private man, he's recognized by stay out of the limelight.
Anil Kapoor
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Most Americans first reached know him because sleezy game-show host in Slumdog Millionaire (and after this as a new character around the U.S. Tv program 24), but Anil has been show business for decades (he debuted in 1979). He was arguably the main star in Bollywood inside the late 80s and early 90s, and hubby has a long list of hits and awards to his name. Currently, he's been appearing mostly in multistarrers (with mixed success), including No Entry (2005) with Salman Khan and Lara Dutta, Welcome (2007) with Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif, Tashan (2008) with Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, and Kareena Kapoor, and Race (2008) with Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Bipasha Basu, and Katrina Kaif. Anil's oldest daughter is actress Sonam Kapoor. His two younger children study in the U.S.