2013: A year of Bollywood talent

A year when performances outshone Bollywood star power

Irrfan.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui: Far from being a conventional looking hero, Nawaz became a sought-after name post his performances in short film Star, which was a part of Bombay Talkies, Shorts and The Lunchbox. And next year he is set to satiate his fans’ appetite with Miss Lovely and Kick.

Farhan Akhtar: Biopics are a gamble but Farhan Akhtar’s risk paid rich dividends. The actor left no stone unturned to get under the skin of national athlete Milkha Singh in Bhaag Milka Bhaag. In the New Year, he is gearing up to woo his fans with fun-filled drama Shaadi Ke Side Effects.

John Abraham: While John ’s role in I Me Aur Main was rejected by the audience, his serious avatar in action thriller Race 2, real-life based crime saga Shootout At Wadala and gritty drama Madras Cafe fetched him rave reviews and also won the actor accolades.

Rajkummar Rao: The actor featured in two different roles in Kai Po Che and Shahid. If he wowed as a man torn between his friendship and traditional values in Abhishek Kapoor’s directorial venture, Hansal Mehta’s Shahid saw him playing to perfection slain human activist and advocate Shahid Azmi.

Irrfan: Known for his stellar performances in the past, Irrfan once again proved his mettle as a widower in the atypical love story The Lunchbox and spy thriller D Day. He was appreciated by critics and viewers alike.

Sushant Singh Rajput: The transition from TV to Bollywood is never easy, but Sushant excelled in playing a feisty yet sensitive cricket lover in Kai Po Che, and also managed to win many hearts with his performance in Maneesh Sharma’s Shuddh Desi Romance.

Amit Sadh: TV actor Amit Sadh got his big break with Kai Po Che and he made the most of it. The actor essayed well the role of someone trying to balance the wishes of friends and the responsibilities towards his family. The performance also helped fetch him his next film Running Shaadi.com.

Emraan Hashmi: While Ghanchakkar was a flop, Emraan Hashmi’s performance in Ekta Kapoor’s Ek Thi Daayan did manage to intrigue people. The film received a mixed response at the box office, but his acting was one of the elements that dragged people to the cinemas.

Ranveer Singh: This year he managed to break his casanova image with his versatility in Lootera and Ram-leela. If period drama Lootera saw Ranveer as a tragic lover, his passionate act in Ram-leela left people in awe. His chemistry with Deepika Padukone set the screen ablaze.