Indian cinema is noted for its diversity, culture, and tradition. Every actor, whether from Tollywood or Bollywood, has made a significant contribution to the business. Some, on the other hand, are living legends famed for their acting and flair, and these actors have cemented their place in the industry.
Here are the top ten legends who have dominated Indian cinema
1. Amitabh Bachchan
Source: Hindustan Times
In the 1970s, a great actor known for films such as Zanjeer, Deewar, and Amar Akbar Anthony was dubbed “India’s Angry Young Man.” He has received numerous honours and is still regarded as one of the most diverse and important actors of his generation. Bollywood’s Shahenshah is still remembered for his innovative dialogues. He is still doing outstanding job in movies nowadays.
Bachchan’s versatility was demonstrated early on when he excelled in both romantic and comedic parts. The ‘Big B’ has remade himself numerous times, including as a politician and a television host, and he continues to play senior statesmen on film today.
Bachchan is married to actress Jaya Bhaduri. The couple have two children, Shweta Nanda and Abhishek Bachchan. Abhishek is also an actor and is married to actress Aishwarya Rai.
2. Dilip kumar
Source: Business line
Muhammad Yusuf Khan was born into a Pashtun family in Qissa Khawani Bazaar in Peshawar, Pakistan. Dilip Kumar is widely regarded as one of India’s greatest performers.
Dilip Kumar (born 1922) was known as the “Tragedy King” for bringing a refreshing realism style to Bollywood acting. He specialised in romance roles, frequently depicting the Indian male as a weak, unhappy, and selfish loser.
He effectively experimented with numerous genres in his later parts and took on significant character roles like the morally upright elder. Kumar is often recognised as India’s greatest actor, alongside Amitabh Bachchan. He was dubbed the “greatest method actor” by Satyajit Ray.
3. Naseeruddin Shah
Source: Hindi Rush
Naseeruddin Shah is a versatile actor who has appeared on stage and in films. He is a person who speaks from the heart and empathises with every role he portrays, which contributes to his realism. He gives his all in every role, whether it’s serious or comedic.
Naseeruddin Shah is a well-known Bollywood actor and filmmaker. He is highly regarded as one of India’s best stage and screen actors. He is a major figure in Indian parallel (New Wave) Indian cinema. Shah has received various accolades throughout his career, including three National Film Awards, three Filmfare Awards for Best Actor, and the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival. For his services to Indian cinema, the Indian government has awarded him the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan civilian awards.
4. Rajesh Khanna
Source: Hindi Raag
Rajesh Khanna, the Indian film superstar, debuted in Hindi films in the second part of the 1960s and went on to star in 180 films, including 163 feature films and 17 short films. By 2011, he has set the record for the most solitary main hero films and the fewest multi-star cast films in Hindi cinema.
He was considered as the “original superstar” and “first superstar” of Indian Cinema. He was dubbed a phenomenon after scoring 15 straight solo hit films from 1969 to 1972, a record that he still holds. Khanna is widely considered as one of Indian cinema’s greatest and most influential actors. In the years 1967–1975, he had 35 Golden Jubilee Hits (pictures that played for more than 50 weeks in Indian theatres), three more in 1976–78, and 35 more in 1979–1991. From 1970 until 1987, he was the highest-paid Indian actor, a title he shared with Amitabh Bachchan from 1980 to 1987.
5. Sharmila Tagore
Source: Mid-day
She was regarded as one of the most talented and attractive actresses of her era. Sharmila began her acting career in Bengali films before transitioning to Hindi films. She is regarded as a great actress for her love parts in films. Her acting has earned her numerous National and Filmfare awards.
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6. Aamir Khan
Source: East Mojo
Amir Khan (born 1965) is currently widely regarded as the most intellectual and versatile A-list actor in Bollywood. He starred in several duds after making his debut as a romantic hero in the late 1980s, causing him to reconsider his career path. Instead, he chose to seek for solid scripts and act in only one film at a time, bucking the Bollywood trend of actors juggling multiple projects.
Khan has been responsible for some of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful films in recent years, including the Oscar-nominated ‘Lagaan’ (which he produced) and the recent and contentious ‘PK’ (2014), which raised questions about blind religious devotion.
7. Salman Khan
Source: Hindi Rush
Salman Khan (born 1965) has dominated Bollywood for at least two decades, alongside Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan (no related). In his early films, audiences adored his romantic image, particularly his clean-cut looks and gym-toned figure. Khan has gained even more muscle since 2000, and now specialises in portraying angry and moody, charming characters that kick ass and flaunt washboard abs.
His adoring admirers, primarily young males, idolise him and go to his films in droves, regardless of their quality or the hero’s questionable acting abilities. Khan has been continuously churning out mega-blockbusters in recent years as a result of this. ‘Sallu-bhai’ (brother) can do no wrong in the eyes of his fans.
8. Shahrukh Khan
Source: Hindi Rush
Shah Rukh Khan’s NRI (‘Non Resident Indian’)-themed films were directly responsible for putting Bollywood on the international film map.
Khan (born 1965), a former TV actor, began his career playing antiheroes before moving on to love parts, making him the kid that all ladies (and boys) wanted to bring home to meet their parents.
He is also an enthusiastic brand spokesperson for a number of high-end brands in India. Bollywood’s ‘King Khan’ appears to be firmly established on his throne, with his newest blockbuster ‘Happy New Year’ (2014) raking in the cash.
9. Anil Kapoor
Source: Dekh News
Anil Kapoor, the chocolaty hero, has acted in numerous Bollywood films as well as overseas films in recent years. Kapoor’s acting career stretched more than 30 years, and with his critically praised film Gandhi, My Father, he transitioned into producing. After Sanjay Dutt, Kapoor is widely considered as Bollywood’s second biggest star of the 1980s.
Anil Kapoor made his international cinema debut in Danny Boyle’s Oscar-winning picture Slumdog Millionaire (2008), for which he shared the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. The American press praised his portrayal in the eighth season of the action series 24, 24.
Globally, Anil Kapoor is one of the most recognized Indian actors. He has also appeared in the 2011 film Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol for which he received good reviews from critics and audience.
10. Rekha
Source: Hindi Rush
Bhanurekha Ganesan, often known as Rekha, is the most modest person in the world. Her dance abilities and facial expressions all contribute to her being a great performer. All of the new generation of Bollywood performers look up to her, and she is regarded as an idol by many.