While everyone else has been bashing 2016 for taking our favorite people away, it has been one of the best years for acting in Bollywood.
Good acting in Bollywood has traditionally been seen in the section of “offbeat” movies. It is rare to see it in mainstream Bollywood and this is evident in our awarding system where we have two awards for Best Actor – one for popular choice and one for the critic’s choice.
This year, there was good acting seen in mainstream movies – and not just the regular good acting. 2016 could have been one of the best years if we take acting into consideration.
Let us elaborate –
1. Randeep Hooda’s tear-jerking performance for Sarabjit
Randeep Hooda had the mannerisms for a tortured soul just right for his role in Sarabjit. You could feel the helplessness and the anguish of the character. Sometimes it was so real, you would have no other choice than to look away – and it had nothing to do with the torture scenes.
It was one of the most convincing roles of a prisoner-imprisoned-for-decades for a long time. If it was not sad and tear jerking, people would have felt much more inspiration from Randeep Hooda’s performance.
2. Shah Rukh Khan’s doppelganger drama for Fan
It takes a genius to act like himself dressed as his own doppelganger and then convince us of the same. It was a delight to see SRK finally stretching his acting muscles after Chennai Express and Happy New Year.
Many argued that Fan was also a movie sans plot and all the things that make a movie great, but SRK did not give two fucks about all that and acted like a pro anyway. If the movie was not forgettable, it would have made his role unforgettable.
3. Shahid Kapoor breaks his own limits in Udta Punjab
Haider showed us what Shahid could do as an actor. Udta Punjab showed us what he’s capable of in the future. He lit the screen on fire with his line – “I AM THE GABRU!”
The transformation on-screen when he learned what a bad influence he is on other kids is what tempered acting looks like. With Alia acting like she was, Shahid was still stealing scenes. Which is saying something!
4. Aamir Khan lost some and gained much more than weight for Dangal
It is always impressive how Aamir Khan moulds himself into his roles effortlessly. He did the same as Mahavir Singh – young and the old version. It was impressive to see him gain so much weight and lose just as much and wrestle like a pro in both the versions.
His accent and mannerisms were spot-on too. The real Mahavir Singh must be proud.
5. Amitabh Bachchan’s masterclass for Pink
Every Amitabh Bachchan role is a delight to watch. In Pink, he played the role of a lawyer very convincingly. He also seemed effortlessly menacing and badass, the kind Clint Eastwood is famous for, even though he is old.
Even when he does his regular round of acting, he aces it.
6. Special mention for Alia’s performance in Udta Punjab
In an industry where heroines are relegated to flesh-baring roles and basically fill the screen with their body rather than their acting, Alia’s role in Udta Punjab was very welcome. Just like Shahid, she had only one previous movie in Highway where she proved her mettle as an actor.
Then her splendid monolog in Udta Punjab left everyone breathless. She needs more hyper-real roles like this one or she might just go down the road SRK has gone on.
Let’s hope 2017 also brings us more roles like these!