Bollywood fans had a great year in 2023 thanks to the incredible performances of superstars like Salman Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, and Shah Rukh Khan, who ruled the silver screen with their hit films. Therefore, before saying goodbye to this year, viewers—especially die-hard moviegoers—should look at the male actors who dazzled them with their acting skills and helped to make 2023 a memorable year for film.
1. Shah Rukh Khan
Without a doubt, Shah Rukh Khan had his best year in 2023. Following a four-year break, SRK returned with a bang in January’s “Pathaan,” starring Sidharth Anand. When SRK wore an action avatar in the movie, everyone was in awe. The movie became the highest-grossing film in the history of the Indian film industry and broke multiple box office records. Do you recall the loud death knell that the Hindi film industry heard throughout 2021 and 2022? At the box office, his movie essentially put an end to Bollywood’s dry spell.
For SRK and his fans, “Pathaan” will always hold a special place in their hearts because it was the actor’s first successful release following a four-year hiatus that included a string of failures like “Zero” and “Jab Harry Met Sejal.” Following “Pathaan,” King Khan made a theatrical comeback in September with Atlee’s directing of “Jawan.” In the movie, SRK played an action figure once more. Similar to “Pathaan,” “Jawan” was able to connect with the audience. The movie made over Rs. 1000 crore at the global box office. It goes without saying that SRK has had an amazing year.
SRK continued after this. He and Rajkumar Hirani came up with their first-ever collaboration on December 21. The film, titled “Dunki,” centres on the immigration debate. The phrase “donkey journey”—which describes the tortuous, frequently hazardous paths that people travel throughout the world to get to their desired immigration destinations—is derived from the title of the book. The public, however, gave the movie a mixed response. Although it is earning respectable sums at the box office, it hasn’t generated the same level of excitement as Pathaan and Jawan. What SRK has planned for his fans in 2019 is now the focus. His next project has not yet been revealed.
2. Sunny Deol
With ‘Gadar 2’, Sunny Deol experienced enormous success more than two decades later. Sunny played Tara Singh again in the picture, a role he first played in the classic film “Gadar” (2001). The audience embraced the follow-up and allowed Sunny’s “dhai kilo ka hath” to make box office history. Gadar 2 became one of the fastest films to break into the Rs 500 crore club, following “Pathaan.”
Sunny said, “I was quite stressed over the period of time and when this film hit the cinema halls, I don’t know why it felt like God came inside me,” at a press conference following the enormous success of the movie. I spent the entire evening and night laughing and crying. When I met my father, Dharmendra, I also told him, “No, I’m not intoxicated, and I’m happy with what I do.”
Regarding Sunny’s next endeavours, he will star in Rajkumar Santoshi’s picture “Lahore 1947.” Producer Aamir Khan is behind it. Before now, Sunny and Aamir had never collaborated. However, the two have already engaged in highly memorable box office battles as rivals, from which both have ultimately triumphed. When Sunny Deol’s Ghayal and Aamir Khan’s Dil were released on the same day in 1990, it resulted in the first-ever iconic confrontation at the ticket booth. Then there was “Raja Hindustani” vs. “Ghatak” in 1996, and the most famous Box Office confrontation in Indian film history occurred in 2001 when “Lagaan” was released on the same day as “Gadar.” Now, the two have teamed up and collaborated on a project for the first time.
3. Salman Khan
Salman Khan, the bhaijaan of Bollywood, released two films this year. Although the audience was not impressed by his film “Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan,” Salman’s performance in “Tiger 3” proved to his peers that he is the greatest “Tiger” in Bollywood. Maneesh Sharma, the film’s director, made Rs 466.63 crore at the box office. Salman Khan told ANI, “It was Diwali time and the World Cup was going on and everyone’s interest was in that but despite that the numbers that we have received are wonderful…we’re very grateful and happy about it,” in reference to the enormous box office collection of “Tiger 3.”The third installment of the Tiger series, “Tiger 3,” is set in the same universe as “War” and “Pathaan” in the YRF Spyverse. It’s interesting to note that it also features a post-credit scene with Hrithik Roshan and cameo appearances by Shah Rukh Khan. Similar to the first two parts, Tiger Zinda Hai and Ek Tha Tiger, the movie centres on a new mission involving ISI agent Zoya (Katrina Kaif) and RA&W agent Tiger (Salman). Isn’t it amazing to watch ninety-nine celebrities work their magic on screen like no one else?
4. Ranbir Kapoor
One of the top performers in Hindi film is Ranbir. He has consistently demonstrated that he is the rightful heir to Raj Kapoor’s legacy with his adaptable acting abilities. He has the ability to convincingly inhabit any role. “Animal” is no different. His powerful performance left everyone stunned once more. Ranbir’s biggest hit to date, “Animal,” has drawn criticism for its misogynistic portrayal. The fame of “Kabir Singh” Sandeep Reddy Vanga was the film’s director.
With “Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar,” Ranbir brought back his chocolate boy persona before showcasing his gangster role in “Animal.” The movie, which debuted in March, did well at the box office. With two consecutive hits, Ranbir’s year has been exceptionally remarkable.
