They are treacherous, evil and you love to hate them! And yet, they are your favourite celluloid heroes but, in a villainous avatar. The transformation is iconic, from their dialogues, mannerism and idiosyncrasies, to the way they dress up, they leave no stone unturned to leave an indelible mark on the annals of Indian cinema.
Remember SRK in ‘Darr’ or the unpredictable Aarmir Khan in ‘Ghajini’, the scary haunting rendition has left us all speechless time and again.
So let’s have a look at the top ten iconic villainous roles performed by our favourite celluloid heroes.
Shah Rukh Khan as Rahul Mehra in ‘Darr’ (1993)
In the movie, SRK aka Rahul, is the obsessed lover and a stalker of Kiran played by Juhi Chawla. His most famous line “k-k-k-Kiran” is enough to scare Juhi Chawla and the viewers. It was his menacing gaze and sinister demeanour, that brought to life the horrors of obsession, leaving us both mesmerized and terrified.
Akshay Kumar as Vikram Bajaj in ‘Ajnabee’ (2001)
A new couple get married and move to Switzerland. They make friends with their new neighbours Akshay Kumar and Bipasha Basu. Life seems perfect until one day when Raj wakes up in Vicky’s house and finds out that Vicky’s wife has been murdered. Raj is accused of the murder but flees from the authorities in order to prove himself innocent. The film proved major turning point for Akshay Kumar after this film he had very good success at the box office and also lost the tag of a flop actor.
Salman Khan as Radhe in ‘Tere Naam’ (2003)
Released in 2003, Tere Naam tells the tale of star-crossed lovers Radhe (Salman Khan) and Nirjara (Bhumika Chawla). It ends with Nirjara committing suicide and Radhe renouncing the world and returning to the ashram where he was being treated for his deteriorating mental health. With his raw and emotionally charged performance, Khan delved into the complexities of love and obsession, delivering a portrayal that resonated deeply with audiences.
John Abraham as Kabir in ‘Dhoom’ (2004)
The tale begins in Mumbai where a gang of robbers is sweeping through the city. Officer Jai Dixit (Abhishek Bachchan) is brought in on the case and he is on the trail of the robbers – a gang led by Kabir (John Abraham). Jai ropes in the services of Ali (Uday Chopra), a carefree garage mechanic and a prodigious biker. With fast bikes, big action, DHOOM reinvents the classic cops and robbers tale.
John Abraham’s portrayal of Kabir, a suave and cunning thief, added depth to the antagonist role in this high-octane thriller. With his charisma and swagger, Abraham brought a sense of charm and danger to the character, captivating audiences with his on-screen presence
Amitabh Bachchan as Auro in ‘Sarkar’ (2005)
The movie follows the story of the family of Sarkar, a powerful ‘Bhai’ of Mumbai who runs his own law. He executes justice for the down-trodden in the way he deems right, even if it may be (as it invariably is) outside the law. His seat of power, the opposition to it, and it’s eventual inheritance is what the movie deals with.
Bachchan’s acting is in an absolute unique genre of skill playing Subhash Nagare (Sarkar) and illustrating all emotions through his Eyes. With very less dialogs spoken, Amitabh Bachchan proficiently establishes a massive screen presence captivating the audience throughout the movie.
Hrithik Roshan as Aryan Singh in ‘Dhoom 2’ (2006)
‘Dhoom 2’ is a Bollywood action thriller film released in 2006, and the lead actor in the movie is Hrithik Roshan. He played the role of Aryan Singh, a master thief known for his exceptional skills and disguises.
Later, Hrithik revealed that his portrayal of the antihero was modelled on three actors – Bruce Willis, Pierce Brosnan and Amitabh Bachchan.
Aamir Khan as Sanjay Singhania in ‘Ghajini’ (2008)
An ‘Indianised’ Memento, Ghajini is a masala pot-boiler revenge film with over-the-top action sequences, and superlative performances by Aamir Khan and Asin. Aamir Khan, is effective as he takes to the skin of his character, exuding the laundry list of human emotion, and even bordering on animal-like in his revenge-driven state. Khan’s portrayal of a character grappling with short-term memory loss and consumed by a desire for vengeance was both gripping and emotionally charged, earning him widespread acclaim.
Ajay Devgn as Sultan Mirza in ‘Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai’ (2010)
The film in a nutshell is a story of a smuggler’ (Sultan Mirza played by Ajay Devgn) rise to power in the 1970s Mumbai, a younger gangster’s(Shoaib Khan, played by Emraan Hashmi), effort to overthrow him and a police officer (ACP Agnel Wilson played by Randeep Hooda) who is caught in the middle.
Ajay Devgan’s understated yet powerful performance as a gangster who does not forget or forgive was par excellence.
Ranveer Singh as Alauddin Khilji in ‘Padmaavat’ (2018)
Alauddin Khilji was a tyrant, a manipulator, an ambitious king who wanted to rule the world. But, more importantly, he aspired to win over a woman, Rani Padmavati. He had a vivid understanding of his limitations – you can win wars with a mighty sword, but not someone’s heart. But for the ruler who had killed his uncle for the throne, who got involved in adultery on his wedding night with another woman, and who killed his bachpan ka dost after he ratted him out, winning Padmavati was all Khilji cared about, not her heart. Ranveer Singh’s transformation into Alauddin Khilji, a ruthless and power-hungry ruler, was nothing short of awe-inspiring. With his mesmerizing performance and sheer intensity, Singh brought the character to life with chilling authenticity, earning widespread acclaim for his portrayal
Shahid Kapoor as Charlie in ‘Kaminey’ (2009)
Guddu and Charlie are identical twins born and raised in the slums of Mumbai. They dream of leaving the squalor behind and moving into a life of prosperity and dignity. Though they look alike, the two are as different as chalk and cheese: one lisps while the other stammers; one is an honest, diligent social worker while the other hedges bets at a racecourse. The brothers want nothing to do with each other, but life has other plans. Shahid Kapoor’s portrayal of Charlie, a twin with a darker side, showcased the actor’s versatility and range.
