Top 50 Indian Actors... who can actually act!

by I_solved_Rubikscube_in_one_min | created - 22 Dec 2011 | updated - 24 Jul 2013 | Public

These are my fav Indian actors who can 'kick ass'!!! Its my take on Indian actors whom I've seen acting. There may be many more actors from the regional films that i may have missed. Apologies... But I made this list very sincerely so much so that I missed some of my fav actors in it! These are actors who are currently active in Indian cinema!

1. Vidya Balan

Actress | Kahaani

Vidya was born in Palghat, Kerala, India. Her family consists of her dad, P.R. Balan, who is the Vice-President of ETC Channel; mom - a home-maker, and an elder sister, Priya, who is married to Kedar. She also has an aunt by the name of Raji Raju.

The Balan family re-located to live at Road No. 11, ...

This lady is here to stay n rule! God she can act and how...

Bollywood now has 3 Khans and a Balan (if you get what i mean)...

2. Amitabh Bachchan

Actor | Black

Amitabh Bachchan was born on October 11, 1942 in Allahabad, British India (present-day Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India) to legendary poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan & Teji Bachchan. He also has a brother named Ajitabh. He completed his education from Uttar Pradesh and moved to Bombay to find work as a ...

Shehenshah of Bollywood... Seriously, if he does something on screen in a particular way, that's ''acting'' and that's how it's supposed to be done and if he doesn't do it that way, its not !!!

3. Aamir Khan

Actor | Taare Zameen Par

Aamir Khan was born on March 14, 1965 in Mumbai. He is one of the most successful Indian Bollywood actors who is also known as "Mr. Perfectionist of Bollywood". With his recent successes in both the Indian and Chinese film markets, he has shouldered his way into becoming one of the world's biggest ...

The better of the three khans in acting...

4. Kamal Haasan

Actor | Vishwaroopam

Kamal Haasan was born November 7, 1954 in Paramakudi, Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu. He debuted as a child artiste in the film "Kalathoor Kannamma" (1960). Since then, he has starred in nearly 220 films in the major Indian languages - Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi. He has been a...

He should've been in Hollywood!

5. Hrithik Roshan

Actor | Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

Hrithik Roshan is an Indian actor, born on 10th January 1974, well known globally for his versatile roles, unmatchable dancing skills and attractive looks.

After having appeared in films as a child actor in the 1980s, Roshan made his film debut in a leading role in Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000) for ...

6. Kareena Kapoor

Actress | 3 Idiots

Kareena was born to Sindhi-speaking Babita (nee Shivdasani) and Punjabi-speaking Randhir Kapoor in Bombay, India. She has an elder sister, Karisma.

She is born in a family that have been actors for generations, including her paternal great-grandfather, Prithviraj Kapoor; her grandfather, Raj Kapoor;...

7. Rani Mukerji

Actress | Black

Rani Mukerji is an Indian actress who works in Hindi films. Noted for her versatility, she is the recipient of multiple accolades, including seven Filmfare Awards. Mukerji has featured in listings of the highest-paid actresses of the 2000s.

Mukerji make her debut in her father directorial Bengali ...

8. Ranbir Kapoor

Actor | Rockstar

Son of Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh; nephew of actors Randhir Kapoor, Rajiv Kapoor, Kunal Kapoor. Grandnephew of actors Shashi Kapoor, Jennifer Kendal, Shammi Kapoor, Geeta Bali; cousin of actresses Kareena Kapoor, Karisma Kapoor.

Belongs to the fourth generation of highly prestigious and considered ...

9. Farhan Akhtar

Producer | Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

An accomplished and award-winning producer-director-writer-actor-singer, Farhan Akhtar is the ultimate Bollywood multi-hyphenate. Born in 1974 to prolific Indian film writer and poet, Javed Akhtar and writer-director, Honey Irani , Farhan was raised in an environment where creativity and ...

What was he doing behind the camera for all these years!

10. Priyanka Chopra Jonas

Actress | Barfi!

Priyanka Chopra Jonas (née Chopra) was born on July 18, 1982 in Jamshedpur, India, to the family of Capt. Dr. Ashok Chopra and Dr. Madhu Chopra, both Indian Army physicians. She had a very varied upbringing. She started her education at La Martinière Girls College in Lucknow as a resident student; ...

11. Tabu

Actress | Andhadhun

Tabu is an Indian actress. She has mainly acted in Hindi films, though she has also starred in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi and Bengali-language films, as well as one American film. She has won the National Film Award for Best Actress twice, and holds the record for the most wins of Filmfare's...

12. Irrfan Khan

Actor | The Lunchbox

Born Sahabzade Irfan Ali Khan, in Jaipur, Rajasthan (NW India) January 7, 1967 to a Pashto-speaking Muslim family. Khan's mother, Begum Khan, was from the Tonk Hakim family and his father, Jagirdar Khan, from the Khajuriya village near the Tonk district, ran a tire business.

The Khan family name ...

13. Rekha

Actress | Koi... Mil Gaya

Bhanurekha was born in the Tamil-speaking Ganesan household on October 10, 1954. Her dad was the popular Tamil actor, Gemini, while her mom was a popular Telugu actress, Pushpavalli. She has seven sisters and one brother. One of her sisters is Dr. Kamala Selvaraj, while another one, Radha, lives in...

The most evergreen actress of Indian cinema!

14. Abhay Deol

Actor | Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

Abhay is an actor who has never shied away from speaking his mind; a producer who doesn't believe in the 'formula', a film curator with a keen eye for detail and good stories, a painter who's not scared to experiment with colours and a philanthropist who wishes to leverage his position to bring a ...

15. Naseeruddin Shah

Actor | A Wednesday

Naseeruddin Shah was born on July 20 1950, in Barabanki, a small village in Uttar Pradesh. He is a seasoned Bollywood actor and has received several awards for his notable performance in several movies. The actor has also been awarded the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan awards for his enormous ...

16. Kajol

Actress | Fanaa

Kajol Devgn is a well-known Bollywood actress known for her exceptional performances on screen. She attended St. Joseph's Convent School in Panchgani and was actively involved in extra-curricular activities such as dancing. In her early teens, Kajol was supposed to make her debut as an actress in a...

17. Boman Irani

Actor | 3 Idiots

Boman Irani is an Indian actor, voice artist, screenplay mentor and photographer. As an actor, he works primarily in Hindi cinema and theatre. He joined theatre in his late 30's and moved to on-screen acting in 2000. Irani gained attention for his role in the 2003 comedy-drama, Munna Bhai M.B.B.S ...

18. Dhanush

Actor | Raanjhanaa

Venkatesh Prabhu known by his stage name Dhanush, is an Indian film actor, producer, lyricist and playback singer who has worked predominantly in Tamil cinema. In 2011, he won the National Film Award for Best Actor for the Tamil film "Aadukalam" and in the same year, he received international ...

19. Saif Ali Khan

Actor | Kal Ho Naa Ho

Saif is the son of Bollywood actress, Sharmila Tagore, and Indian cricketer, Mansoor Ali Khan.

Both his grandfather, Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, and father were professional cricketers. His mother, Sharmila Tagore, an actress within her own rights. He has two sisters, Bollywood actress Soha Ali Khan,...

Can't say he's acting... Its so natural...

20. Sridevi

Actress | English Vinglish

Sridevi was born on August 13, 1963 in her father's hometown of Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu, India. Her mother was from Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. So Sridevi grew up speaking Telugu and Tamil. She has a sister named Srilatha and a stepbrother named Satish. Her dad passed away during the year 1991, while ...

Immensely talented!

21. Paresh Rawal

Actor | Hera Pheri

Paresh Rawal is a renowned Indian film actor, comedian, and producer best known for his work in Bollywood films. He has also worked in Telugu, a few Tamil, and a few Gujarati movies. Highly versatile, he has essayed several types of characters, including comic, serious, and villainous character ...

22. Manisha Koirala

Actress | Dil Se..

Manisha Koirala (born 16 August 1970) is a Nepali actress who mainly appears in Bollywood, though she has worked in several South Indian and her native country's films. Noted for her acting prowess, Koirala is the recipient of several accolades, including four Filmfare Awards-and is one of India's ...

Another of the leading ladies who is grossly underrated!

23. Nandita Das

Director | Firaaq

Nandita Das, born in Mumbai, India, is a highly acclaimed Indian actress, director, and social activist known for her impactful performances in parallel and mainstream cinema. With a career spanning over two decades, Nandita Das has not only established herself as a versatile and talented actress ...

Sadly she was confined to non-commercial cinema only... Would have done so well in mainstream cinema...

24. Om Puri

Actor | The Hundred-Foot Journey

Om Puri was an Indian actor who has appeared in both mainstream Indian films and art films. His credits also include appearances in British and American films. He has received an honorary OBE.

Puri was born in Ambala, Haryana. His father worked on the railways and served in the Indian Army. Puri ...

25. Shabana Azmi

Actress | Fire

One of the leading lights of the 1965-1990's Indian New Wave, Shabana Azmi (alongside the late Smita Patil) was one of the main female actors who dominated the films of the so-called "Parallel Cinema" in India in the 1970s and 1980s. Born to noted Urdu progressive poet and lyricist Kaifi Azmi and ...

26. Mammootty

Actor | Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha

Malayalam film actor Mammootty was born to Ismail (an agriculturist) and Fatima (a homemaker). He has two younger brothers Ibrahim and Zakariah; and three sisters, Ameena, Sauda and Shafina. He did his schooling in St.Joseph's Thevara, Maharaja's College and then studied law at Ernakulam Government...

27. Mohanlal

Actor | Dasharatham

Mohanlal was born to Viswanathan Nair (father) and Santhakumari (mother) in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, which is located in the southern part of India on the 21st May 1960. Starting his career with a classic villain role, he has now become an outstanding actor in Malayalam Cinema. ...

28. Kangana Ranaut

Actress | Queen

Kangana was born on 23 March 1987 in Bhambla, near Manali, which is in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. Her dad Amardeep is a businessman and her mom Asha is a schoolteacher. She has two sisters and a younger brother. Her grandfather was an IAS Office. She spent her childhood in Dehra Dunand...

She's doing all 'crazy' movies nowadays... She deserves better films!

29. Konkona Sen Sharma

Actress | Omkara

Konkona Sen Sharma is an awarding winning actress and the daughter of the celebrated actress and director Aparna Sen. Konkona is regarded as one of the most respected actresses in Bollywood with her memorable performances right from Mr. and Mrs. Iyer (2002) to Page 3 (2005), from Omkara (2006) to ...

30. Prakash Raj

Actor | Anniyan

Prakash Raj is an established actor, producer, director, and television presenter in the Indian film industry. He is known for his works in South Indian and Hindi films.

Starting in the early 90s, he went on to appear in about 400 films. He has received several awards and accolades in his career, ...

31. Kalki Koechlin

Actress | Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

Kalki Koechlin was born to French parents in a small village in Pondicherry. Her parents had come to India as hippies in the 1970s and settled there after they fell in love with the country. Her parents are devotees of Sri Aurobindo.

Kalki was studying in Ooty when her parents insisted that she ...

32. Manoj Bajpayee

Actor | Gangs of Wasseypur

Manoj Bajpayee is a highly acclaimed Indian film actor known for his versatile acting skills and intense performances. Despite facing financial struggles during his childhood, he pursued his passion for acting and worked hard to achieve success in the film industry. Bajpayee is the second child in ...

33. Urmila Matondkar

Actress | Bhoot

The daughter of a lecturer, actress Urmila Matondkar began her celluloid career as a child artiste with the film _Kalyug (1980)_. Although an average film at the box-office, her next film, Masoom (1983), about a family coping with an illegitimate member, showed her acting talents blossom and she ...

One of the most underrated actors of Bollywood.

34. Shah Rukh Khan

Actor | Don 2

Known for his trademark gelled spiked up crew cut with sunglasses, Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) is an Indian Bollywood movie star, movie producer, magazine model, showman, public speaker, author, philanthropist and television host/personality working predominantly in Hindi cinema.

Khan began his on-camera ...

35. Akshaye Khanna

Actor | Dil Chahta Hai

Akshaye Khanna was born in Mumbai in 1975. He is the middle son of Bollywood actor and politician Vinod Khanna, and the younger brother of actor Rahul Khanna.

After studying in Kishore Namit Kapoor Acting Institute in Mumbai, Khanna made his acting debut in Bollywood in 1997 with the movie Himalay ...

36. Madhuri Dixit

Actress | Dil To Pagal Hai

Madhuri Dixit is one of the most acclaimed actors and Kathak dancers Bollywood have ever witnessed. Born in a Marathi Brahmin Koknastha family to Mr. Shankar and Mrs. Snehlata, Madhuri Dixit has two sisters Rupa, Bharti, and brother Ajit. She performed decently well in her academics and aspired to ...

37. Nana Patekar

Actor | Krantiveer

Vishwanath Patekar (born on January 1, 1951 in Murud-Janjira, Maharashtra, India) is an actor, writer and filmmaker. He is known for his work on Ab Tak Chhappan (2004), Raajneeti (2010) and Parinda (1989). He made his acting debut in the early 70's and since then has been nominated for multiple ...

38. Sanjay Dutt

Actor | Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.

Sanjay Dutt, son of Nargis and Sunil Dutt, was first featured in Rocky (1981), the movie was a box office hit.

He emerged as a sensitive actor, alongside being the top prominent action hero of 80s & 90s Bollywood, whilst also finding noteworthy praise in the comedic genre.

Sanjay's personal life was ...

39. Anupam Kher

Actor | Hotel Mumbai

Anupam Kher is a renowned Indian actor who has worked extensively in the Indian film industry, as well as in international films and television shows. He is known for his versatile acting skills and has portrayed a wide range of characters throughout his career.

Kher studied at Simla in D.A.V. ...

40. Suriya

Actor | 24

Suriya was born to actor Sivakumar and his wife Lakshmi in Chennai but brought up in Coimbatore. He is the eldest of three children; his younger brother is actor Karthi Sivakumar and he has a younger sister named Brindha Sivakumar. He attended PSBB School and St. Bede's School in Chennai and ...

41. Sushmita Sen

Actress | Main Hoon Na

Sushmita was born in the Bengali-speaking Sen family on November 19, 1975 in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. Her family consists of her dad, Shubeer, a former Indian Air Force Wing Commander; mom, Subhra, Jewelry Designer and owner of a Dubai-based store. She has two siblings, a sister named ...

42. Rishi Kapoor

Actor | Agneepath

Born in south Mumbai, Kapoor is the second son of film director and actor Raj Kapoor. He did his schooling with his brothers at Mumbai's Campion School. His brothers are well-known actors, Randhir Kapoor and Rajiv Kapoor.

Rishi Kapoor debuted in his father's 1970 film Mera Naam Joker, playing his ...

His 2nd innings in Bollywood is going pretty good; getting a lot of challenging roles.

43. Kay Kay Menon

Actor | Haider

Kay Kay Menon is a well-known Indian actor who has acted in numerous movies and web series. He was born in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, but raised in Ambarnath, Maharashtra, India.

Menon pursued his early education at St Joseph High School in Pune. After this, he went on to earn a degree in ...

44. Ajay Devgn

Actor | Shivaay

Vishal Veeru "Ajay" Devgn was born on April 02, 1969, in New Delhi, Delhi to action director Veeru Devgan and his wife Veena Devgan. He is an Indian actor, film director and producer who works in the Bollywood industry and is one of the highest-paid celebrities in India. Devgn started his film ...

45. Sachin Khedekar

Actor | 13B: Fear Has a New Address

Sachin Khedekar was born on March 14, 1965 in Mumbai, Maharahstra, India. He is an actor, known for 13B: Fear Has a New Address (2009), Agneepath (2012) and Sita Ramam (2022). He has been married to Jalpa Khedekar since December 19, 1993. They have two children.

46. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Actress | Jodhaa Akbar

Born into a traditional south Indian family, Aishwarya started modeling at a young age. This green-blue-eyed beauty appeared in advertisements for many prestigious firms; the ones that brought her into the limelight were the garden sari and the Pepsi ad. Crowned Miss India 1994 runner-up, she was a...

47. Atul Kulkarni

Actor | Rang De Basanti

Atul Kulkarni was born on September 10, 1965 in Karnataka, India. He is an actor and producer, known for Rang De Basanti (2006), Laal Singh Chaddha (2022) and Hey Ram (2000).

48. Deepika Padukone

Actress | Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

Deepika Padukone, born 5 January 1986 in Copenhagen, Denmark, is an Indian model and actress. She is the daughter of former badminton champion Prakash Padukone. Her mother tongue is Konkani. Deepika has a younger sister named Anisha.

She has been modeling appearances in print and television ...

49. Mahie Gill

Actress | Dev.D

Mahie Gill was born in Chandigarh, Punjab. She has completed her Masters in theater from Panjab University, Chandigarh in 1998. Mahi got her first break with the Punjabi based Bollywood film Hawayein and has done a couple of Punjabi films along with theatre. Anurag saw her first in a party and ...

50. Vinay Pathak

Actor | Bheja Fry

Vinay Pathak is an accomplished Indian actor known for his versatile performances in Bollywood films. Born in Bhojpur, Bihar, India, Vinay initially pursued a career in advertising before making a successful transition to acting.

Vinay Pathak's journey in the entertainment industry began with ...

51. Sharman Joshi

Actor | 3 Idiots

Sharman Joshi, born in Mumbai, India, is a talented Indian actor known for his versatile performances in Bollywood films. Hailing from a family with a strong connection to the Indian entertainment industry, Sharman embarked on his acting journey and established himself as a reliable and skilled ...



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