By Vishal Sangwan
Bollywood supporting actors are often the best part of a movie, some of them so memorable that you remember the movie by the character. Here is a list of 10 such occasions
Paresh Rawal as Baburao Ganpatrao Apte (Hera Pheri)
Paresh Rawal is one of the finest actors Hindi cinema has seen. Paresh Rawal has worked as a supporting actor in Bollywood industry. His portrayal of Baburao in Hera Pheri is hilarious. The comic timing and dialogue delivery is perfectly executed. It’s hard to imagine anyone else to play the role even half as good as him simply because, “Ye Baburao ka style h.”
Arshad Warsi as Circuit (Munna Bhai)
Circuit is the friend everyone needs! He is the real gangsta- trustworthy, supporting and would take a bullet for Munna. Circuit is a selfless friend who supports all of Munna’s dreams and even gets him a personal dead body, so that there are no hindrances to Munna’s education. Talk about commitment in friendship? We all need a Circuit to tell us, “Tension nahi lene ka bhai, apun hai na tere saath.”
Priyanka Chopra as Kashibai (Bajirao Mastani)
Priyanka Chopra called it one of her most emotionally draining roles. She plays Kashibai, Bajirao’s first wife who stands by her husband as and when required. The character is written and played so beautifully that you’re left sympathizing with it more than adoring the love angle between Bajirao and Mastani.
Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor as Uday Shetty and Majnu bhai (Welcome)
The two characters are so iconic that even today Majnu bhai’s painting is doing rounds. They have amazing chemistry and complement each other better than the lead couple does. Played by two accomplished actors in Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor, Uday and Majnu have it all “Bhagwaan ka diya hua sab kuch hai. Daulat hai, Shaurat Hai, Izzat Hai.” Anil Kapoor, on his first viewing of the movie, told Akshay Kumar how he has totally outdone him. And well he is not wrong.
Sunny Deol as Govind (Damini)
Damini is hailed as one of the best courtroom dramas that Bollywood has produced and naturally the two charismatic lawyers stole the show, Sunny Deol in particular. Sunny Deol’s powerful voice and captivating monologues won him his second National Award, first in the best supporting actor category.
Kalki Koechlin as Leni/Chanda (Dev D)
In Anurag Kashyap’s modern adaptation of Devdas, Kalki Koechlin plays a high school girl who turns to prostitution after an MMS featuring her goes viral. She finds some dignity and independence in her new way of living. This was Kalki’s debut role in Bollywood as a supporting actor and she bagged a Filmfare, not bad right?
Pankaj Tripathi as Rudra (Stree)
Rudra or as he is referred to in the movie, Rudra Bhaiya, is a know-it-all book store owner and a self-confessed expert on the mysterious mishaps in the town. He keeps providing his insights on the same in the most amusing manner. Pankaj Tripathi’s comedy is well-timed and his flourish as an actor is evident through the movie.
Karishma Kapoor as Nisha (Dil To Pagal Hai)
The fifth choice for the role of Nisha, Karishma Kapoor did everything right, from keeping up with Madhuri Dixit in the intense dance-off to being a total diva in the movie. Nisha hated it when she was replaced, couldn’t handle losing her man and threw a fit when she didn’t get what (she believed) she deserved. But that’s what made her human. And though she did not get what she wanted in the movie, she did get a National Award for the role.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Liak (Badlapur)
Liak’s character development is done marvelously. He starts off as a goon who murders a woman and her child and is serving time for it. In all this he doesn’t give up his partner’s name. He gets cancer and upon getting out of prison, he realizes how things have changed. Liak decides to help out Raghav and perhaps redeem himself, in the process, giving Raghav a second chance at life.
Annu Kapoor as Dr. Baldev Chaddha (Vicky Donor)
A doctor who chases his patients on a cricket field looking for the perfect specimen in sperm donation, Dr. Chaddha was the most memorable character from the movie. He could relate just about everything to sperm. Perhaps, if he were making this list, it would be called 10 best supporting sperms.
While the main lead is always the central character, the contribution and amazing performances of such supporting roles should never go under-appreciated.
