BizAsia’s Top 5 Male Performances of 2017

The countdown to 2018 has begun. While we await the firecrackers and ball drops, it’s time to look back at the Bollywood actors that have created a stir in 2017, with their thought provoking performances. BizAsiaLive.com looks back at the top five actors that have pulled audiences to the theatres.

Irrfan Khan- ‘Hindi Medium’
 In ‘Hindi Medium’, Irrfan Khan won hearts and laughs as the ever so abiding husband Raj, who agrees to wife Meeta’s (Saba Qamar) eccentric plans to admit their daughter into one of the top five schools in Delhi. Khan’s performance was no less than glorious. From his romantic introduction, into his rightfully earned business owner status, to a sobbing father, his performance was one for the books. He truly made you forget that he is indeed Irrfan Khan, and not Raj Batra.

Akshay Kumar- ‘Toilet-Ek Prem Katha’
 Akshay Kumar played the doting husband Keshav Sharma in ‘Toilet-Ek Prem Katha’, who went against his religious and superstitious father to build his wife a toilet. His quirky and honest performance makes you laugh, yell, and stand up through the many moments when his character’s rebellion fails to create a dent. Through this, his chemistry with wife Jaya (Bhumi Pednekar) never ceases to lose its grip, proving why Kumar has always been known to be a well rounder.

Ranbir Kapoor- ‘Jagga Jasoos’
In ‘Jagga Jasoos’, Ranbir Kapoor reminds you why his performances are the most awaited. Kapoor played the shy, stuttering detective Jagga, who goes out to search for his missing foster father. He sings through his lines because of his speech impairment, but yet, he is natural, endearing, spontaneous, and very compelling. Through all this, Kapoor doesn’t forget to make you laugh with him. He takes you on this joyride, which you refuse to depart, and you take it to the end.

Ayushmann Khurrana- ‘Shubh Mangal Savdhan’ & ‘Bareilly Ki Barfi’
Ayushmann Khurrana effortlessly played Mudit Sharma, a soon to be married man who suffers from erectile dysfunction, and reveals it to his girlfriend Sugandha (Bhumi Pednekar) before they get married. From beginning to end, Khurrana’s performance is vulnerable, anxious, and powerful. You are rooting for him from the moment he falls in love with Sugandha, to the awkward moments with the in-laws.

In ‘Bareilly Ki Barfi’, Khurrana plays author Chirag Krishnan. He writes a book about his girlfriend dumping him, but refrains from using his own name, but a friend’s as the author. Khurrana smoothly transitions from a ditched lover to a manipulator, and you fall in love with the spice he brings to the sweet love story, wondering when you can see his grey shades again.

Rajkummar Rao-  ‘Bareilly Ki Barfi’ & ‘Newton’
Rajkummar Rao is a force to be reckoned with. In ‘Bareilly Ki Barfi’, Rao plays the timid salesman Pritam Vidrohi who is being coerced by Ayushmann Khurrana’s character Chirag. Rao is a charmer, he plays a sari salesman, who starts off as an introvert, and then stands his ground, becoming an overconfident lad. Rao’s sweet presence grabs you by the hook and never lets you go.

In ‘Newton’, Rao plays Newton Kumar, a government clerk who is assigned to election duty in a politically motivated town. Rao refuses to be anything but Newton. He blinks, thinks, walks, and talks Newton. There is this undeclared ease Rao emits in his character, he sucks you in. You soon become a breathing Newton and try to predict what he will do next. Rao was perfect as Newton.

While these top five actors have given us noteworthy performances  this year, 2017 has had a few more actors that have made us sit up and take notice, and even though they are not on this list, it would be unfair to not give them their spotlight.

Hrithik Roshan gave us a gripping performance as Rohan Bhatnagar in ‘Kaabil’.  He played a blind voice over artist, who meets the love of his life (Yami Gautam), and embarks on a life-long journey with her, which is cut short when she commits suicide, after being sexually assaulted. He was on full form.

In ‘Judwaa 2’, Varun Dhawan knows how to throw you off your couches, laughing of course. He plays the double role of Raja and Prem with ease, managing to keep both characters separate in their identities of a geeky Prem and a macho Raja. Dhawan is engaging and delivers your true dose of comedy.

Salman Khan is back as Tiger, an Indian RAW agent, in recently releases ‘Tiger Zinda Hai.. Khan plays the hero Tiger, with much charisma, knowing where to give us that extra punch, plowing through scenes with much confidence.

Diljit Dosanjh strung his way through the Phillaur village and into our hearts, as the spirited singer Roop Lal in ‘Phillauri’. His performance from a drunken village heartthrob to a mature and dedicated singer was as natural as you would expect. Dosanjh emotes much romance and passion as he romances Shashi, (Anushka Sharma,) reminding you why Dosanjh is a top Punjabi performer.

So that’s over for yet another year, and we will look forward to more applause-worthy performances in 2018.