Actors who aced the Anti-Hero roles on screen

 

Bollywood has always loved its heroes, but it's the anti-heroes, the flawed, unpredictable, and dangerous ones, who often steal the show. These complex characters, driven by obsession, trauma, or power, push the boundaries of morality and make for some of the most unforgettable performances in Indian cinema. Here’s a look at some actors who have brilliantly brought anti-heroes to life:

 

Shah Rukh Khan -  Before he became the King of Romance, Shah Rukh Khan stunned audiences with his portrayal of the obsessive and terrifying Rahul in Darr (1993). His haunting delivery of “K-k-k-Kiran” remains iconic. He later took on the role of a stylish and ruthless criminal mastermind in Don 2 (2011), redefining the anti-hero for a new generation.

 

Randeep Hooda - Randeep Hooda played a menacing anti-hero in Jaat, delivering a performance that balances charm with menace. Known for diving deep into intense characters, Randeep brings depth and grit to the role, portraying a man who operates in grey zones while still commanding empathy.

 

Ranbir Kapoor -  In Animal (2023), Ranbir Kapoor’s transformation into the violent, emotionally volatile Ranvijay was both shocking and powerful. He plays a man caught in a cycle of love and destruction, making audiences both fear and feel for him in equal measure.

 

Saif Ali Khan-  Saif Ali Khan portrayed a dark, enigmatic antagonist in Devara, opposite Jr NTR. With a history of playing morally grey characters in films like Omkara and Laal Kaptaan, Saif continues to explore the darker corners of human nature with finesse and flair.

 

Shahid Kapoor - In Vishal Bhardwaj’s Shahid Kapoor's gritty, double-edged performance in Kaminey (2009), a film that dared to break stereotypes and present flawed protagonists who win your empathy without necessarily seeking your approval. From his dual roles as the stammering Guddu and the lisping Charlie — both morally ambiguous and living on the edge — Kapoor embraced characters who were as messed up as they were magnetic.

 

Vicky Kaushal - While Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s serial killer character grabbed headlines, Vicky Kaushal’s performance as a corrupt, drug-addicted cop in Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016) was equally disturbing. His descent into darkness blurs the line between law and lawlessness, making him a fascinating anti-hero.

 

Ranveer Singh - As the unhinged and ferocious Alauddin Khilji in Padmaavat (2018), Ranveer Singh delivered a tour de force performance. His portrayal of unchecked ambition and madness was so magnetic, it dominated the film and redefined villainy in modern cinema.

Shahid Kapoor's gift to Tehri

Shahid Kapoor shot for his next film Batti Gul Meter Chalu directed by Shree Narayan Singh in Tehri, Uttarakhand. While shooting they stayed at a hotel with bare necessities and no luxuries, instead of a five-star hotel. Shahid being a fitness freak had set up his gym at the hotel they stayed.

According to a source, "As this small hotel had no fitness facilities, he set up his own gym on the premises. His instructor had taken a lot of expensive equipment from Mumbai and set them up in a room. A day before they packed up, the hotel guys requested Shahid to leave his gym equipment behind for them and other guests and he agreed instantly knowing his gift would help the establishment."

Batti Gul Meter Chalu also stars Shraddha Kapoor, Yami Gautam and Divyendu Sharma. The film produced by T-Series and Kriti Pictures is slated to release on 21st September.

Shahid Kapoor to play boxing hero Dingko Singh on screen

We have seen many films based on sports and the lives of sporting heroes in recent times. Actor Shahid Kapoor who is soaring high with the success of his last film Padmaavat, is all set to portray former boxing champ and Asian Games gold medallist Dingko Singh on screen. The film will be directed by Raja Krishna Menon who has earlier directed Airlift and Chef. It is expected to go on floors sometime around April 2019.

Ngangom Dingko Singh, known as Dingko Singh (from Manipur) was the first and only Asian gold medallist boxer from India in the Bantamweight category. In 2013, he was awarded the Padma Shri. Dingko has been an inspiration to many boxers who came into the ring after him, and he is so passionate about the sport, that he went on to become a coach for young boxers.

Talking about this being one of his most ambitious projects, Shahid says, " The thing that I loved about this story is that he is one of those superstars who we don’t know much about. If a film like Dangal (2016) wasn’t made, we wouldn’t know as much about the Phogat sisters. Dingko is a cancer survivor, and he went through 13 rounds of chemotherapy. He has even gone on to say that his biggest win was surviving cancer and not the gold medal he won at the age of 19 at the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok. In 2017, Gautam Gambhir became aware of his situation and sent money for his treatment. Soon, people found out who he was, and 13 doctors came forward to help him. He is a sports star who survived cancer. At some point in his past, he had almost become a Naxalite. His life story is unbelievably crazy; it is very human and extremely inspiring. Such amazing stories of heroes need to be told.”

The actor is currently busy promoting his next film Batti Gul Meter Chalu which is slated to release on 21st September 2018.

Shahid Kapoor calls off his vacation for work commitments

Shahid Kapoor is known to manage both his professional and personal life very well. The actor had planned to go on a vacation with his wife Mira Rajput and daughter Misha Kapoor in June. 

However, since the last schedule of his upcoming film Batti Gul Meter Chalu directed by Shree Narayan Singh resumes shoot in June, Shahid has decided to call off the vacation. 

Along with the shoot, Shahid will also start his preparation for the Arjun Reddy remake which includes workshops with behavioral experts. 

According to a source, "Shahid had decided to spend quality time with Mira and Misha [daughter] in June before he begins training for Arjun Reddy. But now that the Batti Gul schedule is likely to run into June, he has called off the trip. He wants to ensure that his commitment to this film doesn't spill over to that of Arjun Reddy, the shoot of which is lined up for July." 

A source adds that Shahid will juggle between the shoot of Batti Gul Meter Chalu and prep workshops of Arjun Reddy, "Shahid will be filming Batti Gul in the mornings. His evenings will be dedicated to MMA training for Sandeep Vanga's film. He needs to beef up for the remake. Besides undergoing dietary changes, he will alter his fitness regimen to include weight training." 

Batti Gul Meter Chalu also stars Shraddha Kapoor and Yami Gautam.

Shahid Kapoor forges a special bond with a commando while shooting for Rangoon

Shahid Kapoor who shot for portions of Rangoon in Pasighat , bonded with Commando stationed in Arunachal Pradesh while shooting for the film.It so happened that the Commando whose name was Bomi. was assigned as security with Shahid while the cast and crew shot at Pasighat, the two grew so close, that Bomi even requested traveling with him to their schedule in Rohtung.Shahid ,who had forged a bond with the young army man ,spoke to the higher authorities and convinced them to let him travel with them to the next shoot location and even surprised him with gifts before leaving for Mumbai.  

Says a source, " Shahid and Bomi spent several days together while shooting Rangoon. Shahid was very interested in getting to know his life and the challenges soldiers face. He has a lot of admiration for our security force and was happy to see Bomi enjoy the shoot so much. On request he even ensured Bomi traveled with them to the next schedule and gifted him a leather jacket and a pair of boots much to his delight".