Flashback - 5 Bollywood Actors That Ruled In 2017

It was not just the superstars who laid their stake on the box office throne in 2017, but also some new faces and performers who found a comfortable place – actors who have so far remained under the shadows of the Khans and Kapoors. To begin with, 2017 will go down in the history for being the year of the talented Rajkummar Rao. The actor had five releases, one special appearance and a blockbuster web-series. In short, he kept arriving on our screens almost every month, in one way or the other.

* Rajkummar Rao

The list has to start with him. We, as fans, have seen the rise and rise of Rajkummar. He has just arrived, and he is here to stay. Rajkummar began 2017 with a power packed performance in Trapped. Then the 33-year-old actor left us shocked playing a 324-year-old man in Raabta. We agree that he was the most memorable part about this otherwise unsuccessful film. He followed it with one of the best characters of 2017 – Pritam Vidrohi in Bareilly Ki Barfi. His Behen Hogi Teri and Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana showed him in a romantic avatar. His Newton is India’s official entry to the Oscars this year. And he finished 2017 convincingly playing Subhash Chandra Bose in Ekta Kapoor’s web-series Bose: Dead/Alive. Do we already see him walking away with all the top honours at the various upcoming awards?

* Irrfan Khan
The way he sold sarees at a Chandi Chowk market in the opening sequence of Hindi Medium proved why we call him one of the best in Bollywood. Irrfan is like an old wine, getting better with age. At 50, he gave two of the most delectable films this year – Hindi Medium and Qarib Qarib Singlle. Though both movies had their own problems, but that didn’t stop Irrfan from delivering what we call a natural performance. He prefers playing characters who might just cross your path at any juncture of life!

* Varun Dhawan

Call him the money machine of Bollywood. Just 9 films down and none of Varun’s films have tasted a financial loss. In fact, his last few projects were all Rs 100 crore plus. His two releases this year – Badrinath Ki Dulhania and Judwaa 2 crossed Rs 200 crore each. Varun got the characters perfectly in both the films. He is one actor from the current lot who does everything right. He acts, yes he really does! He also dances well and does comedy. And he even leaves the audience happy. Hopes are only rising by the day from Varun Dhawan and we are sure he will live up to all that.

* Akshay Kumar

Not just Akshay’s film is called Gold, whatever he touches actually turns gold! Like a disciplined man, he does his work well, arrives at the theaters with well timed films throughout the year and sweeps through the ticketing windows and the hearts of the audience. Akshay’s recent switch to only doing content driven cinema is only getting him all the love. And his two films this year – Jolly LLB 2 and Toilet: Ek Prem Katha were well crafted. While the former was a satire on India’s judiciary, the later was based on PM Modi’s flagship Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. And both became films to reckon with. Hopes are already soaring with his next – PadMan.

* Ayushmann Khurrana

He has become the most lovable boy-next-door. Nobody plays the small town guy better than Ayushmann. And he proved that not once, but twice in his films Bareilly Ki Barfi and Shubh Mangal Savdhan this year. Though his Meri Pyaari Bindu tanked, but his performance was appreciated there too. 2017 was a fruitful year for this actor-singer and we are only looking for better stuff next year.