Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

The 10 WORST actors in Hindi movies

Last updated on: April 10, 2013 11:49 IST
Ayushmann Khurrana and Kunal Roy Kapur in Nautanki Saala

There's no shortage of bad actors trying to pass off as credible ones in Bollywood.

But it's truly amusing when some of the better actors essay a bad actor on silver screen.

In Rohan Sippy's upcoming film, Nautanki Saala, Kunal Roy Kapur plays a stumbling actor who learns the ropes from Ayushmann Khurrana.

Kapur found the prospect rather challenging since he's directed several theatre plays and garnered a good response for his performance in Delhi Belly.

While we wait and watch how he fares, here's looking at some other lousy actors in film.

Akshaye Khanna, Tees Maar Khan

Last updated on: April 10, 2013 11:49 IST
Akshaye Khanna in Tees Maar Khan

Almost nothing works about Farah Khan's third film as director but that's not the point.

In this remake of After the Fox, the underrated actor Akshaye Khanna plays an Oscar-obsessed, over-the-top Bollywood hero who agrees to star in conman Akshay Kumar's movie, which is completely fabricated.

Katrina Kaif, Tees Maar Khan

Last updated on: April 10, 2013 11:49 IST
Katrina Kaif in Tees Maar Khan

As the item girl performing a role in a make-believe movie, Katrina Kaif is made to play it unbelievably loud and hammy.

The idea is to amuse but annoy is what it really does.

Kader Khan, Hum

Last updated on: April 10, 2013 11:49 IST
Kader Khan in Hum

In Mukul Anand's Hum about three brothers -- Amitabh Bachchan, Rajnikanth and Govinda, Kader Khan provides comic relief with his habit of constantly itching.

As the stage actor at the receiving end of stale eggs and rotten tomatoes, Khan cannot resist the urge to scratch making his the most hilarious portrayal of Majnu ever.

Mallika Sherawat, Maan Gaye Mughal-E-Azam

Last updated on: April 10, 2013 11:49 IST
Mallika Sherawat in Maan Gaye Mughal-E-Azam

In Sanjay Chhel's utterly forgettable, Maan Gaye Mughal-E-Azam, the sex symbol works as the star Anarkali of a lousy theatre company.

And her dedication to give one garish performance after another is so consistent, it's hard to tell if the misstep is deliberate or definite.

Arshad Warsi, Shortkut

Last updated on: April 10, 2013 11:49 IST
Arshad Warsi in Shortkut

As a good-for-nothing actor who steals scripts to succeed, the usually effective Arshad Warsi is burdened by the weight of an overwritten role.

Though the premise is interesting, it's vexing to watch Warsi ham all over the place after a point.

Shah Rukh Khan, Om Shanti Om

Last updated on: April 10, 2013 11:49 IST
Shah Rukh Khan in Om Shanti Om

In this reincarnation cum retro mix aimed to celebrate showbiz; Shah Rukh Khan plays an overzealous junior artist struggling to get a big break in the first part and a superstar with questionable skills in his new avatar.

From playing an invalid in Apahij Pyaar to rescuing the girl in superhero attire to spoofing himself as an actor who plays the same role repeatedly, SRK makes a joke at his own expense and totally works it.

Saif Ali Khan, Main Khiladi Tu Anari

Last updated on: April 10, 2013 11:49 IST
Saif Ali Khan in Main Khiladi Tu Anari

Before SRK, Saif Ali Khan played a similar character in Main Khiladi Tu Anari.

As someone who knows his limitations as a sloppy romantic hero, SAK wants to change his image into something decidedly more macho, more Akshay Kumar.

To achieve this, he begins to accompany a real-life cop 24/7 and in the end succeeds in turning into a full-blown action hero.

In reality, of course, it would take a while before the audience accepted him in diverse roles like Langda Tyagi (Omkara) and now zombie killer Boris (Go Goa Gone).

Nana Patekar, Welcome

Last updated on: April 10, 2013 11:49 IST
Nana Patekar in Welcome

Like Johnny Lever's Aslambhai, he's not a professional actor but a gangster with a love for the performing arts.

Only Nana Patekar in Welcome gets to live his dream in Anees Bazmee's dotty scheme of things where he's manipulated to romp about with Mallika Sherawat for, once again, a make-believe movie.

Even so you, you can't help but cackle at an intense powerhouse masquerading as an awful actor.

Preity Zinta, The Last Lear

Last updated on: April 10, 2013 11:49 IST
Preity Zinta in The Last Lear

She may be synonymous with bubby roles but Preity Zinta keeps it largely sombre for Rituparno Ghosh's The Last Lear.

As an artist fumbling in her performance, prompting her to take guidance from Amitabh Bachchan's character during the making of a film, PZ sports oversized bindis, cotton saris and a perennially long face.