10 Blockbuster Bollywood Debuts by Outsiders in Last 5 Years
Do actors from non-film families get the same opportunities in Bollywood as star kids? Not often. But in the past five years, some extraordinary actors have made their Bollywood debut, and it’s time to give them the attention they deserve! From Sushant Singh Rajput to Vikrant Massey, stream their films now to experience their craft and talent!
Top 10 Bollywood Debutantes
Vikrant Massey
Vikrant Massey has been a household name on TV for years, but it was his role in Konkona Sen Sharma’s ‘Death In The Gunj’ that really made him stand out. He played the role of Shutu, a man struggling with grief, with a quiet yet powerful presence that earned him near-unanimous acclaim. Massey’s performance in ‘Death In The Gunj’ is one to be remembered, and it’s no wonder he is now one of the most sought-after actors in Bollywood!
Vicky Kaushal
Vicky Kaushal, son of action director Shyam Kaushal, is quickly making a name for himself in the world of Indian cinema. After starting off with Neeraj Ghaywan’s Masaan, Kaushal’s performances in Sanju, Uri and Bhoot: The Haunted Ship have earned him widespread praise. Up next for the actor are some exciting projects like Shoojit Sircar’s Sam Manekshaw biopic, Meghna Gulzar’s next and Karan Johar’s Takht. It’s clear that Vicky Kaushal is here to stay!
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Mrunal Thakur
Mrunal Thakur made a powerful Bollywood debut with the intense Tabrez Noorani’s film around India’s flesh trade, alongside an ensemble of Manoj Bajpayee, Richa Chadha, Adil Hussain, Rajkummar Rao and Anupam Kher. Her vulnerability on-screen became synonymous with the tragedy of a million faceless girls and stood out in the cast. Since then, Thakur has been in Super 30, Ghost Stories and will star opposite Shahid Kapoor in Jersey’s remake and Farhan Akhtar in Toofan.
Vijay Varma
Vijay Varma has come a long way since his debut in Amit Kumar’s Monsoon Shootout, where he played a hesitant rookie cop alongside the likes of Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Neeraj Kabi. But it was his unforgettable role in Gully Boy that made him a household name. Despite a few misfires, like Baaghi 3 and the Netflix original She, it’s clear that Varma has limitless potential as an actor.
Jim Sarbh
Top 10 Bollywood debutants also include Jim Sarbh. Making a wildcard entry with Neerja, actor Jim Sarbh has since gone on to star in a wide range of films. From Death in the Gunj and Jonaki to Yeh Ballet and commercial films like Raabta, Padmaavat and Sanju, Sarbh has earned accolades for his unpredictable presence and eccentric body language.
Sanya Malhotra
Dangal, the 2016 blockbuster directed by Nitesh Tiwari, featured an ensemble cast that won hearts all over. The ‘Phogat’ kids, Wasim and Bhatnagar as the younger versions of Geeta and Babita, Sheikh and Malhotra as the older versions and Khurrana as the grown up Omkar, all shined. Zaira Wasim and Sanya Malhotra have since gone on to give mature performances in Secret Superstar and Photograph.
Avinash Tiwary
Avinash Tiwary was a show-stopper in the classic folklore-inspired movie, Laila Majnu, where he played the lead, Qais. After his breakout performance, he was chosen for Karan Johar’s Ghost Stories, Anushka Sharma’s Bulbbul and the Hindi remake of Emily Blunt’s The Girl On The Train, opposite Parineeti Chopra.
Siddhant Chaturvedi
Siddhant Chaturvedi made his acting debut with Amazon Prime’s Inside Edge. But it was his role as the rapper MC Sher in Gully Boy that made him a heartthrob of today’s youth. His effortless charm and charisma lit up the screen, and he ended up stealing the limelight from even Ranveer Singh in the movie. His versatility and charm were seen again in Bunty Aur Babli 2 and Shakun Batra’s Gehraiyaan, in which he shared the screen with Deepika Padukone and Ananya Panday.
Rasika Dugal
Rasika Dugal made her mark in Anup Singh’s directorial debut Qissa with her blink-and-you-miss role as Neeli, married to a woman raised to believe she’s a man (Tillotama Shome). With an impressive performance in an otherwise superlative ensemble, Dugal has since gone on to make a name for herself with a wide range of short films, web series and films, and is destined for bigger success.
Samad Shah
Samad Shah, who played ‘kid’ roles in Firaaq and Haraamkhor, has won hearts with his performance in Tumbbad. The scene where his on-screen father (Sohum Shah) takes him to a brothel to express his appreciation for his shrewdness was particularly praised. He later was seen in Nitesh Tiwari’s Chhichhore as Sushant Singh Rajput and Shraddha Kapoor’s son.
