When the so-called ‘bad’ actors proved that they shouldn’t be written out…
Not every actor start off on a good note like say, a Ranbir Kapoor or a Varun Dhawan. Some of them gave so many listless performances in the ealry stages of their career that we tend to write them off. But then out of nowhere, they deliver an astounding performance that shocks the wits out of us. Some of them kept that momentum going on, while others fizzled out after that wonderful spark.
Here we list those actors who were either accused of being wooden or one-dimensional, before they gave a dazzling performance that shut up their critics…at least for some time.
Arjun Rampal
Film: Rock On
Arjun Rampal have always been accused of not expressing too much emotions and playing around with safe roles. It was then he began to experiment with his roles, with his negative portrayal in Om Shanti Om, getting him much appreciation. However, it was his role in Rock On, that provided a breakthrough to him. Director Abhishek Kapoor smartly used his strengths and weaknesses and gave him the role of a lifetime, for which he even won the National award for the best supporting actor! From a man who was labelled too wooden by many critics, this was certainly a huge victory. In Rajneeti, he even managed to steal the show from much accomplished actors like NanaPatekar, Ajay Devgn, Ranbir Kapoor and Manoj Bajpayee.
Fardeen Khan
Film: Jungle
Fardeen’s debut was a disaster. His accented Hindi in Prem Aggan was an embarrassment to listen. Surprisingly, it won him the Filmfare award for the best newcomer, as clearly there was no other competition. But he surprised us with a near-natural performance in his second movie, Jungle directed by Ram Gopal Varma. The accent was still there but it was hardly discernible and overlooked for what has been a really good act, as Jungle opened up more doors for him. His last appreciated role was in No Entry.
Dino Morea
Film: Rakht
In his early days, he was often quoted as a prime example of why models can’t act. With listless dialogue delivery and difficult-to-express face, he survived on the edge with his good looks. However, all that changed when he acted in the suspense thriller Rakht, which also starred his ex-flame Bipasha Basu. Though it was an ensemble cast, with Sanjay Dutt, Suneil Shetty, Amrita Arora, Abhishek Bachchan also a part of the same, and the movie flopped, his performance as the sadistic husband was very much appreciated. Though he gave a couple of better performances in Plan and Acid Factory, the dismal failure of these movies virtually threw him out of the rat race.
Katrina Kaif
Film: Rajneeti
When she made her foray into Bollywood, she wasn’t labelled a great acting potential. She was a diva, alright, but her acting lacked a lot, especially her anglicized accent. In fact, in many of her initial movies, her voice had to be dubbed. But she surprised her detractors by giving a powerful performance in Rajneeti where her role was said to be inspired by Sonia Gandhi. Her speech in the pre-climax took tremendous efforts from her end, as she had to deliver it in shuddh Hindi. Now, she is the most in-demand heroines of Bollywood.
Suneil Shetty
Film: Dhadkan
For long, the Balwaan actor was criticised by many for his lack of expression and his fear of not going beyond action-oriented roles. Though he gave a commendable performance in Border, people still viewed it as action-oriented. It was with Dhadkan that he took the risk of changing his image, and with the critical appreciation and the success of the film, he never looked back. In fact, the film won him his first Filmfare award for the best actor in a negative role. He followed it up with his comic turn in Hera Pheri and its sequel, and also villainous roles in Main Hoon Na and Khel.
Uday Chopra
Film: Dhoom series
Uday Chopra’s case was often quoted as the classic example of nepotism in film industry. After all, many of the films he acted in was under his family banner, but none got him much appreciation. Apart from the Dhoom series, that is. In fact, he became the highlight of the entire series, that his character received more claps than Abhishek Bachchan in Dhoom 3, though he never worked on much films. Unfortunately, his acting career is only limited to that franchise.
John Abraham
Film: Water
He is the heartthrob of many girls for his looks and physique, but his acting skills are still questionable with Kareena Kapoor once famously branding him as ‘expressionless’ on an episode in Koffee with Karan. Though he started off with a bang with Jism, his co-star and then-girlfriend Bipasha Basu stole the show as the sultry seductress. He gave hits in Dhoom, Dostana and Housefull 2, however, it was his sensitive portrayal as a Gandhian in Deepa Mehta’s Water that made the world get up and notice him as a proper actor, and not a lovable model with a goofy grin. His gritty performance in Madras Cafe proved that Water was not a flash in the pan.
Sunny Leone
Film: Ragini MMS 2
Though no one expected Sunny Leone to give an Oscar-worthy performance in her debut film, Jism 2, it was still a lackluster performance in a lackluster film. She followed up it two more okay-okay acts in Shootout at Wadala and Jackpot. Ragini MMS 2 was the film that totally utilised the enigma that is Sunny Leone and gave her more pie to chew on. Though it still leagues behind of being called a powerhouse performance, it is her best role and certainly, the most captivating as well.
Sohail Khan
Film: Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya
Sohail Khan started off as a director, with his only hit being Pyar Kiya Toh Darna Kya (Jai Ho was a hit but it rode more on Salman’s current hot status, than Sohail’s directorial ability). He changed tracks to become an actor with Maine Dil Tujhko Diya, but unlike his elder brother, Salman, he lacked the necessary charm to hide his acting flaws. Though he did a few more films as a hero, none of them made any kind of impact. Then Salman took it to himself to save his brother’s acting career when he cast him as his love rival in David Dhawan’s Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya. Sohail’s buffoonish act won him much adulation that his previous films couldn’t do. He repeated the same act in God Tussi Great Ho and Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute to Love, but with lesser impact.
Know any more actors who gave a brilliant performance after being written off? Let us know…