Every culture has its list of legendary actors, and Bollywood is no exception. These actors have been at the forefront of Indian cinema for decades, pushing the boundaries with their iconic roles and performances. From Amitabh Bachchan to Shah Rukh Khan, Bollywood has seen some truly remarkable actors over the years. But who are the best and most iconic among them? This article will explore some of the best and most iconic male Bollywood actors in history. We’ll look at their careers, their biggest hits, and much more to paint a comprehensive picture of these stars. So let’s get started!
Top 10 Best and Most Iconic Bollywood Actors:
10. Akshay Kumar
Akshay Kumar is one of the most successful and iconic Bollywood actors of all time. He has starred in over 100 films and has won numerous awards, including the National Film Award for Best Actor.
Kumar began his career as an action hero in the early 1990s and quickly established himself as one of Bollywood’s leading men. He has since appeared in a wide range of genres, including comedies, dramas, and thrillers.
Some of Kumar’s most popular films include Khiladi (1992), Mohra (1994), Hera Pheri (2000), Waqt: The Race Against Time (2005), Singh is Kinng (2008), Housefull (2010), Rowdy Rathore (2012), Airlift (2016), and Toilet: Ek Prem Katha (2017).
Kumar is also well-known for his philanthropic work. He has been actively involved in various social causes, such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, a nationwide campaign to promote cleanliness in India.
9. Aamir Khan
Aamir Khan is one of India’s most iconic and successful Bollywood actors. He has appeared in over 50 Hindi films in a career spanning more than two decades. He is best known for his roles in blockbusters such as Dil Chahta Hai, Lagaan, 3 Idiots and PK.
Khan has won numerous awards throughout his career, including four National Film Awards and eight Filmfare Awards. He is also the recipient of the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honour.
Khan is known for his methodical approach to acting and his insistence on perfection. He is also known for his social and political activism, having founded the Aamir Khan Productions production company with a focus on socially conscious filmmaking.
8. Shahrukh Khan
There are few actors in the world that have achieved the level of superstardom that Shahrukh Khan has. The Indian actor, producer, and television personality has been referred to as the “King of Bollywood” and is one of the most commercially successful film stars in the world. Khan has appeared in over 80 Hindi films and has earned numerous awards, including 14 Filmfare Awards.
Khan began his career with appearances in several television serials in the late 1980s. He made his film debut with the 1992 blockbuster Deewana. Since then, he has gone on to star in some of Bollywood’s biggest hits, including Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham… (2001), and Chak De! India (2007). He has also starred in a number of international films, such as My Name Is Khan (2010) and Zero (2018).
In addition to his acting career, Khan is also a successful producer and television personality. He owns the production company Red Chillies Entertainment and is the host of the talk show Koffee with Karan. He is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and actively works to promote children’s rights.
See also; Top 10 richest Bollywood actors.
7. Salman Khan
Salman Khan is one of the most iconic Bollywood actors of all time. He has starred in some of the biggest Bollywood hits, and his films have grossed billions of dollars at the box office. Khan has also been a producer and director, and he has founded his own production company. He is one of the most popular and highest-paid actors in Bollywood, and he has a large fanbase both in India and abroad.
6. Anil Kapoor
Anil Kapoor is an Indian actor and producer who has appeared in many Bollywood films and television series. He is the son of film producer Surinder Kapoor and the elder brother of actor Sanjay Kapoor.
Kapoor began his career as a child actor in the 1970s and made his debut as a lead actor in the 1980 film Tu Payal Mein Geet. Since then, he has starred in numerous hit films including Mr. India, Beta, Taal, Pukar, Judaai, Dil Dhadakne Do, among many others. He has also won several awards for his performances, including two Filmfare Awards.
Kapoor has also produced several films under his production company Anil Kapoor Films Company. Some of his notable productions include No Problem, Aisha, Tezaab and Welcome Back. He has also served as a judge on reality television show Indian Idol and as a host on the game show Kaun Banega Crorepati.
See also; Top 10 most iconic Bollywood actresses.
5. Mithun Chakraborty
Mithun Chakraborty is a legendary Indian actor who has appeared in over 350 films in his career. He is best known for his roles in action and comedy films, but has also starred in drama, romance, and even art house films. He has won numerous awards throughout his career, including the National Film Award for Best Actor and the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Chakraborty first rose to prominence with his starring role in the 1984 film Purana Mandir. Since then, he has appeared in some of Bollywood’s most iconic films, including Sharaabi, Gunda, Jaal, Agneepath, and Mujhse Shaadi Karogi. He is also well-known for his work outside of Bollywood, having starred in Bengali and Hollywood films such as Guru and The Myth.
Throughout his long and illustrious career, Chakraborty has proven himself to be one of the most versatile and talented actors in the industry. He continues to wow audiences with his performances, both in India and abroad.
See also; Top 10 best dancers in the world.
4. Sanjay Dutt
Sanjay Dutt, who is often lovingly called as Sanju Baba by his fans, is one of the most popular and iconic Bollywood actors. He has been in the Hindi film industry for over three decades and has appeared in more than 100 films. Sanjay Dutt started his film career with Rocky (1981) and went on to star in some of the most successful films of the 1980s and 1990s such as Naam (1986), Sadak (1991) and Khalnayak (1993).
He has won several awards for his performances, including two Filmfare Awards. In recent years, Sanjay Dutt has starred in some hit films like Munna Bhai M.B.B.S (2003), Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006) and PK (2014).
See also; Top 10 hottest Bollywood actresses.
3. Rajesh Khanna
Rajesh Khanna was an Indian actor who is considered as one of the most iconic Bollywood actors of all time. He has appeared in over 150 films throughout his career. Rajesh Khanna has won several awards including the Filmfare Award for Best Actor and the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award. He has also been honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India.
2. Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan is one of the most prolific and successful actors in the history of Indian cinema. He has appeared in over 200 films in a career spanning over four decades. Bachchan has won numerous awards throughout his career, including four National Film Awards as Best Actor and two Filmfare Awards as Best Actor. He is also the recipient of the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award bestowed by the Government of India.
Bachchan’s career began as a supporting actor in several films before he landed his first lead role in the 1971 film Anand. The film was a critical and commercial success, and Bachchan’s performance earned him widespread acclaim. He followed this with a series of successful films including Zanjeer, Deewaar, Sholay, Amar Akbar Anthony and Coolie. In 1982, Bachchan took a brief hiatus from acting after suffering a near-fatal accident on the sets of Coolie. After making a comeback with Inquilaab in 1984, he went on to star in several hit films including Mard, Agneepath, Khuda Gawah and Hum.
Bachchan has also worked extensively as a playback singer and television host. He made his singing debut with the song “Mere Paas Aao” from Mrityudaata (1997). He has since sung songs for several other films including Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001), Baghban (2003) and more.
1. Dilip Kumar
Dilip Kumar is one of the most iconic Bollywood actors of all time. He has starred in some of the most popular and critically acclaimed Bollywood films of all time. He is also one of the most influential Bollywood actors of all time, having inspired numerous other actors and actresses.
Dilip Kumar was born in 1922 in Peshawar, British India (now Pakistan). He made his debut in 1944 with the film Jwar Bhata. He went on to star in many successful films throughout the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, cementing his status as a leading man in Hindi cinema. Some of his most notable films include Andaz (1949), Aan (1952), Leader (1964), and Ram Aur Shyam (1967). In the 1970s, Dilip Kumar took a hiatus from acting due to health reasons.
He made his comeback in 1981 with the film Kranti. He continued to act in films until 1998, when he announced his retirement from acting. Even though he has not appeared in any films since then, Dilip Kumar’s legacy as one of the greatest ever Hindi film actors remains intact.