Bollywood stars with a global presence

Irrfan Khan is widely considered as one of the finest actors in Indian cinema for his versatile and natural acting talent. With a journey that started with television serials e.g. Chanakya, Bharat Ek Khoj among others, Khan came a long way establishing himself as one of the most talented actors in Bollywood by delivering numerous hits including Paan Singh Tomar (2011), The Lunchbox (2013), and Piku (2015).

Khan, who has won major film awards and accolades in India including IIFA, Filmfare, National Film Award and India's fourth highest civilian honour Padma Shri, went on to wow the global audience with his spectacular performance in The Warrior (2001), The Namesake (2007), Partition (2007), Slumdog Millionaire (2009), The Amazing Spider-Man (2012), Life of Pi (2012), Jurassic World (2015) and Inferno (2016) to name a few.

With an acting career spanning over more than 35 years, Anil Kapoor is undoutedly one of the most talented and versatile actors in Bollywood industry, and is often considered as the one who has defied all laws of ageing. Kapoor, who is still a heartthrob to many of his female fans, has not only acted in several Hindi films to date with a long list of blockbuster hits, but has also received multiple film awards for his performances in addition to a National Award for Best Actor for the film Pukar (2000).

Kapoor's first role in an international film was in the multiple Oscar winner Slumdog Millionaire (2009), for which he shared with his co-stars the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. He also appeared in the 8th season of the action series 24, that garnered rave reviews from the American press.

Om Puri is one powerhouse actor who needs no introduction in Bollywood or international cinema. With degrees from Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, and National School of Drama, New Delhi, Puri started his acting career in Hindi film industry with Godhuli (1977). But it was only 3 years later that Puri had his first success and gained foothold in Bollywood with the film Aakrosh (1980), which sought him the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award. He then went on to deliver several hit films that won him multiple accolades. He is probably the only Bollywood actor to date who received National Film Award for Best Actor in two consecutive years (for films Arohan (1982) and Ardh Satya) (1983). In addition to film awards, Puri was also awarded Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of India, and OBE (Order of the British Empire), the fourth higest civilian award of British Empire.

Apart from Indian films, Puri has worked in several international projects to date including Gandhi (1982), City of Joy (1992), Wolf (1994), The Ghost and the Darkness (1996), My Son the Fanatic (1997), Such a Long Journey (1998), East Is East (1999), The Mystic Masseur (2001), The Parole Officer (2001), Code 46 (2003), Charlie Wilson's War (2007), West Is West (2010), The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014), and Viceroy's House (2016).

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan stepped into the world of Bollywood after winning the Miss World beauty pageant 1994, and has since established herself as one the most popular and high-profile celebrities in India. Rai Bachchan (then known as Aishwarya Rai) made her acting debut with the Tamil film Iruvar (1997), followed by a few Hindi films. However, her major breakthrough came with the film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), which won her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. Since then, the model-turned-actress, often regarded as one of the most beautiful women on earth, has been a part of several high-profile releases, and has won several film awards. She was awarded Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2009 and Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the Government of France in 2012.

As far as international projects are concerned, Rai Bachchan played pivotal roles in Bride and Prejudice (2004), The Mistress of Spices (2005), Provoked (2007), The Last Legion (2007), and The Pink Panther 2 (2009). In 2003 she became the first Indian actress to be a jury member at the Cannes Film Festival. In the same year, she became a global brand ambassador of L'Oréal Paris, and has been attending the Cannes festival since as the cosmetics and beauty brand's spokesperson. In October 2004 a wax figure of Rai Bachchan was put on display in London's Madame Tussaud's wax museum, making her the second Bollywood celebrity, after her father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan, to receive this honour. In 2005, a tulip in the Netherlands was named "Aishwarya Rai" after her. Also in 2005, Mattel, the American multinational toy manufacturing company, released a limited edition of Barbie dolls of Aishwarya Rai in the United Kingdom. Rai Bachchan is the first Indian celebrity to have appeared in The Oprah Winfrey Show twice.

If a list is made of the most prominent, talented and versatile actors of all times in Bollywood, the list would not be complete without the name of Naseeruddin Shah. With an acting career spanning over 40 years, Shah has acted in multiple critically-acclaimed and award-winning films, and has won many awards and accolades for his powerhouse performance. He also won three National Film Awards for Sparsh (1979), Paar (1984), and Iqbal (2006). The Government of India has honoured him with the Padma Shri in 1987 and the Padma Bhushan in 2003 for his contributions to Indian cinema.

Apart from Indian cinema, Shah has also been a part of some international releases that include Such a Long Journey (1998), Monsoon Wedding (2001), The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003), The Great New Wonderful (2005), Valley of Flowers (2006), Today's Special (2009), and The Coffin Maker (2013).

With a career spanning more than four decades, Amitabh Bachchan is undoubtedly one of the greatest and most influential actors in the history of Indian cinema. Not only he introduced the "angry young man" image in Bollywood, he dominated the Hindi film industry with his acting prowess and baritone voice in 1970s and 1980s, so much so that the French director François Truffaut called him a "one-man industry. In addition to acting, Bachchan has wowed critics and audience alike with his skills as playback singer and television presenter. He has won many film awards to date, including 3 National Awards for Best Actor.

The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri in 1984, the Padma Bhushan in 2001 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2015 for his contributions to the arts. The Government of France honoured him with its highest civilian honour, Knight of the Legion of Honour, in 2007 for his exceptional career in the world of cinema and beyond. Bachchan made his Hollywood debut in 2013 with The Great Gatsby (2013). In June 2000, Bachchan, often considered as the superstar of the millennium, became the first living Asian to have been modeled in wax at London's Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.

Shah Rukh Khan, one of the most popular film and television personalities, is often referred to in the media as "Baadshah of Bollywood", "King of Bollywood" or "King Khan". Khan, who has a significant fan-following in Asia and the Indian diaspora worldwide, was once described by the Los Angeles Times as "the world's biggest movie star". In a career spanning over 25 years, Khan has delivered several blockbuster hits and have won numerous awards and accolades to date. He was also honoured with the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of India, for his contributions to film. Regarded as one of the richest actors in the world, Khan was feted with Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and the Légion d'honneur by the Government of France.

The actor-producer, who has regularly been featured as one of the 50 most desirable men in India and one of the most sexiest men in Asia, topped the Forbes India's "Celebrity 100 list" for 2012 and 2013. In 2007, Khan became the third Indian actor to have his wax statue installed at London's Madame Tussauds museum, after Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Amitabh Bachchan.

Anupam Kher is one versatile actor in the world of Hindi cinema, and has appeared in several hundred films and many plays to date. Kher rose to prominence at an age of 28 after portraying the character of a retired middle class Maharashtrian man grieving the loss of his young son in the award-winning film Saaransh (1984). Since then he has worked with almost all the major production houses in Bollywood and performed in various roles, that have earned him multiple film awards. Kher was also honoured with Padma Shri in 2004 by the Government of India, and won National Award for his performances in Daddy (1989) and Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara (2005).

As far as his international projects are concerned, Kher played pivotal roles in Bend It Like Beckham (2002), Banana Brothers (2003), Bride and Prejudice (2004), The Mistress of Spices (2005), The Other End of the Line (2008), You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (2010), Breakaway (2011), Silver Linings Playbook (2012), and a Chinese film Lust, Caution (2007).

A R Rahman is an Indian composer, whose works are noted for integrating Eastern classical music with electronic music, world music and traditional orchestral arrangements. Rahman started his career as a composer in the South Indian film industry, and had already won several awards as a music director for films like Roja (1992) and Bombay (1995) (later re-made in Hindi) before stepping into the Bollywood industry. He made his debut in Bollywood with composing music for Rangeela (2005), which made him a star overnight in the Hindi film industry. Since then, Rahman captivated the hearts of people across the nation with his enchanting music in several Bollywood films including Dil Se.. (1998), Taal (1999), Lagaan (2001), Rang De Basanti (2006), Guru (2007), and Highway (2014).

Rahman's first international project was composing music for a Chinese film Warriors of Heaven and Earth (2003). He then went on to composing music for a couple of more international releases - Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007) and Provoked (2007). However, his path-breaking success came with Slumdog Millionaire (2008), which won him 2 Oscars, 1 BAFTA, 1 Golden Globe Award, 2 Grammy Awards and several other international awards. His score for the song "Jai Ho" in particular gained him foothold in the international platform. After this, Rahman scored music for Couples Retreat (2009) which received BMI London Award for Best Score, 127 Hours (2010), People like Us (2012), Million Dollar Arm (2014), and The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014).

Priyanka Chopra came to the notice of Indian filmmakers soon after winning the Miss World 2000 pageant. She made her Bollywood debut with The Hero (2003) and went on to act in few films, however, she had her first commercial success with Aitraaz (2006) for which she won a Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role. After that she worked as a leading lady in multiple high-profile releases, and has won several awards. Her most notable films to date include Krrish (2006), Don (2006), Fashion (2008), 7 Khoon Maaf (2011), Barfi! (2012), Mary Kom (2014), Dil Dhadakne Do (2015), Bajirao Mastani (2015), and Jai Gangaajal (2015).

In July 2012, Chopra became the first Bollywood star signed by Creative Artists Agency, an LA-based entertainment and sports agency, for her album. Her first single, "In My City", debuted in the US on 13 September 2012, 12 hours after it debuted in India. The song featuring rapper will.i.am was apparently inspired by Chopra's unsettled childhood and her journey from a small-town girl to a celebrity. Although the song received mixed reviews from critics, and was a commercial success in India after having sold more than 130,000 copies in its first week and securing the top position of Hindi pop chart, it remained unsuccessful in the US with only 5,000 digital downloads in its first week, and did not receive radio play.

Chopra's major international success came with ABC Studios' thriller television series Quantico which made her the first South Asian to headline an American network thriller series. Chopra, who played an FBI recruit, Alex Parrish, in the series received rave reviews for her performance with comments like "strongest human asset" of the show and "charismatic and commanding". She received the People's Choice Award for "Favourite Actress In A New TV Series" for her role in the series, becoming the first South Asian actress to win a People's Choice Award. She is currently filming the second season of Quantico in the New York City and will also be seen in the action comedy film Baywatch (2017).