Weekend

On the first weekend of year 2019, my hatke topic is  about the 10 most successful actors of  Bollywood. You can also say that the actors who also became stars and their movies  were successful at the box office and they had a huge fan following

1.  At no. 10 position it is tie between Mithun Chakravorty and Akshay Kumar.  Mithun started his career in  1976 and he won the National award for best actor in his 1st film Mrigayya. He has acted in 100s of films during his career of more than 5 decades and still active on silver screen. Some of his notable films are Disco Dancer, Pyar Jhukta Nahin, Ghulami, Dance Dance, Jeete Hain Shaan Se, Pyar Ka Mandir, Illaka, Prem Pratigya , Agnnepath, Jallad and Yamraj.   Akshay started his career in 1991 with movie called Saughandh. His famous movies are Mohra, Main Khiladi Tu Anari, all the movies of Khiladi series, Ajnabi, Garam Masala, Dil To Paagal Hai, Insaaf, Hera Pheri, Dhadkan, Khakee, Singh is King, Rustom, Baby, Airlift, Padman, Toilet-Ek Premkatha etc. Both Mithun & Akshay have won National as well as filmfare awards.
2. At no 9 position is Dharmendra– he started his career in 1960 film Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere, he hust have acted in more than 200 films in his 6 decade career. His notable films are Sh0la Aur Shabnam, Bandini, Devar, Anupama, Satyakam,Phool aur Pathar, Chupke Chupke, Mera Naam Joker, Shikaar, Aadmi Aur Insaan, Haqeekat, Jeevan mrityu, Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Ankhen, Yaadon Ki Baraat, Charas, Dharamveer, The burning Train, Naukar Biwi Ka, Ghulami, Farishtay, Johnny Gadaar, Yamla Pagla Deewana, etc. he hardly won any awards, but during his hay days he was the most bankable actor/star and he was the only star/actor who was not affected by Rajesh Khanna wave of 70s.
3. At no 8 postion it is tie between  Dev Anand & Raj Kapoor.    Dev started his career in 1946 in a film called Hum Ek Hain. He was active till early 2010s till his death. His career spanned over 6 decades. In the  early 50s he turned producer and in 70s he turned director. His other notable films as actor are Ziddi, Afsar, Jaal, Taxi Driver, CID,Munimji, Paying Guest, Kala Pani, Kala Bazaar, Guide, Tere Ghar ke Samne, Jewel Thief, Des Pardes , Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Tere Mere Sapne, Des Pardes, Amir Garib, and many more. He won many film and national award. Raj Kapoor started his career in 1946/47 film Neel Kamal. in 1948 he turned producer/director with Aag and in 1951 with Awara he turned studio owner also. His notable films as actor are Andaz, Barsaat, Bawre Nain, Aah, Shree 420, Jagte Raho, Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai, Anari, Phir Subah Hogi, Dil Hi To Hai, Sangam, Mera Naam Joker, Abdullah. He died in 1988 at young age of 63.. Raj Kapoor was brilliant director and was also known as Showman of Bollywood .Both Dev and Raj have won national as well as many filmfare awards
4. At no 7 position is Anil Kapoor. His first film as lead actor was Woh 7 din in 1983. His other notable films are Mashaal,Andar Baahar, Saheb, Chameli Ki Shaadi, Karma, Meri Jung, Mr India, Tezaab, Ram Lakhan, Eeshwar, Parinda, Lamhe, Beta,Laadla, 1942 a Love Story, Judaai, Virasat, Pukar, Taal, Nayak, No entry Race(series), Slumdog Millionaire and Dil Dhakne Do. He is more than 60 years old and still active He has won national award and many filmfare awards.
5. At no 6 position is Salmaan Khan.  As a lead actor he started his career with Maine Pyar Kiya  in 1989. His other notable films are Baaghi, Pathar Ke Phool, Saajan, Andaz Apna Apna, Karan Arjun, Khamoshi-the musical, Judwaa, Pyar Kiya to Darna Kya, Biwi no 1, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Hum Saath Saath Hain, Tere Naam, Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya, No Entry, Partner,Wanted,Dabaang (1 &2) Ready, Bodyguard, Ek Tha Tiger,Kick, Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo and Sultan.  He has not won any major awards, most dependable star with huge fan following.
6. At no 5 position is Shah Rukh Khan. As lead actor he started his journey in 1992 with  Dil Aashna Hai & Deewana . His other notable movies are  Raju Ban Gaya Genleman, Baazigar,Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Pardes, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Josh, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Devdas,Veer Zaara, Swades,Chak De India, Om Shanti Om, Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Chennai Express and Raees. He has won many filmfare awards, but no national award.
7. At no 4 position is Aamir Khan ,  although he started as child artist, his first major break as leading man was in 1988 film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. It has been said in Bollywood that he has become perfectionist and for last more than 15 years, once he signs the film as an actor, he get involves in all aspect of film making including promotions before release. His other note worthy films  are  Dil, Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin, Jo jeeta Wohi Sikandar, Hum Hai Raahi Pyar Ke, Andaz Apna Apna, Rangeela, Raja Hindustani, Ishq, Ghulam, Sarfarosh Lagaan, Dil Chahta Hai,Fanaa, Rand De Basanti,Tare Zameen Par, Ghajini, 3 Idiots,  Talaash,Dhoom 3, PK, Dangal, Secret Supertstar. he turned producer with Lagaan and director with Tare Zameen Par. He has won many national  and filmfare awards.
8. At no 3 is Rajesh Khanna. He is the first Super Star of Bollywood, it has been said that no actor/star has ever matched his popularity and craze. He started his career as leading man in 1966 with Raaz and Aakhri Khat. It was in year 1969 when he took the nation by storm with films like Ittefaq, Aradhana and Do Raaste, and he ruled the Bollywood till mid 70s. His other notable films were Khamoshi, Sachcha Jhootha, Safar, Kati Patang, Anand, Andaz, Haathi Mere Saathi, Dushman,Amar Prem, Bawarchi, Anuraag, Raja Rani, Daag,Namak Haram, Aavishkar, Prem Nagar, Aap Ki Kasam, Roti,Prem Kahani,Anurodh,Thodisi Bewafai,Kudrat,Souten, Avtaar, Agar Tum Na Hote, Aakhir Kyon, Amrit and Swarg. He has won national and  many filmfare awards.
9. At no 2 is Amitabh Bachchan. He started his career as actor in Saat Hindustani in 1969/70. But his first commercial break was in Anand with Rajesh Khanna. His career can be divided into 2 phases from 1970 to 1992, and from 2000 onwards. His notable films in first phase are Bombay to Goa,Namak Haram, Zanjeer, Abhimaan,Deewar,Chupke Chupke, Sholay, Hera Pheri, Kabhi Kabhi, Amar Akbar Anthony Khoon Pasina, Don,Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Kala Patthar, Shaan, Dostana, Silsila, Namak Halaal, Shakti, Aakhri Raasta, Shahenshah, Agneepath , Hum and Khuda Gawah. In the second phase post 2000 he generally acted as character artist with major role in the movie, some of his notable films of this phase are Mohabbatein, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Baghban, Dev, Khakee, Black, Sarkar (1, 2 &3), Cheeni Kum, Paa, Piku, Pink and 102 not out. Some of his better performances came in 2nd phase. he has won many national & filmfare awards.
10. No 1 on this list is  Dilip Kumar, he was also known as Tragedy King because of  tragic role he used to portray. At one stage he had to take the help of Psychiatrist because playing tragic role on screen started affecting his personal life, and he was advised to play comedy and lighter role also. He started his career as leading actor in 1944 film Jwar Bhata. his career also can be described in 2 phases, first till mid 70s, and second from 80s to 90s. In the career spanning about 5 and half decades, he has acted only in 62 films. He was the first perfectionist of Bollywood, who took overall interest in his films. His notable films of 1st phase are Milan, Jugnu, Shaheed, Mela,Andaz, Babul, Tarana, Deedar, Daag, Aan, Amar, Azaad, Udan Khatola, Devdas, Naya Daur,Yahudi, Madhumati,Mughal e Azam, Kohinoor, gunga Jamuna, Leader, Ram Aur Shyam, Sunghursh, Aadmi, Gopi and Bairaag. 2nd phase notable films are Kranti, Vidhata, Shakti, Mazdoor, Mashaal, Karma, Izzatdaar, Saudagar & Qila. He has won national & many filmfare awards. He was also conferred highest Pakistani civilian award known as Nishan-e-Pakistan.

Friends, I hope you must have enjoyed going thru the list with experiencing some nostalgia, and mind you this list is not about the pure actors.  Some of the actor/star who have not made the cut in top 10 are Hrithik Roshan, Ashok Kumar , Shammi Kapoor , Rajendra Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Jeetendra although their movies are/were very successful. Some time in future I might write on top 10 pure actors of Bollywood.

Waiting for your views/feed backs/comments.

Anil Malik

Mumbai, India

4th Jan 2019