In 2023, cinema across all mediums has resurged as the ideal hub of escapism. If Hollywood recreations/adaptations like Wonka and Barbie emerged as hits, then nostalgia-driven content like Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani also reinvigorated Hindi cinema’s essence of sentimentality. This was also the time when rom-coms became central attractions again, whether it was Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty or Past Lives.
With nostalgia as once again a sellable commodity, there have also been films which are reminiscent of history, where we as humans have suffered greatly. Whether it is America’s Killers Of The Flower Moon or India’s 2018, some visually aesthetic masterpieces have chronicled chequered histories and celebrate human grit. This is even reflected in digital series like Trial By Fire and The Railway Men. In addition, superstars such as Sunny Deol, Shah Rukh Khan, John Abraham and Deepika Padukone (among others) made box office comebacks of sorts.
In comparison to last year, however, there have been a handful of contents that have been quite underwhelming. Nonetheless, this year, performances have certainly left an impact. Our ‘game-changing’ list aims to honour some of these portrayals, but not just to document or list all of them. Many factors are considered for the names shortlisted below and it has certainly been a challenge to finalise the names!
The criteria are not necessarily just focused on the ‘stardom’ of an actor, but how their roles have been distinct in their work and the general impact of their performances. The success of their titles, in some cases, has been supplementary factors. The names are listed in alphabetical order.
Adah SharmaÂ
Adah has done notable work in South Indian films in addition to other Hindi titles like Hasee Toh Phasee. Sharma portrays a student-turned-terrorist in the hard-hitting picture, The Kerala Story, (her) and the highest-grossing female-centric film yet. She exudes searing vulnerability through expressions and body language as she depicts some graphic scenes in the film. Shalini Unnikrishnan aka Fathima Ba is undoubtedly her most emotionally challenged character.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Aishwarya is a superstar who has achieved great heights of stardom and has chosen roles with a formidable spirit. Her performance in Ponniyin Selvan IIÂ is a career milestone by giving arguably the first negatively shaded lead Queen in an Indian period epic film. A convoluted role with vengeance, love and lust for power. Her other character in the movie is a positive one, her first mute role. Two shaded characters exceedingly performed.
Aparshakti Khurana
The role length has never been a concern in displaying Aparshakti’s acting chops, especially in major titles like Dangal and Stree. He has headlined Prime Video’s Jubilee, where he plays an ambitious actor and a silent observer of a corrupt retro film industry. Then in the movie Berlin, he portrays a sign-language expert who exposes corruption in the world of espionage. Two reticent roles that are nuanced and deftly portrayed.
Avinash Tiwary
Avinash left a memorable impact after Laila Majnu, an emotionally and (almost spiritually) complex character. In Amazon Prime Video’s series, Bambai Meri Jaan. Playing an underworld Don, he presents the role with great composure yet explodes in fierceness and aggression. Then in Disney+Hotstar’s series Kaala, he portrays a Bengali IB officer, in another refined yet earthy performance.
Barry KeoghanÂ
Barry is among Ireland’s top actors and he has experience in exploring dark shades. His work in Saltburn most certainly hits the ball out of the park. Playing an introverted Oxford University student with callous and sinister psychology, his character makes one feel repulsed yet pensive on class disparity. His piercing eyes and cool demeanour are what haunt the viewer. Keoghan delivers a milestone performance.
Barun Sobti
Barun, since his role in the TV series Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? has become a heartthrob. Over time, he has evolved as an artist, attracting widespread critical acclaim. Though he is no stranger to playing a cop, his role in Netflix’s Kohrra is perhaps his most complex yet. He is unknowingly comical, conflicted and yet loyal. These strands and how Sobti presents them exceed the length of his role as a supporting character.
Bobby Deol
Bobby has witnessed differing stages of success. The actor began in the 90s as a heartthrob and made his second innings in the series, Ashram. He completely alters that image in Animal, as it is rare to see a contemporary Bollywood baddie who is mute and so ferocious at the same time. Despite being a supporting role with limited screen time, Deol proves that powerful acting can have a long-lasting impact.
Bradley Cooper
Recipient of various accolades and among Hollywood’s most sought actors, Bradley is no stranger to playing real-life characters and The Elephant Man is one such example. But his depiction of legendary composer-conductor Leonard Bernstein in the Netflix biopic Maestro is poised through minimal prosthetics and a convincing portrayal which bears an uncanny resemblance with the real-life personality.
Cillian Murphy
Cillian Murphy has always impressed audiences with his acting chops. Be it as a villain in pictures like Red Eye, Nolan’s other works and other series such as Peaky Blinders. However, his most compelling performance is playing the titular character of Oppenheimer. Having lost significant weight to look the part, Murphy’s dedication to the role and conviction in acting is very much palpable.
Dimple Kapadia
Having often played characters which reflect the challenges of women, Dimple has been revolutionary in reclaiming the narrative around female actors above the age of 50. In the series Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo, she plays a gun-wielding headstrong matriarch of a rural drug cartel. Then her unique depiction of an espionage boss in Pathaan created a path-breaking opportunity for experienced actresses in Hindi movies.
Emma Stone
Emma has witnessed such a dynamic journey. From working in teen comedies to headlining villain-origin blockbuster, Cruella, her trajectory is terrific. Her performance in Poor Things is perhaps a natural progression to her calibre as an artist. She impresses as a young Victorian woman who, after being crudely resurrected by a scientist following her suicide, runs off with a passionate lawyer to embark on an odyssey of self-discovery and sexual liberation.
Gagan Dev Riar
Gagan Dev Riar is undoubtedly a fine discovery this year. Having years of experience portraying supporting characters, he finally takes centre stage in Sony LIV’s Scam 2003 – The Telgi Story. Playing a real-life stamp paper fraudster, he dedicated himself to adopting the correct accent as well as gaining weight. He surrenders to the role of a very dynamic representation of a biographical character in Hindi entertainment.
Greta Lee
During her earlier stints on series like Russian Dolls and The Morning Show. Her breakthrough is in this year’s acclaimed romance film, Past Lives. The role, which has already resulted in her winning several awards, sees her portraying a woman who reconnects with her childhood friend from Korea. Her fusion of American and Korean cultures is a refreshing depiction of American cinema.
Halle Bailey
Halle has always been a musical sensation and then several supporting parts as an actor. Playing Aerial in Disney’s live-action reboot, The Little Mermaid was a breakthrough as her first lead role. Here, she plays a Mermaid princess who rebels for independence and love. Then in The Color Purple, she adapts the novel character Nettie, a young girl who fights patriarchy and loses innocence at a young age. Two very effective and milestone characters.
Kareena Kapoor Khan
Hindi cinema’s superstar Kareena plays a single mother who gets caught up in a murky world of crime in two titles distinct titles. In Netflix’s Jaane Jaan, she plays a cafeteria worker. In The Buckingham Murders, she is a cop who investigates a missing boy in Britain. Both characters are gritty, emotionally challenged and mysterious yet bold choices for a star of such calibre, hence delivering sensational performances.
Karishma TannaÂ
After years of reputable work on Indian television, Karishma always displayed a strong presence. However, her performance in Netflix’s Scoop has certainly been a career highlight especially since it is inspired by a real-life story. She plays a crime reporter accused of infighting a mafia don to kill an underworld reporter. Tanna brings confidence yet vulnerability to her role and her first venture playing a real-life character.
Kay Kay Menon
Several times, we have seen Kay Kay portray negative or ethically challenged roles. However, two back-to-back ventures this year see him as an experienced figure battling internal conflicts. He plays a former cop and father of a gangster in Amazon Prime Video’s Bambai Meri Jaan. In Netflix’s The Railway Men, he portrays a station master who selflessly saves the lives of people during the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy.
Kiara AdvaniÂ
Kiara has been quite a trailblazer in breaking through commercial barriers. Many of her popular titles subtly address social issues, but nothing is perhaps as sensitive as her role in Satyaprem Ki Katha. Here, she portrays a sexual assault survivor who fights her trauma and fearlessly converses with her family about it. The character is puissant and important for modern societal discourses.
Leonardo Di Caprio
Leonardo is undoubtedly a tremendous talent in Hollywood, who needs no introduction. Though his roles usually have a stylish appeal, quite often have a ‘cunning’ or greyish strand to them and are known for biographical and period films. However, his most morally complex performance is in Killers Of The Flower Moon, where he plays the nephew of Osage murderer William King Hale.
Mammootty
Malayalam icon Mammootty is celebrated not only for his popular work but also for his ability to bridge the crossover between commercial and experimental cinema. At this stage of his career, he sensitively portrays the role of a homosexual politician who grapples with a broken marriage amidst the elections in Kaathal – The Core. A courageous role which destigmatises social stereotypes, especially of senior males in Kerala.
Manoj BajpayeeÂ
Award-winning actor Manoj Bajpayee has a naturalistic and authentic flair as an artist. This year, he humanises the grit and bravery of ordinary heroes. Whether it is as a lawyer avenging the sexual assault of a minor in ZEE5 Global’s Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, a tribal labourer protecting his baby from bloodshed and a gloomy past in Joram or an emotionally suppressed and complex character in Gulmohar.
Margot Robbie
Since her first gig in Neighbours, Margot Robbie has extensively evolved to rank among Hollywood’s top-ranked actresses. Having played legendary, larger-than-life characters before, Robbie stirs nostalgia and debunks regressive allusions to Barbie, as the titular role. She effervescently presents a doll’s emotionally taxing journey from a candy-floss dreamland to a harsh reality. A socially relevant and very rare portrayal.
Mia-McKenna Bruce
Mia has been working in the industry since a young age, with reputable titles like Tracy Beaker Returns and Netflix’s Persuasion to her credit. Her breakthrough happened with the drama How To Have Sex. The character, a 16-year-old, feels pressurised to match her friends’ sexual experiences. Dealing with the definitions of consent, she portrays fragility and vulnerability through her role.
Mohit Agarwal
Mohit has been a discovery this year. Having worked in shorts and briefly TV series like Choona, his breakthrough is with Agra. The movie pushes the envelope in terms of its treatment of sexual repression in addition to themes like domestic violence. Agarwal too plays an emotionally and mentally challenged character who does not shy away from nudity. An avant-garde performance.
Neeru Bajwa
Neeru is a superstar and is creating a rich legacy not only as an actor but producer too. Bajwa’s portrayal of a mentally traumatised teacher and sexual harassment survivor in her production Kali Jotta is soul-stirring and eye-opening. One of the most formidable feminist representations in Punjabi cinema. Another solid role she presents in her Hollywood horror debut It Lives Inside, is a spiritual mother who supports her daughter in defeating a demon.
Nimra Bucha
The reputable star from Pakistan, Nimra Bucha is a fascinating artist. She challenges the stereotype of a South Asian mother in Polite Society, a pantomime-like antagonist who also performs martial arts. Then in The Queen Of My Dreams, she plays a mother who comes to terms with her daughter’s homosexuality. Two maternal characters that have an emotional backdrop, of differing styles and yet layer in their approach.
Pankaj Tripathi
National Film Award-winner Pankaj Tripathi is always dedicated to his craft and it is heartening to see him now headline pictures as the lead. In OMG 2, he sensitively depicts a Lord Shiva devotee who champions sex education after his son is bullied. Contrastingly in ZEE5 Global’s series Kadak Singh is a financial crime agent who grapples with retrograde amnesia. With each role, Tripathi encompasses an authentic voice of contemporary Indian men.
Priya Kansara
Priya made an admirable debut in Netflix’s Bridgerton. Her breakthrough occurs this year in Polite Society, where she shatters the glass ceiling by playing the first lead British Asian actress to execute martial arts in a commercial movie. A very wholesome role which sees Kansara fight against patriarchy and societal stereotypes in an action-oriented and comical format. We even see her perform a dance number with great confidence and grace.
Radhika Madan
Radhika Madan has been an artist who has never adhered to archetypes. Her two roles in Sanaa and Sajni Shinde Ka Viral Video represent the psychological pressures and psyches of women across contrasting socioeconomic backgrounds. Both highlight the importance of mental health. Then in Disney+Hotstar’s Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo, she portrays a ruthless drug peddler. Versatile shades of feminism are depicted effortlessly.
Rajshri Deshpande
Every performance of Rajshri is earthy and yet socially relevant, with certain ones being quite chequered. Netflix’s Trial By Fire showcases a tremendous jump in her craft. Playing a mother who pursues justice for their children’s death in fire negligence at a cinema. Her natural performance is her career’s most physically and emotionally taxing one yet and she embraced it fully.
Ramesha Nawal
Ramesha faces the camera for the first time in Pakistan’s 2023-entrant, In Flames and she delivers a very impressive performance. In the movie, she essays a young woman who becomes haunted by visions of the dead returning to life after the death of her family’s patriarch leaving her and her mother in a vulnerable social position in Pakistan’s highly patriarchal society. A complex depiction performed competently.
Ranbir Kapoor
Ranbir has often portrayed commercial roles, but many of them explore internal/external conflicts of what the character and society feel. His work in Animal, however, is Hindi cinema’s most repulsive lead character ever, yet so layered. The role is essentially a broken man with childhood trauma, that is masked through aggressiveness, extreme violence and toxic masculinity. A disturbing representation that truly pushes the boundaries.
Rani Mukerji
Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway is based on a real-life mother who fights a country to gain the custody of her children. Headlined by Rani Mukerji, she disassociates from her megastardom and moulds into a vulnerable yet unwavering woman. Given that the film itself is not conventionally mainstream, Mukerji bridges the gap between social storytelling yet with commercial appeal. Inspirational for other A-listers to take risks and portray tough stories.
Robert Downey Jr
For many years now, despite some magnificent work, Robert Downey Jr has worked in front of the green screen due to playing Iron Man. This has changed now after Oppenheimer. Essaying his most morally complex role of a real-life businessman turned government official, his portrayal is internalised and naturalistic. His gripping body language and expressions are sufficient to keep your eyes fixed on him. A milestone, for sure.
Saiyami Kher
Through Ghoomer, Saiyam has delivered her career’s most emotionally-heavy performance. In the movie, she plays a batting prodigy who loses her right hand in a freak accident. She, however, is trained by an unsympathetic, failed test cricketer who turns her fate as a bowler instead. This character is a rare portrayal of physically challenged female cricketers in Indian cinema. A unique cinematic representation of women in sports.
Sandra Hüller
The celebrated actress from Germany is a magnificent talent who immerses herself in every character. This year, she has featured in two contrasting yet grey-shaded roles, both critically acclaimed. In the Cannes winner The Zone of Interest, she portrays a Nazi wife and in Anatomy Of A Fall, she portrays a woman accused of murder. Two popular roles which emphasise ‘flawed’ lead representations in cinema.
Samyuktha
Samyuktha has done a few films in Telugu and has become a rising star in the industry. Her breakthrough has happened with Virupaksha, which sees her play a vengeful woman and black magic practitioner. Her shift in body language and expressions from initially an unassuming girl is terrifyingly excellent. She steals the show with some impressive acting chops in a film headlined by a major male star.
Shabana Azmi
In Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, Shabana Azmi portrays a heartbroken lover with layers of infidelity, domestic violence, loneliness and incompleteness. It is rare in Indian cinema to see legendary artists like Azmi portray characters that are not restricted by age boundaries. Even in Ghoomer, though she essays a grandmother, her approach to life is positive and progressive. A subtle but revolutionary representation that is inspirational.
Suvinder Vicky
Suvinder is a terrific talent who has silently worked in some impressive roles in titles like Udta Panjab and Meel Patthar. With years of experience, his breakthrough happened with the Netflix series Kohrra. Here, he plays a cop who investigates the mysterious death of an NRI. It is a very poised performance of a man who is conflicted by his past and trying to strive for the good. He carries the character with such intrigue and command.
Tota Roy Chowdhury
An acting gem in Bengali cinema, Tota Roy Chowdhury has a naturalistic approach to his acting craft. His emotional and progressive performance in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani is perhaps one of the most sentimental highlights of this year. Playing a professional Kathak dancer, it is rare to see a commercial Hindi film which celebrates Hindustani classical dancing from a male perspective, debunking ‘masculine’ stereotypes.
Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju
It is rare to see transgender actors portray a character that is of that sexuality on screen or even get a prominent screen space in Indian space. Through Prime Video’s Made In Heaven season 2, she is the first trans woman to play a main character in an Indian web series. In the reformist role of a wedding planner, she offers a positive insight into how the community can rise beyond marginalisation, despite societal hurdles. Truly inspiring.
Vicky Kaushal
Vicky Kaushal has grown exponentially as an actor since his debut. This year, Vicky has undertaken roles which showcase the aspirations of Indian men across various periods and mindscapes. In Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, he plays a yoga instructor who aspires to a home with his wife. Then in Sam Bahadur, Kaushal plays India’s first field marshal and arguably one of the first-ever Indian representations of a Parsi army personnel.
Vikrant Massey
Vikrant has done diverse work across various styles and genres and his lead in the biographical film 12th Fail is a prominent breakthrough. He portrays an Indian Police Services officer who fought his way through extreme poverty. It is infrequent to see a real, raw representation of the Indian educational system. Massey represents the voice of unsung champions who strive beyond socio-economic suppression for a better life.
On the whole, many of the game-changers listed here have mastered the art of presenting internal conflicts, addressing social stereotypes or highlighting a lesser-known story of suffering and trauma.
We, of course, cannot forget some other exceptional performances of actors like Triptii Dimri, Saurabh Sachdeva, Natalie Portman, Kritika Kamra, Babil Khan, Kapil Sharma, Kajol, Kangana Ranaut, Paul Giamatti, Smita Tambe, Mona Singh, Lily Gladstone, Wamiqa Gabbi, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Jaideep Ahlawat, Tovino Thomas, Sushmita Sen, Rakshit Shetty and Charles Melton.
