Indian cinema@100: Bollywood's 20 best characters
Gabbar Singh, Sholay (1975): Before filming started, both Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan reportedly realised that Gabbar would be the most popular character of the movie and asked to play him. Happily, Amjad Khan got the role and his career-making performance as the evil, sadistic dacoit who shows no mercy is now legendary. He had the best dialogues – kitne aadmi the, tera kya hoga kaalia - and, with a little help of a belt-whip and shifting sleazy eyes, became part of Bollywood folklore. The success of Sholay, one of Bollywood's most seminal films, was in no small measure dependent on it's villain.
-
Gabbar Singh, Sholay (1975): Before filming started, both Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan reportedly realised that Gabbar would be the most popular character of the movie and asked to play him. Happily, Amjad Khan got the role and his career-making performance as the evil, sadistic dacoit who shows no mercy is now legendary. He had the best dialogues – kitne aadmi the, tera kya hoga kaalia - and, with a little help of a belt-whip and shifting sleazy eyes, became part of Bollywood folklore. The success of Sholay, one of Bollywood's most seminal films, was in no small measure dependent on it's villain.
-
Mogambo, Mr India (1987): Just like Amjad Khan and Gabbar Singh had done in Sholay, Amrish Puri's megalomaniac Mogambo stole the show from Anil Kapoor and Sridevi in Mr India. As the insane villain who's goal is to conquer India, Mogambo defeated Bollywood's first-ever superhero, maybe not on screen but certainly in pop culture lexicon. Mogambo khush hua, he said. Hail Mogambo!, we said.
-
Munnabhai, Munnabhai MBBS (2003), Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006): Sanjay Dutt's career was resurrected from character actor status back to leading man with the hit films starring him as a lovable gangster with a heart of gold. His “jaadu ki jhappi” became a byword and, with equally lovable sidekick Circuit riding in the sidecar of his motorbike, he set out to change the world as movie-goers knew it. He succeeded.
-
Sher Khan, Zanjeer (1973): Pran won many accolades for his performance as the Pathan mechanic Sher Khan, who plays the formidable foe of Inspector Vijay (played by Amitabh Bachchan) but later changes sides after praising his courage. The character of Sher Khan remains etched in our minds not only because of Pran's splendid performance but also for his unique look-- he sported a flowing red beard and equally flaming red hair with authentic Pathani clothes and an Afghani accent to match. The song he made famous, Yaari Hai Imaan, is now a Bollywood classic.
-
Langda Tyagi, Omkara (2006): Saif Ali Khan's iconic Landa Tyagi character helped him shed his lover boy image in Bollywood and proved to be a turning point in his career. Aamir Khan was reportedly interested in the role of the Ajay Devgn's muscle-flexing lieutenant, but Vishal Bhardwaj finally chose Saif who went onto win a Filmfare award for his portrayal.
-
Seeta/Geeta, Seeta Aur Geeta (1972): Hema Malini's double role as Seeta - the plucky girl raised in a poor neighbourhood who is separated from her poor little rich sister at birth and rescues her from the wiles of her cunning aunt - fetched her the only Filmfare award of her career. Hema's endearing portrayal of the roles put in shade Dilip Kumar's Ram Aur Shyam – the inspiration for Seeta Aur Geeta – as well as Sridevi's Chaalbaaz.
-
Vijay Deenanath Chauhan, Agneepath (2012): Of all the Amitabh Bachchan's Angry Young Man roles, none was angrier – though not so young – than Agneepath's fiery protagonist. He will forever be remembered for the famous dialogue: Vijay Dinanath Chauhan poora naam, baap ka naam Dinanath Chauhan, maa ka naam Suhasini Chauhan, gaon Mandwa, umar chhattis saal.
-
Baburao Ganpatrao Apte, Hera Pheri (2000): Paresh Rawal left us in splits as as Baburao Ganpatrao Apte - the perpetually confused landlord dragged into the hi-jinks of his tenants Raju (Akshay Kumar) and Shyam (Sunil Shetty). The role fetched Paresh Rawal the best comedian award at various events that year including the Filmfare Awards.
-
Anthony Gonsalves, Amar Akbar Anthony (1977): Amitabh Bachchan made a complete switch from his Angry Young Man mode as the endearing petty criminal, one of three brothers who get separated during childhood. The self-medication scene from the movie had the audience doubling over with laughter and Amitabh's performance fetched him the Filmfare Best Actor Award.
-
Devdas: Devdas (1936); Devdas (1955); Devdas (2002): Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's lovelorn, weak-willed, hard-drinking hero bent on self-destruction fired the imagination of filmmakers over the decades. Assamese director P C Barua was the first to adapt the Bengali author's masterpiece for the big screen starring K L Saigal. Dilip Kumar portrayed the pining lover to perfection in Bimal Roy's 1955 classic. Shah Rukh Khan was top notch as Devdas in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus (2002). In 2009, Anurag Kashyap gave it his own spin with Dev D starring Abhay Deol.
-
Rosie, Guide (1965): Waheeda Rehman created one of cinema's most moving and evocative characters with Rosie, a troubled dancer and neglected wife who leaves her husband for the charming Raju guide, played by Dev Anand. The role won her the Filmfare Best Actress Award that year.
-
Anand, Anand (1971): Of the many beloved roles that Rajesh Khanna played, perhaps none is etched into public consciousness more deeply than the terminally-ill but permanently cheerful cancer patient who teaches Amitabh Bachchan's young doctor – and, indeed, all of us – important life lessons with the lines: "Ae Babumoshai, zindagi aur maut uparwale ke haath hai. Usse na aap badal sakte hain na main" and "Anand mara nahin. Anand marte nahin".
-
Vijay, Don (1978): Amitabh Bachchan received tremendous adulation for his double role in the hit film which went on to be remade twice, both times starring Shah Rukh Khan. His famous dialogue from the film - Don ko pakadna mushkil hi nahin, naamumkin hai - is well known to every movie buff worth his salt.
-
Shahenshah, Shahenshah (1988): Another Amitabh Bachchan classic character, the vigilante Shahenshah is a police inspector by day and disguised crimefighter by night. Shahenshah also had a famous and oft-quoted dialogue: rishte mein to hum tumhare baap hote hain, naam hai Shahenshah.
-
Basanti, Sholay (1975): Tangewali Basanti, just one of Sholay's cast of unforgettable characters, endeared herself by being a lovable non-stop automatic verbal gun. This fesity buggy driver spoke so much that viewers had to gasp for breath on her behalf. Jai asked her in the movie, "Tumhara naam kya hai Basanti?." She didn't get it, but we did. Hema Malini's portrayal of Basanti remains a fan favourite and she is asked to speak Basanti's catchphrase – Chal Dhanno – wherever she goes.
-
Crimemaster Gogo, Andas Apna Apna (1994): Shakti Kapoor reached cult status in the world of comedy as Crimemaster Gogo in the comic caper starring Aamir and Salman Khan. His signature line in the movie Aankhen nikaal kar gotiyan khelunga became a popular dialogue among children.
-
Raj, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995): Before DDLJ, Shah Rukh Khan had played an obsessed lover in Darr, a clueless lover in Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, and a possessive lover in Anjaam. In DDLJ, he played Raj Malhotra, the ultimate lover, the romantic hero like no other, who wins over both the girl and her stern father.
