This year the audience got to see some of the most exceptional and phenomenal performances. While the viewers appreciated the protagonists, they fell in love with the antagonist more. From Emraan Hashmi in Tiger 3 to Jaideep Ahlawat in Jaane Jaan, this year we have seen a vast range of villains in Indian cinema. Be it the web series or the movies, the antagonist has won over.
Nine Bollywood actors distinguished themselves in a year filled with amazing talent and compelling stories by playing infamous characters in web series and motion pictures. In 2023, these actors gave riveting performances that gave storytelling in movies and web series a fresh perspective.
Top 9 villains of the year:
9. Gulshan Devaiah – Guns and Gulaabs:
In “Guns and Gulaabs,” Gulshan Devaiah portrayed Chat Cut Aatmaram, one of the most notorious and eccentric characters in both Hindi cinema and his career. Even though he played a cruel and evil character, he kept audiences laughing with his sharp one-liners, lighthearted conversations, and distinctive on-screen look. Both reviewers and viewers praised his performance, which prompted calls for a spinoff featuring his character.
8. Kritika Kamra – Bambai Meri Jaan:
Kritika Kamra played the difficult part of Habiba in “Bambai Meri Jaan,” which was a big change from her typical innocent on-screen persona. The gifted actress gave an excellent performance as a female gangster who was somewhat modelled after Haseena Parkar. Her portrayal of the female gangster was well-received by critics and viewers alike, garnering her positive reviews.
7. Vijay Varma – Dahaad:
With “Dahaad,” Vijay Varma—who is renowned for his deft character embodiment—added yet another feather to his cap. His portrayal of a psychotic serial killer in the series made him known as one of the notorious characters on screen even though he continued to give outstanding performances over the years. Varma’s powerful portrayal demonstrated his ability to realistically depict a person who is preying on targets and moving quickly toward his ultimate objectives.
6. Emraan Hashmi – Tiger 3:
Emraan Hashmi, a popular Bollywood romantic hero who is sometimes referred to as the “serial kisser” in Hindi cinema, proved his versatility in the popular movie “Tiger 3.” As the adversary Aatish Rehman, a character from Pakistani intelligence, Hashmi stunned his fans by playing the part deftly. He proved that he is not constrained to a particular on-screen character by his ability to fully inhabit any role that is presented to him.
5. Jaideep Ahlawat – Jaane Jaan:
Reiterating his extraordinary acting prowess, Jaideep is recognized as one of the best actors in Indian cinema. Ahlawat, who is well-known for constantly setting high standards in all of his roles, demonstrated his mastery at embodying complex characters in the movie with his portrayal of a teacher. The character he played was innocently notorious, despite the grey areas in his on-screen persona. This made viewers want to have someone like that in their own lives, someone who could support them through tough times. Both critics and viewers praised and loved his performance equally.
4. Tahir Raj Bhasin – Sultan of Delhi:
Tahir Raj Bhasin finally breaks the quiet in Milan Luthria’s gangster drama series “Sultan of Delhi.” Entertainer Tahir Raj Bhasin enthrals the audience with his captivating performance as the aspirational and astute Arjun Bhatia. His portrayal of Arjun will make the audience feel both pity and love, demonstrating the actor’s range. Later in the series, Tahir’s portrayal of the character’s vicious side cemented his status as a scene-stealer, and his commanding screen presence became an even more noteworthy feature.
3. Anil Kapoor – The Night Manager:
Anil Kapoor‘s riveting performance in the hit adaptation “The Night Manager” steals the show. He continues to be the main character, playing a dapper adversary who skillfully traverses the world of destruction and conflict while retaining a distinct charm and understated sophistication. Kapoor, who plays the character’s hidden hate so expertly, takes a subtle approach that suggests the villain’s true motivations.
2. Venkatesh Daggubati – Raina Nadu:
When Venkatesh Daggubati plays Naga Naidu in the action thriller family drama web series Rana Naidu, he strays from his typical feel-good and family-oriented roles in Telugu cinema. Venkatesh embraces his wild side and gives a lively performance as the father of his real-life nephew Rana Daggubati, in contrast to the wholesome roles he’s known for. He expertly captures the erratic and expressive nature of the character on screen as a flamboyant, foul-mouthed, reckless womanizer with a questionable past.
1. Ameya Wagh – Kaala Paani:
In the survival drama Kaala Pani, Ameya Wagh portrays a shrewd character determined to get out of any difficult situation. He excels in the role of Ketan Kamat. While Wagh’s portrayal is entertaining and utterly evil, there are moments when Ketan’s underlying goodness is revealed, it is always eclipsed by his dedication to his evil nature.
