How they played the film game

Movie making is not just about delivering hits. It’s also about using the power that those hits bring, to generate a change in the audiences perceptions. Here’s a salute to the ones who made a difference this year.

Ayushmann Khurrana: A finger on viewers’ pulse
With two back-to-back hits in Andhadhun and Badhaai Ho, Ayushmann proved that he is an incredibly astute selector. Rather than aim for superstardom, he aimed at forming a deep connect with India’s working class. 
The actor doesn’t sell dreams. He creates spaces on screen where dreams get breathing space. With refreshing lack of vanity the real hero of Badhaai Ho was Gajraj Rao and a solid grip over the pulse of the middle-class, Ayushmann has proved that he’s here for the long haul.

Alia Bhatt: Endearingly enterprising 
While Deepika Padukone could do nothing to take her superstardom ahead with Padmaavat, Alia Bhatt continues to display a startling enterprising spirit. She was seen in just one film this year. Raazi featured her in the difficult role of an Indian spy who marries a Pakistani to infiltrate into defence secrets. Alia made it look not only believable but also admirable. She will next be seen playing a rapper in Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boy. Is she a game changer? Yes.

Radhika Apte: Here, Dare, Everywhere
During 2018 you could say, this was an actress who was seen here, dare, everywhere. Daringly prolific, she, hopped, skipped and frolicked, both through  the big screen (Padman, Baazaar) and small screen (Sacred Games, Ghoul) without missing a beat. Forever breaking the glass ceiling, overwork only makes Apte more apt at her craft.  

Rajkummar Rao: Not afraid to let down his guard
From the scarily argumentative sociopathic terror kingpin in Omerta to the silly satirical spook spree in Stree, Rajkummar Rao is an actor not afraid to let down his guard and look utterly idiotic on screen. The more un-heroic he is, the more he enjoys it. We like.

Ranveer Singh: On his way Up
Finally, the actor with the boundless energy started his 
year with a blockbuster Padmaavat and has now ended the year with another blockbuster Simmba.  With Deepika Padukone now his wife, Ranveer Singh’s career has only one way to go. Up.

Sonam Kapoor Ahuja: Made her own place
Padman, Veere Di Wedding, and, marriage all in a single year. Sonam disproves the long-standing myth that chic beauties are shallow, frivolous creatures. In spite of being Bollywood’s in-house fashionista Sonam has achieved everything there is to achieve without falling back on her father’s name. In 2019 she will be seen with dad Anil Kapoor for the first time on screen. Please note, that’s only after she has made her place in the industry. Nepotism, be damned!

Yash: Conquering the Hindi heartland
Kannada superstar has conquered the Hindi belt with his dubbed version of KGF. North Indian audiences are clapping, cheering, whistling at the antics of an actor whom they didn’t know until a week ago. Now, we hear Yash’s earlier Kannnada films are ready to be dubbed into Hindi. Game changer, indeed.