Greatness comes from influencing people. The greatest names are those that are looked up to. They’re worshipped, they’re the benchmark for excellence and they affect pop culture directly. In India, actors and actresses are nothing short of gods and goddesses. Their prominence is governed by the millions of followers looking up to them. Twitter followers, Facebook subscribers, real-life stalkers all add up to make an actor’s fandom. Filmfare takes the audacious step of trying to quantify that madness. And what better way than conducting a poll? The idea was to find out who the readers think is the country’s Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Director. There were other categories too. In our effort to find out the best, survey forms were readied and colleges, cafes and cinemas were raided. No just that, questionnaires were sent to people across the country and they were asked to pick their favourites in 13 different categories. Some of the results were obvious, some surprised us and some simply shocked us. The poll indicates that Deepika Padukone has become a wonder woman. She’s the only star to top two categories. The Best Actor category throws up surprises too. While Amitabh Bahchcan proves yet again why he’s the greatest, Ranbir Kapoor touches the likes of Aamir Khan in popularity. Read on to see who’s hot and who’s not…
Best Actress
Deepika Padukone - 44.8%
From being just a beautiful face in 2007 to being an actress to reckon with in 2015, Deepika Padukone has come a long way. Her dream run started with Cocktail and the purple patch only got deeper with films like Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela, Chennai Express and Finding Fanny. Her skyrocketing popularity has made her one of the most recognised faces in the world too. Any wonder then she was offered a major role in the seventh edition of the hit Hollywood franchise, Fast and Furious. With Piku, Deepika’s game has gotten stronger than ever. Standing out in a movie opposite stalwarts like Amitabh Bachchan and Irrfan is no easy feat. Hail the queen!
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Priyanka Chopra 19.2%
Kangana Ranaut 15.5%
Vidya Balan 8.6%
Kareena Kapoor
Khan 5.1%
Others 6.8%
Best Actor
Amitabh Bachchan - 29.3%
What do you say about an actor who has done over 180 films and is still as fresh as a newcomer? What do you say about an actor who’s been in the business since 40 years but hasn’t jaded one bit? What do you say about a 72-year-old who can give all the young Turks a run for their money even today? Amitabh Bachchan is an actor whose performances in films like Deewaar, Don, Amar Akbar Anthony, Agneepath, Black, Paa and Piku are case studies for film students! He’s also the most charismatic television host India has ever seen. He’s the most followed person on social media and has won three National Awards and 14 Filmfare Awards! No wonder he triumphs over everybody to top this category.
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Shah rukh khan 22%
Ranbir Kapoor 17%
Aamir Khan 13%
Salman Khan 11.9%
Others 6.8%
Superstar of Tomorrow (Female)
Alia Bhatt - 70%
At 22, Alia Bhatt has the world at her feet. With blockbusters and big endorsement deals in her kitty, the spunky actress has made a mark for herself in just three years. Kids and adults both have taken to her. So much that her gaffes only make her more adorable. On Instagram, she’s the most popular Indian celebrity. With over two million followers, she gets more double taps on a picture than any other Indian actor. Her next few films, Shaandar, Udta Punjab and Kapoor And Sons have already become hot properties in the trade circle.
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Parineeti Chopra 13.8%
Shraddha Kapoor 9.4%
Nargis Fakhri 3%
Jacqueline Fernandez 1.9%
Others 1.9%
Superstar of Tomorrow (Male)
Varun Dhawan - 34.5%
He can sing and dance, he can romance beautiful women and he can fight 20 goons at the same time… Varun Dhawan is a true blue Hindi film hero. Add good looks, fine acting chops and a hot body and you’ll know why the country believes he’s the next superstar. Student of the Year, Main Tera Hero and Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania made him the favourite of GenNext but it is Badlapur, which has given him an edge over his contemporaries. His star power drove the film to a fantastic opening and his performance became the talk of the town.
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Arjun Kapoor 20.7%
Sidharth Malhotra 17.2%
Sushant Singh Rajput 12.1%
Ayushmann Khurrana 8.6%
Others 6.9%
Best On-screen Pair
Srk-Kajol - 36.2%"
Mention onscreen chemistry to any person and chances are a majority will start gushing about Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. It’s been over two decades since the two first came together but their pairing remains smoking hot till date. Each time the two come together in a film, the box-office explodes. Their chemistry is one of the reasons behind Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’s historic run. Come December, SRK and Kajol are ready for yet another box-office juggernaut. Rohit Shetty reunites the timeless couple in his next film, Dilwale. We can’t wait for this one.
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Ranbir Kapoor - Deepika Padukone 32.8%
Ranveer Singh - Deepika Padukone 17.2%
Hrithik Roshan - Aishwarya Rai Bachchan 6.9%
Ranveer Singh - Anushka Sharma 5.1%
Others 1%
Best Off-screen Couple
Saif Ali Khan - Kareena Kapoor Khan - 29.3%
He’s a nawab and she’s Bollywood royalty. Together, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan make for the most glamorous couple in tinsel town. Good looking and stylish, the couple are the foremost members of the elite club. The paparazzi go berserk spotting them. And when the two are not creating frenzy in Mumbai, they are holidaying in Gstaad and dining with the
high and the mighty. Ah, the good life!
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Virat Kohli - Anushka Sharma 22.4%
Akshay Kumar - Twinkle Khanna 19%
Ajay Devgn - Kajol 15.5%
Ranbir Kapoor - Katrina Kaif 10.4%
Others 3.4%
Sexiest Actress
Deepika Padukone - 50.6%
A breathtakingly beautiful face and a hot bod can be a lethal combination. But that’s not what makes Deepika Padukone the sexiest actress in the country. Yes, she has a face that can launch a thousand brands but it’s her confidence, which makes her oh-so-sexy. If her glamorous avatars make us skip a beat, her casual, no make-up appearances endear her as the girl-next-door. Last year, she steamed up the screen as she grooved in Happy New Year. Everyone wants Deepika… Truly, madly, deeply.
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Priyanka Chopra 17.2%
Jacqueline Fernandez 12.1%
Nargis Fakhri 8.6%
Katrina Kaif 6.9%
Others 4.6%
Sexiest Actor
Sidharth Malhotra - 29.3%
If there was one man who could epitomise tall, dark and handsome, it would be Sidharth Malhotra. If his infectious smile and dimples charm you, his six-pack abs make you drool. He’s the guy every teenage girl dreams of. His sex-appeal lies in his intensity. Those silent, brooding eyes are arresting. Add to it his baritone, which makes women go weak in their knees. If you don’t believe us, watch the scene in Student Of the Year where he steps out of the sea in tiny speedos. Drool! Drool!
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Hrithik Roshan 24.1%
John Abraham 18%
Ranbir Kapoor 16.2%
Ranveer Singh 9.3%
Others 3.1%
Want to see at Madame Tussauds Museum
Ranbir Kapoor 20.7%
Priyanka Chopra 20.7%
Wow, this is the first time we have hit a tie in our poll. Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra have equal number of people wanting them to be waxed. And full credit goes to their soaring popularity. While Ranbir is on his way to join the league of iconic superstars, Priyanka has already become a global icon, owing to her success in Hindi films and the growing rage for her in the West. It will be interesting to see Ranbir join ‘waxed’ girlfriend Katrina Kaif at the Madame Tussauds Museum. And Priyanka too will be under the same roof as her once arch rival, Kareena Kapoor Khan! Fame, sure does make for strange museum companions!
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Deepika Padukone 17.2%
Akshay Kumar 13.8%
Sridevi 12.1%
Kajol 8.6%
Others 6.9%
Potential To Rock Hollywood
Hrithik Roshan - 37.9%
They call him India’s Bradley Cooper. With those light eyes, fair skin, toned body and fine acting abilities, he’s everything required to be a superstar in Hollywood. News of Hrithik Roshan signing a Hollywood film has been doing the rounds since a decade now. But it’s only recently that the actor announced he’s doing a Hollywood project. It will be interesting to see our desi superhero driving crowds crazy in the West.
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Deepika Padukone 20.7%
Priyanka Chopra 15.5%
Shah Rukh Khan 10.3%
Ranbir Kapoor 8.6%
Others 7%
Is Fawad Khan the next big thing?
Yes 69.1%
No 30.9%
Let’s all raise a toast to the newest Khan in tinsel town. The Pakistani heartthrob, who made a debut last year with Khoobsurat, is now the most sought after actor. Women from the age of 6 to 60 are crushing over him. And filmmakers are in the mood to cash in on his magnetism. In just a few months, Fawad has bagged a number of big films. Reema Kagti has signed him for Mr Chalu opposite Priyanka Chopra, Karan Johar has got him on board for Shakun Batra’s Kapoor And Sons opposite Alia Bhatt and Sidhahrth Malhotra and Sonam Kapoor is pairing up with him again for Battle of Bittora. Apparently, he will also be cast opposite Sonakshi Sinha in the Sahir Ludhianvi biopic... Phew! The man is on a roll.
Are you excited about Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s comeback?
Yes 73.8%
No 26.2%
Whatever Aishwarya Rai Bachchan does, it makes news. Whether it’s her ads or her red carpet appearances, she makes heads turn. However, she’s been away from the big screen after the birth of daughter Aaradhya. Fans are craving to see the beautiful face on celluloid once again. Fortunately, she makes her comeback with Sanjay Gupta’s Jazbaa and follows it up with Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil opposite Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Shama. Excited much? Hell yeah!
A ’90s diva you want to see more
Madhuri Dixit - 36.2%
How’s it possible for a woman to become more and more beautiful with each passing year? We are convinced Madhuri Dixit-Nene is ageing in reverse. Inching towards her golden jubilee, Madhuri still has the impish charm of Ek do teen in Tezaab. That her million dollar smile is intact goes beyond saying. Though we saw Madhuri on the big screen last year in Dedh Ishqiya and Gulaab Gang, audiences are waiting to see more of her.
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Kajol- 32.8%
Karisma Kapoor- 12.1%
Juhi Chawla- 6.9%
Sridevi 6.8%
Others 5.2%
Best Director
Karan Johar- 26%
Karan Johar is more popular than many actors and actresses. He’s not your regular filmmaker, who steps out of his film set only during the film’s release. Actor, producer, director, fashion designer, television host... he’s definitely the new-age showman. His movies connect with the audience at home and abroad. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai made us fall in love with our friends, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham reminded us to love our parents and Student Of The Year became this generation’s love story. And with Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna and My Name Is Khan, Karan proved that he’s far more than just ‘candyfloss’!
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Imtiaz Ali 20.7%
Rajkumar Hirani 19%
Anurag Kashyap 13.8%
Sanjay Leela Bhansali 11%
Others 9.5%