Screen icons

What makes a screen character iconic is the fact that you remember their name, ape their mannerisms and mouth their dialogues with nearly no effort. In the past, we’ve had characters like Gabbar, Basanti, Umrao Jaan, Don, Raj and Simran and many more who have created a sort of legacy for themselves. But in the last decade itself, we’ve seen a number of characters who are well on their way to becoming icons already. Read on to which ones of your favourites made it to the list...

1. Chulbul Pandey (Dabangg)

Until Chulbul Pandey happened to Bollywood, cops were known to be either pure good or pure malice. It was Salman Khan who mixed the both and made being a cop the most sought-after profession on screen. He was corrupt but heard the voice of the masses at the same time; he didn’t mind shaking a leg with the badnaam Munni and yet his heart would beat for the village belle, Rajjo (Sonakshi Sinha). And if his mannerisms were not enough, his one-liners made even a non-Salman Khan fan hoot and whistle in a cinema hall. This film was tailor-made for Salman Khan and no one else could’ve made this character iconic. The impact of this film was so much that till today stars try to match up to his standards in a cop act.

2. Munna Bhai (Lagey Raho Munna Bhai)

His educational qualification never mattered for us to fall in love with him. Nothing was changed in Munna’s character in this sequel of Munna Bhai MBBS and he was seen at his flamboyant best. In the first instalment, he had to win back his parent’s respect and this time around he had to win over his love. Munna falling in love with a radio jockey forms the crux of the story and his efforts to fix up his image turn him into a philosopher of Gandhigiri. The Mumbai tapori teaches the common man to walk on the right path through a radio show. There was no doubt that Sanjay Dutt would carry off this character with ease, but to keep it from becoming monotonous was a tough task and hats off of to him for giving us the most loved bhai in tinsel town.

3. Kabir Khan (Chak De! India)

You loved him as a college hero, you loved him even more when he romanced his heroines and stretched his arms out amidst the snow-capped mountains, but it was his act as a stern hockey coach that left everyone smitten. Shah Rukh Khan played Kabir Khan, the coach of the national women hockey team to win back his dignity. SRK’s stoic face, razor-sharp lines and that oh-so rare smile made this performance a memorable one. So much so, Shah Rukh Khan himself says that Chak De! India is his career’s best and he’s waiting for more such films to come his way. We couldn’t agree more.

4. Daljeet “DJ” Singh (Rang De Basanti)

Who else can pass off as a college student in their 40s other than Aamir Khan? Daljeet Singh, also known as DJ, became everyone’s favourite character in one of the finest films of our times, Rang De Basanti. From a boy who loved bike racing to a man who fought for his friend’s death by killing the defence minister, Aamir’s journey in the film is what made the film even more special. It was a delight to watch Aamir in the first half as a carefree DJ, who flirted with the British documentary filmmaker, Sue, guzzled down alcohol, jumped in a lake and rehearsed his lines with a buffalo.

5. Auro (Paa)

Amitabh Bachchan is an institution in himself. And an actor of his stature and at the age of 70 deciding to play a 12 year old was unheard of before R Balki’s Paa. Amitabh Bachchan played Auro, a child suffering from the rare genetic condition, progeria. His real-life son Abhishek Bachchan played father to him and Vidya Balan played his mother in the film. The megastar got the nuances of a progeria-affected child bang on! With his dance, his diction and calling his grandmother ‘bum’, Amitabh almost made us forget that it was him playing a witty 12 year old.

 
6. Barfi (Barfi!)

He emoted flawlessly without uttering a single word and we were left watching him in wide-eyed admiration. That’s what Ranbir Kapoor’s magic is all about as he effortlessly brought Barfi to life in the Anurag Basu film. Playing the titular role of a deaf-mute guy who fell head over heels for Shruti (Ileana D’Cruz), Ranbir’s Chaplin-esque act made us laugh and his emotional scenes left us teary-eyed. Watch out Ranbir in scenes like where he explains Ileana the reason behind him being rejected by her and when he’s protective about Jhilmil (Priyanka Chopra) when they are on the run. This is Ranbir Kapoor at his best and he takes the cake, the baker and the bakery along with him.

7. Bajirao Singham (Singham)

Tall, dark and handsome. Works as a police officer and does not believe in fattening his wallet or belly. Bajirao Singham is one of the most selfless cops of Bollywood in recent times. Beating goons, locking horns with corrupt influential people and helping people who are in the right is his day-to-day routine. Ajay Devgn masters the art of action but this time around while the men hooted at this action sequences, the girls wished to have him in his life. Rohit Shetty gave Ajay Devgn a screen name that will remain with him for a long time and the Singham franchise is here to stay.

8. Geet (Jab We Met)

She talks dime a dozen and her childhood dream was to get married; that’s Geet aka Kareena Kapoor from Jab We Met in a nutshell. Kareena’s character of a typical Punjabi girl was a hit among the masses. Geet was a ray of sunshine, had the weirdest ideas to get over heartbreaks and was someone who always invited trouble. Her transition from being a fiery girl to being someone who’s mature but heartbroken was what touched everyone’s heart. Kareena truly owned this film and the only reason one watches Jab We Met innumerable times is her unabashed act.

9. Rani (Queen)

Queen is not just a woman-oriented film. Queen is a revolution. The film released only last year but the character of Rani has already gone down the history. Kangana Ranaut, who played the protagonist, left alone for her honeymoon and returned as a confident and a happy human being. Such a character was not written before where an underexposed and diffident girl sets off to Paris after her husband left her a day prior to their marriage. Kangana transformed her performance into a flesh and blood experience and made it look so natural.

10. Langda Tyagi (Omkara)

Jealousy is the best emotion to watch on screen and no wonder the character of Langda Tyagi is still the memorable one in Vishal Bhardwaj’s version of Othello, Omkara. Paan chewing, venom spitting and greed & jealousy seeping into him, Saif Ali Khan’s role was author-backed one. Though he masters the art of playing the funny man, you got to watch him playing mean because that’s where he showcases his true talent.

11. Subhash Nagre (Sarkar)

He was called the angry young man in the ‘70s and in 2005 he showed us that he can still be one without even lifting a finger to fight. Sarkar saw him playing a people’s leader who fought for their causes outside the system. The scenes where he comes out to his gallery and the crowd goes berserk are true to his personal life also. The thespian makes sure that he owns the film and gives another memorable role to go down the history. And how can we forget the haunting Govinda, govinda, govinda?

12. Krrish (Krrish)

Neither does he need red underpants nor does he need to kiss his girl upside down. Our homegrown superhero Krrish is one who runs faster than a horse and climbs up the mountain at lightning speed. Hrithik Roshan, with his Greek God looks, is the perfect answer to Hollywood’s superheroes. Hrithik, with his persona and charisma, carries off being a superhero with ease. Forget girls, even mutants fall for his charm.

13. Michelle McNally (Black)

This Sanjay Leela Bhansali film was driven by stellar performances. Rani Mukerji played a deaf, mute and a blind girl named Michelle who learns to live her life thanks to her teacher, Debraj Sahai (Amitabh Bachchan). This Helen Keller-esque portrayal won Rani a number of laurels. The actress has Amitabh Bachchan opposite her but she made sure she held her own.

14. Rancho (3 Idiots)

Yet again, Aamir Khan plays a college student so effortlessly that you almost believe that he’s still in his teens. Reams can be written about Ranchhoddas Chanchad aka Rancho. He was crazy, had his own ways to live his life and didn’t fear anything. Rancho could do anything – whether it was avoiding ragging or delivering a child with a vacuum cleaner. And if nothing else worked, he made sure to say – All izz well!

15. Vidya Bagchi (Kahaani)

If you need to know why Vidya Balan is called a hero amongst the stars, watch Kahaani. She played Vidya Bagchi, a ‘pregnant’ lady in Kolkata in search of her missing husband. Vidya Balan made the character her own in a way that it’s difficult to see anyone else playing it. Watch out for the scene when she breaks down in frustration when she can’t drape the traditional Bengali sari. And when you see her in the climax, it will surely give you goosebumps. And just as she says in the film, “V for Vidya”, this film made us all rework our alphabets to say ‘V for hero.’