Tusshar Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh - 10 actors who can only SHINE in a multi-starrer!

By Sreeju Sudhakaran
Published: June 9, 2016 8:40 AM IST

There are some stars who are better off as a package...

There is Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar who can lead a film magnificently on their back...Then there is the younger lot od superstars who are just reaching up there like Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor, Varun Dhawan etc. Also Read - Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Vivek Oberoi’s unseen endorsement video goes VIRAL; netizens bring in Salman Khan [Watch]

And there are stars who can work mostly as a package. This month's biggest hit, Housefull 3 had Abhishek Bachchan and Riteish Deshmukh, both of whom have more hits in multi-starrers than as solo leads. Also Read - BL Awards 2024 winners in OTT category: Sushmita Sen, Vijay Varma, The Railway Men and more win big

Let's look at 10 such actors, who can shine brilliantly in multi-starrers or 2 hero films, but are defenseless pawns when it comes to solo flicks! Also Read - Nawazuddin Siddiqui and wife Aaliya Siddiqui have officially reconciled; latter reveals how they have 'surrendered' for the sake of daughter Shora

Tusshar Kapoor

Notable hits: Golmaal and Kya Kool Hai Hum franchises, The Dirty Picture, Shootout at Lokhandwala and Wadala

Though Tusshar had a brilliant start with the solo release, Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai, he couldn't sustain himself as the solo lead, as he delivered too many duds after that, with Krishna Cottage, Jeena Sirf Mere Liye and other assorted flops. When you thought his career is almost over, he got a role that extended his career for more years. It was his dumb act as Lucky in Golmaal that established his comic persona and paved way for films like Kya Kool Hai Hum and its sequel. He was the USP of the Golmaal franchise, and he was an able supporter to Riteish's antics in Kya Kool Hai Hum. He also stood apart in both the Shootout films. Now he has himself decided to stay away from solo films and focus more of buddy flicks and sex comedies to save his career!

Riteish Deshmukh

Notable hits: Masti, Housefull, Dhamaal and Kya Kool Hai Hum franchises

He made his debut as a solo lead in Tujhe Meri Kasam (opposite his real life partner Genelia D'Souza), but it tanked. Even his second film, Out of Control, where he again played the solo lead, flopped big time. When everyone was ready to write off the son of former Maharashtra CM, he bounced back by stealing the show in Indra Kumar's Masti, which also had Viveik Oberoi, Aftab Shivdasani and Ajay Devgn. He played second leads in a few films, where he was able to shine, despite the failures of few like Naach, Bardaasht etc. he was lovable in films like Bluffmaster, Kya Kool Hai Hum and its sequel, Dhamaal franchise, and even in Housefull. He went morbid serious in Ek Villain, which also had Sidharth Malhotra, for which he gained a lot of critical appreciation. Though he mostly stuck to multi-hero films, he occasionally veered to single hero flicks, like Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya and Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai, which were disasters!

Abhishek Bachchan

Notable hits: Bol Bachchan, Happy New Year, Dhoom series, Dus, Yuva, Sarkar and its sequel, Housefull 3

After his debut film Refugee, AB's baby had a series of flops, most of them solo starrers, before he managed to make audience sit up and not brush him off with an award-worthy performance in Yuva, that also starred Ajay Devgn and Viveik Oberoi. He then got his first big hit in Dhoom, that again had John Abraham and Uday Chopra. Then there was Dus, with Sanjay Dutt, Zayed Khan and Suneil Shetty, where he was the best thing! After the successes of both these films, he did have the power to pull the audiences to the theatres with solo releases like Bunty aur Babli, Guru etc., but he also did multi-starrers like Sarkar, Bluffmaster, Kabhi Alvida naa Kehna. After the failure of Raavan, his solo film pull did drop down, with the recent debacle of All Izz Well being the latest victim. However, he continued to stand out in two hero films like Bol Bachchan and Happy New Year. in 2016, he is seen in Housefull 3, with Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh and you know how it turned out!

Arshad Warsi

Notable hits: Munna Bhai and Golmaal franchises, Ishqiya

Arshad Warsi, it's high time you stop getting out of your lovable sidekick shadow and do a lead role, people just don't want it! Sadly that's the truth. Yes, Jolly LLB worked, and he was terrific in Sehar, but then not many saw the latter. People still love him as Circuit in Munna Bhai series, and also in Golmaal and Dhamaal series, all being superhits. It's not your fault Arshad, no one questions your talent! It's just people love you as a part of the package! A nice one that is, not the kinds of Welcome 2 Karachi and Guddu Rangeela!

Viveik Oberoi

Notable hits: Company, Shootout at Lokhandwala, Masti and its sequel

Oh, how the mighty have fallen! He was hailed as the next big thing when he got a solid launch in Company, co-starring Ajay Devgn and Mohanlal. He stole many a heart is his romantic avatar in Saathiya. Saathiya, unfortunately was his only solo hit, with Kisna, Dum, Prince, all flopping badly. His successes were only restricted to multi-starrers like Masti, Shootout at Lokhandwala, Omkara and latest being Grand Masti and Krrish 3. His upcoming releases, Great Grand Masti and Bank Chor, are also multi-starrers.

Sharman Joshi

Notable hits: Golmaal, Rang De Basanti, Style, 3 Idiots

Poor Sharman Joshi! He stole many a scene in Style, Rang De Basanti, and 3 Idiots, and this gave him confidence...read over-confidence...to push away Rohit Shetty, Ajay Devgn and co. to only focus on solo leads. He did well in Ferrari ki Sawaari, but industry didn't want to succeed much as films like Super Naani. Now he has to rely on doing skin flicks like Hate Story 3 to salvage his career, which incidentally also star another hero, Karan Singh Grover!

R. Madhavan

Notable hits: 3 Idiots, Rang De Basanti

Even with a likeable presence, madhavan couldn't hit it big when Rehna hai tere Dil Mein released. Though the movie became a cult hit later, it didn't do much to establish Madhavan as a solo lead. It took supporting turns in films like Rang De Basanti and 3 Idiots for the actor to be properly be accepted by our audiences. Ys, he was great in Tanu Weds Manu and its sequel, but face it, they were driven by Kangana Ranaut. His upcoming Saala Khadoos will be a litmus test for him, if he can ever pull off a solo flick!

Aftab Shivadasani

Notable hits: Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega, Awara Paagal Deewana, Hungama, Masti and Grand Masti

Though he had a debut everyone would wish for in Ram Gopal Varma's (...the pre-Nisha Kothari RGV!) Mast, Aftab couldn't manage to find success as a solo hero with the sole exception of Kasoor. But he shined in the multi-starrers Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega, Awara Pagal Deewana and , especially in Masti. Now the actor is mostly concentrating on being a part of the package, and had replaced Riteish Deshmukh in the third part of Kyaa Kool Hai Hum.

Akshaye Khanna

Notable hits: Border, Hungama, Hulchul, Race

One of the best actors in Bollywood sadly is not doing much films. Askhaye Khanna who debuted in the disastrous Himalayaputra, brought everyne's notice to his acting genes with a terrific performance in JP Dutta's war saga Border. He then went on to impress in a couple of Priyadarshan comedies like Hungama and Hulchul, as well as some Abbas-Mustaan thrillers like Humraaz and Race. But his solo flicks weren't exactly setting the cash registers ringing. He is said to be making a comeback this year with Dishoom, that has John Abraham and Varun Dhawan.

Kunal Kemmu

Notable hits: Kalyug, Golmaal 3

He was terrific as a child actor in Hum Hai Rahi Pyaar Ke and Zakhm. As an adult, he made a great start with Kalyug, that also had Emran Hashmi. But he never made much impact in other films where he played the hero. But he worked really well as a part of the ensemble, like in Golmaal 3. Even in films like Goa Goa Gone and 99, which were not big hits, he was superb enough to shine among the cast.

Honourable mention

Nawazuddin Siddiqui

Notable hits: Gangs of Wasseypur, Kahaani, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Talaash

Now don't bring your claws upon me, before you listen to what I have to say! I know and I admit Nawazuddin Siddiqui is a terrific brilliant actor, one of the best in the business, and he will shine in a role, no matter if it's a solo lead flick (Manjhi) or ensemble (Gangs of Wasseypur). But Nawaz is the MOST effective when he has a bigger star playing along with him, like Aamir Khan (Talaash), or Salman Khan (Kick, Bajrangi Bhaijaan). He will be playing the parallel lead in Shah Rukh Khan's Raees, so that's one movie to watch out for!

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BySreeju Sudhakaran
Published: June 9, 2016 8:40 AM IST