Hindi cinema isn’t the only avenue to find some of the finest actors and the most crush-worthy ones too. Actors who began their careers in regional language cinema have not only wowed the audiences in their regional language but have also made a successful crossover into Hindi films and given impactful performances, Diljit Dosanjh’s hard-hitting debut with Udta Punjab being a prime example. Take a look...
Dhanush
Seen in: Raanjhanaa (2013) and Shamitabh (2015)
Dhanush had already become a household name nationally and globally with the smash-hit single Kolaveri Di, which became one of the biggest hits on YouTube post its release. After establishing himself as a successful star in Tamil cinema, he made his debut opposite Sonam Kapoor in Aanand L Rai’s Raanjhanaa in 2013, which also won him a Filmfare Award for Best Debut (Male). Seen next in a face-off against Amitabh Bachchan in R Balki’s Shamitabh, Dhanush received acclaim but the film didn’t succeed at the box-office. He’s now poised to tread international waters with Marjane Satrapi’s The Extraordinary Journey of a Fakir, opposite Uma Thurman.
Jisshu Sengupta
Seen in: Barfi! (2012), Mardaani (2014) and Piku (2015)
A Bengali actor who initially made blink-and-miss appearances in films like Mr and Mrs Iyer and The Last Lear was noticed in (surprisingly) a bit role in Anurag Basu’s Barfi! in 2012. He also made a memorable appearance in Piku in 2015.
Siddharth
Seen in: Rang De Basanti (2006) and Chashme Baddoor (2013)
We fell in love with him when he made his debut in Rang De Basanti as the angry young lad Karan Singhania. With films like Striker and Chashme Baddoor to his credit, along with a role in Midnight’s Children, the actor continues to make appearances in Bollywood, while balancing his career in Telugu and Tamil cinemas.
Saswata Chatterjee
Seen in: Kahaani (2012)
He may only have one Bollywood film to his credit but there’s no forgetting Saswata Chatterjee aka Bob Biswas from Kahaani. With a career in Bengali cinema spanning 20 years, his oh-so creepy appearance in Sujoy Ghosh’s crime thriller got us asking for more.
Parambrata Chatterjee
Seen in: Kahaani (2012)
He was the perfect ally to Vidya Balan in Kahaani as the soft-spoken Satyaki. Though he did try his hand at horror-comedy with Gang of Ghosts and returned to thriller-drama with Traffic earlier this year, the actor hasn’t had a success as big as Kahaani in Hindi cinema.
Rana Daggubati
Seen in: Dum Maaro Dum (2011) and Baby (2015)
Starting his Bollywood career a year after he began acting in Telugu cinema, Rana Daggubati made a major breakthrough with Baby in 2015. He’s now gearing up for a bilingual film Ghazi, along with working on the blockbuster Baahubali franchise.
Prosenjit Chatterjee
Seen in: Shanghai (2012)
Little do most know but Bengali superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee first made his foray into Hindi cinema with a catalytic role in Dibakar Banerjee’s Shanghai. With his most recent Hindi film being Traffic, the actor is reportedly gearing up for more Bollywood projects.
Special mention: Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan
Two of the biggest superstars in South cinema, both Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan have made a number of appearances in Hindi films. While Rajinikanth’s Bollywood stint began in 1983 and boasts of hits like Chalbaaz and Hum, Kamal Haasan made his debut with Ek Duuje Ke Liye, considered a cult romance today. And who can forget his desi Mrs Doubfire act in Chachi 420?
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