Top Ten Most Talented and Versatile Actors in Bollywood

Naseeruddin Shah (born 20 July 1950) is an Indian / Bollywood film actor and director. He is widely considered to be one of the best actors produced by India. In 2003, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan for his contributions towards Indian cinema.

Shah has acted in movies such as Nishant, Aakrosh, Sparsh, Mirch Masala, Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Ata Hai, Trikal, Bhavni Bhavai, Junoon, Mandi, Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho!, Ardh Satya, Katha, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, etc.

Manoj Bajpai (born 23 April 1969), also credited as Manoj Bajpayee, is an Indian film actor, known for playing offbeat and unconventional roles.His work was also appreciated in films like Daud: Fun on the Run (1997), Shool (1999), Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar (2000), Zubeidaa (2001), Road (2002), Pinjar (2003) which earned him the National Film Award, Veer Zaara in 2004 and Raajneeti in 2010.

Raghubir Yadav (also credited as Raghuvir Yadav) is a two-time international award winner Indian stage, film and television actor, music composer, singer and set designer. Yadav started his television career with the TV series Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne (1990), playing the lead character 'Mungerilal'. Later he played the roles of Haji Nasruddin in the series Mulla Nasiruddin and the lead in Chacha Chaudhary. He made his film debut with Massey Sahib (1985) in which Yadav played the title role. Incidentally he has never won the National Award but two International Awards as Best Actor for Massey Sahib, FIPRESCI Critic's Award, Venice Film Festival, 1986 and the Best Actor Silver Peacock, IIFI, 1987.Raghubir Yadav is the only Indian actor to have received the Silver Peacock Best Actor Award, at the International Film Festival of India. His most acclaimed role was as the drug addicted "Chillum" in Salaam Bombay! (1988).

Kay Kay Menon worked in TV shows such as Pradhan Mantri and TV movies like Zebra 2 and Last Train To Mahakali. Menon was first noticed in Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, where he was greatly appreciated with fellow newcomer Shiney Ahuja, and received much acclaim for his performance .He did his Bachelors (Physics) from Mumbai University and his MBA from the Department of Management Sciences at the University of Pune, graduating in 1988 with a major in marketing.His performance as the anguished DCP Rakesh Maria in the movie Black Friday has been widely appreciated and acclaimed. It was featured at the Locarno International Film Festival and received widespread praise.

Anupam Kher (born 7 March 1955) is an Indian actor who has appeared in nearly 450 films and 100 plays.Kher made his acting debut in the 1982 Hindi movie Aagman. Then in 1984 came Saaransh, where 28-year old Kher played a retired man who has lost his son. He hosted TV shows such as Say Na Something To Anupam Uncle, Sawaal Dus Crore Ka and the recent Lead India. He has had many comic roles but has also played the villain such as his acclaimed role as terrorist Dr. Dang in Karma (1986). For his role in Daddy (1989) he received the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance. Kher has won the Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role five times, more than any other actor.

Paresh Rawal (born 30 May 1950) is an Indian Hindi film actor of Gujarati background.he won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performances in the films Woh Chokri and Sir. For the latter, he also received his first Filmfare Award for Best Comedian. This was followed by Ketan Mehta's Sardar, which saw him playing the lead role of freedom fighter Vallabhbhai Patel, a role that got him not only national but international acclaim. Rawal played a dim-witted and boisterous, but kind-hearted Marathi landlord Baburao Ganpatrao Apte in the film Hera Pheri. Rawal's acting was a key reason for the major nationwide success the film received. For his performance, he won the Filmfare Best Comedian Award.

Pankaj Kapur first studied engineering in New Delhi and completed the course in 1973, topping his college. Thereafter, he joined National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi and graduated in 1976; here again he received the Best Actor Award. He made his film debut with Shyam Benegal's film Arohan (1982). Following that he played the role of Mahatma Gandhi's second secretary, Pyarelal, in the Richard Attenbrough film Gandhi in 1982. Later he dubbed for Ben Kingsley in the Hindi version of the film.His first National Film Award came with the 1989 film, Raakh, which also starred Aamir Khan, in a breakthrough performance.His strongest performance in the early part of his career came from his lead role of struggling scientist in the film Ek Doctor Ki Maut (1991), for which he was awarded the 1991 National Film Award - Special Jury Award.In 2003 he appeared in critically acclaimed Maqbool, Vishal Bhardwaj's adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth. Maqbool got him the 2004 National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. Meanwhile, he released films like The Blue Umbrella (2005), Dus (2005) and Halla Bol (2007).

Rahul Bose was born to Rupen and Kumud Bose on 27 July 1967. Bose has appeared in Hindi films such as Pyaar Ke Side Effects and Jhankaar Beats. Time magazine named him "the superstar of Indian arthouse cinema" for his work in parallel cinema films like English, August and Mr. and Mrs. Iyer. Bose continued working in a mix of mainstream and arthouse films in 2008, with the English-language film, Before the Rains. Before the Rains was released in the US and the UK and Bose's performance was praised by many critics, although the film received mixed reviews.

Sahabzade Irrfan Ali Khan, previously known as Irrfan Khan and now just Irrfan has received recognition for his roles in The Warrior (2001), Maqbool (2003), Haasil (2004), The Namesake (2006), A Mighty Heart (2007), Life in a... Metro (2007), Slumdog Millionaire (2008), Billu (2009), New York (2009), New York, I Love You (2009), Paan Singh Tomar (film) (2012).He recently worked on the third season of the HBO series In Treatment, enacting the part of Sunil, who is finding it difficult to come to terms with his wife's death and loneliness after moving to New York, USA.Earlier he acted in the box office hits Metro, for which he received a Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award, and The Namesake. They were closely followed by his appearance in the international films A Mighty Heart and The Darjeeling Limited.

Om Puri ( born 18 October 1950) is an Indian actor who has appeared in both mainstream Indian films and art films. His credits also include appearances in British and American films. He has received an honorary OBE. Puri was born in Ambala, Haryana. He graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India. He is also an alumnus of the 1973 class of National School of Drama where Naseeruddin Shah was a co-student.He has collaborated with Amrish Puri as well as Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil in art films such as Bhavni Bhavai (1980), Sadgati (1981), Ardh Satya (1982), Mirch Masala (1986) and Dharavi (1992).Puri had a cameo in the highly acclaimed film Gandhi (1982, directed by Richard Attenborough).He became known internationally by starring in many British films such as My Son the Fanatic (1997), East Is East (1999) and The Parole Officer (2001). He appeared in Hollywood films including City of Joy (1992), opposite Patrick Swayze; Wolf (1994) alongside Jack Nicholson; and The Ghost and the Darkness (1996) opposite Val Kilmer. In 2007, he appeared as General Zia-ul-Haq in Charlie Wilson's War, which stars Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts.

Above list includes still active and alive actors in Hindi film industry. Mainstream or commercial cinema actors were not included in the list. There were many other names presented stiff competition for the list like Yashpal Sharma, Vinay Pathak, Boman Irani but could not make out in top ten.

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