While this year looked bleak in many different ways for all of us due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was no different for the entertainment industry, either. But like a ray of light through dark clouds, some actors managed to shine with their outstanding performances this year. Plus, as viewers and filmmakers turned to digital OTT platforms, it gave a ton of actors a chance to experiment with a bold and interesting role choice and won us over with its nuanced performances and striking screen presence. .
Here’s who we thought shone through with their performances this 2020:
Abhishek Banerjee
As the casting director and actor on the hit series “Paatal Lok,” Abhishek Bannerjee surely hit the mark with this show. His intense performance of Hathoda Tyagi surprised fans and was certainly one of the most talked about performances this year.
Pratik Gandhi
Pratik Gandhi, known to be a popular name in Gujarati theater and films, made a seamless transition to the mainstream Hindi film industry with the web series “Scam 1992” this year. The actor was widely praised for his portrayal of the infamous stockbroker Harshad Mehta. He’s even being hailed as Breakout Actor of the Year and we’re really excited to see more of him and his work.
Divyenndu Sharma
From the millennium blockbuster “Pyaar Ka Punchnama” to the gritty “Mirzapur 2” and the crime drama “Bicchoo Ka Khel,” Divyenndu Sharma has surely come a long way. The actor was a revelation on the hit shows and his characters are undoubtedly one of the most beloved of this year. He especially became one of the most beloved villains with his portrayal of Mirzapur’s “Munna bhaiyya”, and his dialogues became viral memes on the internet.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui
A quintessential actor, Nawazuddin constantly proves that he can take on almost any role that comes his way. He has had a great year beginning with the comedy drama “Ghoomketu”, followed by his highly nuanced portrayal of him in the crime thriller “Raat Akeli Hai”, which had us all on the edge of our seats. Ending on a high note, Siddiqui also headlined Sudhir Mishra’s satire, “Serious Men,” and unsurprisingly left with immense praise for his performance in it!
Deepika Padukone
She may be a superstar in her own right with her string of hit projects, but Deepika is never the one to shy away from challenging roles. She got under the skin of her character, Malti, for ‘Chhapaak’ with months of grueling preparation for Ponte. on the skin of an acid attack survivor. Watching her fully live the character and be so honest showed the courage she possessed as an artist, proving once again why she is the most revered actress in the industry today.
Pankaj Tripathi
It sure has been a great year for Pankaj Tripathi! The immensely talented actor was featured in some of the most talked about movies and series of the year, including Angrezi Medium, Gunjan Saxena, Ludo and Mirzapur 2. From comedy to heartfelt and utterly intense, all of these projects saw him in completely versatile roles. And he managed to nail everyone to the T as only he can!
Sanya Malhotra
With only 4 years in the film industry and acclaimed films like ‘Dangal‘ and ‘Badhaai Ho’ under her belt, Sanya Malhotra is only proving why she is an actress that everyone should sit down and take notice of. She stood her ground on Vidya Balan’s lead, “Shakuntala Devi.” She also managed to shine like the sun in Anurag Basu’s recent ensemble film Ludo, which boasted an all-star cast. His absolutely casual yet captivating presence of hers really won everyone’s hearts!
Nushrratt Bharuccha
With the recent release, Chhalaang, Nushrratt Bharuccha finally became an actress. Previously known for bringing a ton of glamor and cheek to her roles, the actress pleasantly surprised us all as the sharp and balanced Nilu in the sports drama. She stood her ground in front of Rajkummar Rao and shone through the film. Now, this has us very excited to see more of this star on screen soon.
Rajkummar Rao
Now if we have mentioned his name before, how can we not talk about this talented actor? With “Ludo” and “Chhalaang” in his name this year, the actor showed his versatility and skill, as he did a fabulous job in both films. And what’s new in that, amirite?
Fatima Sana Shaikh
Fatima Sana Shaikh is certainly making us all sit down and realize that it’s time to stop calling her the “Dangal” girl and really take notice of her through some strong performances this year. With Ludo and Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari, she stood out for her acting skills and she is sure that she is someone I am very excited to see more on screen.
Radhika Apte
Radhika Apte always makes us sit down and notice her in everything she does and this time it’s not just acting. The actress did a stellar job in the crime thriller “Raat Akeli Hai” opposite Nawazuddin Siddiqui. She also marked her directorial debut this year with ‘The Sleepwalkers’ which is gaining quite a bit of momentum internationally.
There are some of the actors we loved this year! Who was your favorite? Let us know!
