As an actor if you perform well and give hit films year on year, you are sure to hit stardom. However, stardom and fame are always ready to fleet at rates 10,000 times faster than fleeting thoughts. One failed film and the fate is sealed. It just takes one Friday.
Even established actors and superstars have faced their share of flops and criticism. Some perish while others perform to the beat of audience. They don’t give up and keep on trying find something rarer that gold: that one dream role that puts them back on track.
These roles prove their acting prowess again after being written off. The reinvent themselves to an extent that at times they almost reinvent themselves.
Today, we have identifies some of the roles that have got superstars and actors back on track. Here, do have a look:
Actors who proved their acting power again after being written off
They say second innings in life is all about embracing and making the most out of the new possibilities. Whether it is about career, marriage, or a personal transformation. And same is true about actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Sri Devi, Neena Gupta and Bobby Deol. They had a major setback when their films stopped working and they were left with no projects in their hands. They had to wait for a period of time before they got that one role that changed everything for them. Let’s look at their comeback story a little more closely.
1. Amitabh Bachchan as Narayan Shankar in Mohabbatein(2000)
The angry young man of Bollywood had delivered some of the most iconic performances right from start. He first appeared in Zanjeer(1973) with Jaya Bhaduri. And since there was no looking back for him. However, the 90s thoroughly tested him as his company ABCL collapsed and he faced a string of flops. In fact, his career was thought to be over as around this time younger actors were emerging and were delivering super hit films.
However, when he played the role of Narayan Shankar in Mohabbatien in 2000, things significantly changed for him. As he embraced the role of a strict principal wearing glasses and flaunting grey hair, he cast aside his angry young man image. And that opened new doors for him. As he began experimenting with his characters, his career took even better in this second innings of his career. Some of his most remarkable roles are in films that include Baghban (Raj Malhotra), Khakee(DCP Anant Kumar Shrivastav), Black(Debraj Sahai), Sarkar(Subhash Sarkar Nagre), Paa(Auro), Cheeni Kum(Budhhadev Gupta), and Piku(Bashkor Banarjee).
2. Sri Devi as Sashi Godbole in English Vinglish (2012)
Sri Devi had taken a long break from acting after her 1997 release Judaai. After her marriage to Boney Kapoor and also having worked extensively since her childhood, she paused her career. She wanted to focus on her family life.
In 2012, she made her comeback with English Vinglish. After almost a period of 15 years she did this film. It was a total contrast to her vibrant, lively roles. Sashi, a simple and gullible homemaker clad in a cotton saree was anything like Sri Devi we had seen previously. Not only she broke her previous glamorous image but also adapted into this one easily. The film was a super duper hit. Thereafter she did Mom (Devki Sabarwal), yet another powerful performance and a super hit. She received National Film Award for Best Actress, posthumously.
3. Neena Gupta as Priyamvada Kaushik in Badhaai Ho (2018)
Neena Gupta is a versatile actor working in commercial and parallel cinema, and popular television shows. She started her career in early 1980s with films like Gandhi(1982), Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro(1983), Mandi(1983). there after she worked in Parallel cinema and popular television shows Saans. In 2004, She produced a show called Kyun Hota Hai Pyarr. However, after this she was not working. After 14 years, she was cast as Priyamvada Kaushik in 2018. Her performance was well received. The film collected Rs.221 crore at the box office.
It opened new doors for her as she experimented with mature unconventional roles. Post Badhai Ho, she worked in The Last Color(Noor), Shubh Mangal Zyada Savdhaan(Sunaina Tripathi), Panga(Rachna Nigam), Vadhh(Manju Mishra), Goodbye(Gayatri Bhalla), and Masti Mein Rehne Ka(Mrs Handa) among other notable films.
4. Bobby Deol as Abrar Haque in Animal (2023)
Bobby Deol started his career as a lead hero in Barsaat(1995). Thereafter, he starred as the main hero and delivered many commercial hits until early 2000s. Thereafter, his films were not that successful. He was mainly seen in films where he was apart of ensemble cast. And that too were few and far between.
However, he opted to act in web series 2020 onwards. His grey roles in Ashram and Class of’83 lead him to his most dark role every, that of Abrar Haque in Animal. He played the role of a ruthless male antagonist who is mute and deaf. His performance in ‘Jamal Kudu’ song was especially appreciated.
The film put his career at par with the success he witnessed in his early years. If the sources are to be believed, he is currently working on films with big banners that include, Alpha, a YRF film with Aalia Bhatt, and a Tamil political thriller Jana Nayagan.
5. Sanjay Dutt as Murli Prasad Sharma in Munna Bhai MBBS (2003)
Sanjay Dutt is one of the most versatile actors of the Hindi film industry. His first film was Rocky(1981). It was a super hit. He delivered several successful films in the 1980s and till early 1990s. However, the 90s were a troublesome era. He faced loss, controversy, and struggles in his personal life. But, his troubles did not end there, his reputation was tarnished by legal disputes. This severely affected his career.
He bounced by from his troubles and delivered a note worthy performance in Vaastav (1999). However, it wasn’t until Munna Bhai MBBS in 2003 that he tasted enormous success like the films in 1980s. People just loved Munna Bhai MBBS and Murli Prasad Sharma even more. The film positively impact Sanjay Dutt’s career, image and life. Thereafter he worked in films like Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Shootout At Lokhandwala, Agneepath, and Pareenita among others.
6. Saif Ali Khan as Sameer in Dil Chahta Hai (2001)
Saif Ali Khan started his career in the early 90s. Despite a couple of successful films he did not find the fame or fandom early on in his career. It only after his critically acclaimed role of Sameer in Dil Chahta Hai, that he established himself as a successful chocolate boy lover. And then followed films that brought him success and fame. These films include Salaam Namasete, Kal Ho Na Ho, and Hum-Tum.
And, these films led him to his most iconic grey character of all times: Langda Tyagi in Omkara(2006). In this Saif truly proved his mettle and shattered his image of a lover boy and established himself as an actor who could handle diverse and complex character. Thereafter he worked in films and web series with grey roles such as Race, Cocktail 2, Sacred Games etc. All thanks to Dil Chahta Hai!
These actors made a powerful comeback because of their skills, hard work but most importantly, the ability to adapt with the changing times. Learning from their setbacks, they moulded into characters that sell rather than selling the characters that they were comfortable playing.
Sometimes the spotlight and fame diminish, but most often they are the launch pads of even better career trajectories. These actors and their iconic roles are a testimony to the fact. Don’t you agree?