2009’s best performances on screen

Trade analysts can go on debating the success of Vishal Bharadwaj’s latest offering but the verdict was passed when,for weeks at end,people were attempting to replace ‘s’ with an ‘f’ in their speech. To lisp was the new cool. And Shahid Kapoor had arrived. After years of struggle and a big heartbreak later,it was just the leap the

27-year-old had been waiting for. One of the most coveted stars today,Kapoor is relishing the attention. “I’m over it,but there’s a huge Kaminey hangover in people’s mind. What can be more precious than hearing people shout behind you: ‘Ae Fahid,kaifa hai yaar?’.”

Amitabh Bachchan in Paa

THE old man’s having the last laugh after all. After having been criticised for his flamboyant performances over the last few years,Amitabh Bachchan probably needed only this one opportunity to reestablish why he enjoys this very enviable position of being the biggest superstar of our country. For his character as a teenager,he did away with his trademark baritone,his handsome elegance and the slow,deliberate dialogue delivery,risking the audience’s brickbats. It worked even more in his favour because though Auro suffered from Progeria,the character didn’t seek sympathy. Bachchan,instead of taking credit,thanks the media and the audience for their support. “It’s people’s love that saw Paa succeed,” he modestly says.

Ranbir Kapoor in Rocket Singh Salesman of the Year

When this year began,the films industry had pretty much decided not to take Ranbir Kapoor seriously. He was yet another new face,of interest only for his illustrious lineage. But amidst big-budget films and multi-starrers,he jostled to make some space for himself. And he did. Though Wake Up Sid and Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani did fabulously at the box office,it’s Rocket Singh that will probably take him to the film awards. The innocent charm that Kapoor displayed as he played the underdog — what you and I probably are in real life — was the clincher that had everyone develop a soft corner for him. But the Kapoor lad says he doesn’t understand the term “next big superstar”. “It moves me that people have accepted me this early in my career but I am not the “next one” till I become one.”

Abhay Deol in Dev.D

When both Dilip Kumar and Shah Rukh Khan’s Devdas died pining for the love of their respective Paro,their portrayed emotions tugged at our hearts. In contrast,Abhay Deol’s brash Dev made it amply clear that it was the blow to his ego at being rejected by her that actually took him down. Dev.D established the otherwise low-profile Deol lad as the poster boy of the new wave in Indian cinema. After six gruelling years of struggle,the 33-year-old,as the most popular loser in Indian literature,Devdas,in this modern adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s novel,has carved a niche for himself in an industry that is otherwise glamour-driven. Even as we point out the nuances in his performance,the actor asks some pertinent questions. “My work has been appreciated by the masses. But then,why am I told that I cater to the niche audience? If I have become a star,then why are producers still haggling with me over my price. This is the reason I’m starting my own production company. I’ll save on my own cost and do movies I like.” he smiles.

Priyanka Chopra in What’s Your Raashee?

The movie grated on the audience’s nerves as a poor script and average music were dished out in a three-and-a-half-hour saga. Despite that,Priyanka Chopra stood out through her performance as a dozen different girls,one of each of the 12 signs of the zodiac. With no prosthetics to differentiate between her various looks,the 27-year-old had to rely on her performances alone to set the characters apart. What people appreciated most was that she was willing to let go of her dolled-up image for characters where she looked downright unattractive,especially where she sported a uni-brow. She says: “If I create a character by experimenting with looks,and make it real and convincing,how does it matter how I look on screen? I’d like to do films that test me as an actor and What’s Your Raashee? has been by far the most challenging film I’ve done.”