Bollywood actors and actresses to watch out for

Every year is about the people (and things) that make it fabulous. And so, in our year-end issue, we always look forward to who’s going to make it big next year. We ask a jury of experts to suggest names in Bollywood that will hit the jackpot.

Every year is about the people (and things) that make it fabulous. And so, in our year-end issue, we always look forward to who’s going to make it big next year. We ask a jury of experts in our favourite fields – films, music, sports, technology – to suggest names of people and products that will hit the jackpot.

Some of the names we have recommended in the past – MS Dhoni, Sneha Khanwalkar, Amit Trivedi, Deepika Padukone – did very well for themselves, as predicted.

With the last issue of 2013, we bring you a list of people – newer names who, our jury says (and we agree), are going to stand out in 2014.

We wish them all the luck, and we wish you, our readers, a very happy New Year! Take our advice and party hard – the rest will follow!

OUR JUDGES
Komal Nahta, film trade analyst

Actresses
Shraddha Kapoor: She is a fine mix of glamour and talent. Kapoor proved herself in Aashiqui 2, essaying a difficult role with finesse. Her performance in the 2013 blockbuster reminded people of her aunt, Padmini Kolhapure, who was also a very fine actress. Additionally, Kapoor is very glamorous. Young people find her ‘hot’.
Parineeti Chopra: Her style of acting is so natural that you don’t even feel like she’s acting. Chopra may not be very glamorous, but her talent makes up for it.
Alia Bhatt: She is young, pretty and cute. Bhatt is every young boy’s fantasy; and her first film, Student Of The Year (SOTY), was a hit. The headstart that she got with SOTY will work to her advantage.

Actors
Sushant Singh Rajput: He seems to be a born actor. Looking at the films Rajput’s done so far, it appears that he enjoys acting and gives his everything to the role he is offered. There is not an iota of doubt that Rajput has a very bright future ahead of him and should soon become a force to reckon with.
Ranveer Singh: The young man swayed audiences in his first film, Band Baaja Baaraat. Singh didn’t do as well in his next films, but shone like never before in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela. With this hit under his belt, he’s now looking at a brighter future. This year will probably force even those who would like to give all the credit for his performance in Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela to Bhansali, to sit up and take notice of Singh.
Aditya Roy Kapur Like Shraddha Kapoor, Kapur was also not fortunate enough to taste success in his debut film. But Aashiqui 2 gave him name, fame and stardom, much like it gave Shraddha Kapoor.

Actresses
Alia Bhatt: Everyone wants to love her.
Parineeti Chopra: Her USP is the magic of seeing the girl next door on the big screen.
Shraddha Kapoor: She’s lovable and will grow with each film she does.

Actors
Arjun Kapoor: He’s a man amongst the boys and has great screen presence, as we saw in his two movies, Ishaqzaade and Aurangzeb.
Sidharth Malhotra: It’s the sincerity in his eyes and ‘the guy you can depend on’ vibe that makes him tick. He’s the teenagers’ new fantasy come true.
Varun Dhawan: A livewire and effortlessly charming.

Amar Butala creative director, studios, Disney UTVActresses

Deepika Padukone: With four blockbusters: Race 2, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Chennai Express and Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela, 2013 has been Padukone’s year. She’s incredibly talented; audiences both in India and overseas love her; and with some good films in her kitty, 2014 will be another good year for Padukone. It would be great to see her do a film that’s about her: no hero, just her and a good script. She’s one actress who can pull that off!

Alia Bhatt: She made a confident debut in her debut film. I think Imtiaz Ali’s Highway will be the game changer for Bhatt, who is set to emerge as one of the hottest young stars.

Parineeti Chopra: She is a natural. Chopra is a favourite with filmmakers and audiences alike, perhaps because at an early stage in her career she’s picked films with strong, interesting characters.



Actors

Ranbir Kapoor: He’s rewritten every rule in the film business and yet his winning streak continues. Barfi! was a brave choice for any actor to make, but Kapoor did the film, and even now continues to create a brand of cinema he believes in. The 18-35-year-olds who go to the movies both in India and overseas love him for his choices. A Ranbir Kapoor film is already an ‘event film’. In the business, not many young stars can boast of that so early in their career. Disney UTV, Ranbir Kapoor and Anurag Basu come together again, post Barfi! for Jagaa Jasoos which we believe will be another landmark film.

Aditya Roy Kapur: He has what it takes to grow into a major star in the coming year. Aashiqui 2, a sleeper hit, has set the stage for it. With Disney UTV’s next, Fitoor, we believe Kapur will emerge as a major star in the next year.

Arjun Kapoor: He is a talented actor and has the charisma to grow into a major star. Kapoor’s picked an interesting mix of films for the coming year – from Two States, a Homi Adajania film, to Gunday, all with good strong characters and interesting scripts. This year should be a good one for him.

From HT Brunch, December 31

Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch
Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch