It’s no secret that Bollywood has struggled this year, but this is becoming something of a trend. Even when Hindi films do well financially, they’re rarely the kind that deserve to be praised. There’s an art to a great mainstream performance, and actors like Ayushmann Khurrana and Rajkummar Rao had seemingly cracked the code, before falling into a trap that has consumed bigger stars than them in the past. The best performances this year so far have come on the small screen, with Sanya Malhotra delivering yet another remarkable turn as a downtrodden housewife in Mrs.
It’s slim pickings out there, with Akshaye Khanna’s murmured performance as the villainous Aurangzeb in Chhaava almost making the cut by process of elimination. Meanwhile, Sunny Deol proved that he can have a laugh at his own expense in Jaat, a movie with a genuinely enjoyable first half but a truly terrible second. As much as people enjoyed watching Vicky Kaushal in Chhaava, it’s disappointing to see one of our most talented male actors reduce himself to starring in a movie that basically requires him to scream at the top of his lungs. Here’s a list of the top Hindi performances of the year so far.
Mia Maelzer (Stolen)
As a young tribal mother named Jhumpa in Stolen, Mia Maelzer exudes a quiet ferocity that saves her character from being a stereotype. The biggest compliment that one can pay her is that she is able to get the audience to root for someone who allows their toddler to be kidnapped from under their nose. Jhmpa could’ve very easily been perceived as a negligent mother. But over the course of the thriller, she transforms into a fuller person. While much of this is down to the writing and the direction, a lot of it is a direct result of the lived-in performance that Maelzer delivers. She’s quietly the protagonist of the film, and one to watch out for.
Also read – Stolen: The rare Hindi movie that isn’t afraid to insult its own audience, and you know what, we deserve it
Adarsh Gourav (Superboys of Malegaon)
While the industry turns to Rajkummar Rao and Ayushmann Khurrana for roles that demand small-town angst, Adarsh Gourav has proven, several times, that he’s probably the brightest star out there. In Reema Kagti’s Superboys of Malegaon, he’s predictably excellent as a wannabe filmmaker whose story serves as a metaphor for so many others like him in our country. A tip of the hat to Shashank Arora, who has the almost Bill Nighy-esque ability to steal every scene he’s in, and Vineet Kumar Singh, who’s better here than he was in Chhaava and Jaat combined.
Kanwaljit Singh (Mrs)
They wouldn’t have made a movie like Mrs before, and even if they had, they would’ve conveniently shown the ‘villain’ to be an overbearing dictator who probably yelled a lot, and perhaps even raised their hand against the protagonist of the story. She’s played by Sanya Malhotra, who’s as good as ever. But a key reason behind the effectiveness of her performance is Kanwaljit Singh. He plays the domineering father-in-law character with such a quiet menace that you can’t help but lean in and take notice. By avoiding a high-pitched tone, he is able to convey his character’s firm belief in what he’s doing is right.
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Gagan Dev Riar (Costao)
Appearing only briefly in the otherwise ordinary film Costao, Gagan Dev Riar leaves a mark. Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s performance as the titular customs officer, who is caught in a murder scandal, is rather uninspired. However, as the CBI officer tasked with investigating the protagonist, Riar has a sincerity that saves the character from being an outright villain. Like Costao himself, Riar’s character is simply doing his job. Sometimes, little is more.
Zahan Kapoor (Black Warrant)
It’s never easy playing the audience surrogate character in a film or show; they’re usually the least interesting part of the story. Often, the folks they meet on their journey are far more colourful than they are. But Zahan Kapoor manages to make his wet-behind-the-ears cop more layered than you’d expect. He’s vulnerable but strong-willed; he’s ambitious but not arrogant. It’s a fine line to balance, and Kapoor does it really well. Shoutout to his co-stars in the show as well: Paramvir Singh Cheema, Rahul Bhat, Anurag Thakur, and the very memorable Siddhant Gupta as Charles Sobhraj.
