Rajeev Masand for Vogue: new wave of BW actors

https://www.vogue.in/magazine-story/the-new-wave-of-bollywood-actors-has-more-to-offer-than-just-good-looks-siddhant-chaturvedi-katrik-aryan/

Includes Kartik, Siddhant, Vikrant, Arjun, Jim and Tiger. Also includes Masand's trademark snarkiness :P

https://twitter.com/IIFA/status/1147839510861864960

Originally posted by: you2

Blergh. 🤢

Originally posted by: hedwig_fawkes

Includes Kartik, Siddhant, Vikrant, Arjun, Jim and Tiger. Also includes Masand's trademark snarkiness :P

Surprise Masand didn't include Vicky in the list.

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The new wave of Bollywood actors has more to offer than just good looks

• BY RAJEEV MASAND

JUL 05, 2019 | 17:19:20 IST

The new men of Bollywood are ready to update the pecking order. From a breakout star to an indie darling, here's a round up of this year’s scene-stealers

Image: R Burman, Tarun Vishwa, Abheet Gidwani

The real deal, Kartik Aryan

Heartthrob of the Snapchat generation, his wide grin and signature quiff have alone launched a thousand memes. His performance in Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety(2018) had the depth of a potted plant, but the film’s decidedly frat-boy take on friendship touched a chord and a star was born. What sets Kartik Aaryanapart from the dozen-odd hopefuls clamouring for a bite of the big screen is his authentic demeanour combined with a goofiness that seems to come naturally to him. In this year’s vapid heartland-set romantic comedy Luka Chuppi, the 28-year-old came off as the only thing that felt even remotely real. And next, he pairs up with Sara Ali Khan, another millennial favourite, for Imtiaz Ali’s sequel to Love Aaj Kal(2009).

The breakout star, Siddhant Chaturvedi

Image: Abheet Gidwani

When MC Sher first blazes onto the screen in Gully Boy, furiously rapping “Bhaag bhaag bhaag, sher aaya sher,” Ranveer Singh’s character, Murad, noticeably straightens up, as if asking, “Who is this guy?” It’s the same question that pretty much everyone asked on their way out of the cinema, turning the fresh-faced Siddhant Chaturvedi into a breakout star. He stood out because he brought leading-man looks and screen presence to what was, essentially, a character role. Evidence of his chameleon-like ability to become the character comes from watching him as the rookie fast bowler Prashant Kanaujia in and uncertain, in that persona he’s aeons apart from his Inside Edge. Scrawny avatar. This June, he brought some of that Smartmouth Sher to Gully Boy his dub for Chris Hemsworth’s character in the Hindi version of Men In Black: International, and if rumours are to be believed, he’s being wooed by everyone from Karan Johar to Yash Raj Films for future projects. Looks like iska time aa gaya!

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The every guy, Vikrant Massey

His delicate, heartbreaking performance as the troubled protagonist in A Death In The Gunj (2016) endeared him to discerning cinephiles and led to pivotal roles in shows like Mirzapur and Criminal Justice. In the latter, an insipid remake of the popular HBO mini series The Night Of, he shone as the helpless middle-class fellow implicated for a heinous murder that he swears he didn’t commit. Then there was that cameo opposite Arjun Mathur in the season finale of Made In Heaven. At just 32, Vikrant Massey’s performances have revealed a wealth of emotions, frequently so subtle and understated, it takes a trained eye to fully appreciate their depth and complexity. Fast cornering the market on Everyman roles, Massey will next bring his quiet charm to Meghna Gulzar’s Chhapaak, the true story of acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal, in which he stars as Deepika Padukone’s supportive partner. Looks like he’s here for the long haul.

The cool crusader, Jim Sarabh

Image: R Burman

Too skinny. Doesn’t speak Hindi well enough. Not Indian-looking. These are some of the reasons why Jim Sarbh was repeatedly turned down after auditions for dozens of films. But this was all before he gave a scene-stealing performance as the volatile hijacker in Neerja (2016). Barely three years on, all those rejections seem facile. Last year, Sarbh was in two of the biggest hits—Padmaavat and Sanju. In the former, he brought flamboyance and energy to his character as the emperor’s sexually-fluid aide, resulting in scenes with Ranveer Singh that were pure gold. Honed by his years in theatre, the 31-year-old lends rhythm to all his characters. An indie darling, the edgy actor has an equally powerful fanbase that is drawn to his alternative performances as it is to his zany personality. Recently, it was his impressive turn in Made In Heaven as the selfish, torn-between-twowomen millionaire Adil, that had everyone raving. He’s pushing the envelope with unconventional roles in provocative shows and delivering attention grabbing performances in lesser-watched stuff like Flip and Smoke. Sarbh’s secret sauce is that he’s the oddball. And it’s interesting to see where an actor of his talent goes with his unusual choices.

The fringe king, Arjun Mathur

To be fair, it was long before his star-making turn in the deliciously binge-able series Made In Heaven that one had evidenced Arjun Mathur’s undeniable talent. Rewind 10 years to Zoya Akhtar’s first film, Luck By Chance (2009), in which Mathur plays a struggling actor. When his roommate makes it big in the movies, we see the longing in his eyes as he contemplates those eternal questions: “Why him?” “Why not me?”, a performance so real, it was heartbreaking. But the 37-year-old knows that feeling of being on the fringes of stardom. Over the years he’s delivered consistently quality performances under big-ticket directors like Akhtar, Mira Nair and Karan Johar, and yet that breakout never came. Until Made In Heaven, where he finally got his due—a leading role as a committed wedding planner, but also a gay man struggling with his love life. You’ll find another impressive performance in the ready-to-stream Netflix drama Brij Mohan Amar Rahe, where he plays a man who fakes his death only to be sentenced for his own murder. The only crime one can think of is that it’s taken this long for his star to rise.

The power ranger, Tiger Shroff

Image: Tarun Vishwa

Blessed with the unbeatable combination of a baby face and a body that could put athletes to shame, Tiger Shroff is Bollywood’s true surprise packet. His performances may be limited to bendy dance moves and gravity-defying stunt sequences, but he’s successfully kicked, punched and contorted his way into the hearts of younger fans with his unmistakable sincerity. The 29-year-old star appears to be in no hurry to strive beyond his strengths, steering clear of the sort of dramatic roles that actors his age yearn for. For his next film, an as-yet-untitled action project, he goes mano a mano against his mentor and fellow Plasticine Man, Hrithik Roshan. A testament to his rising popularity is that most film critics agree for once that Shroff could be the bigger draw than his more seasoned co-star.

Originally posted by: you2

https://twitter.com/IIFA/status/1147839510861864960

Reserved category: Celeb Kids

General category: outsiders

Originally posted by: hasini009

Reserved category: Celeb Kids

General category: outsiders

RK,RS,Varun and others romancing them😃.Thank god no outsiders for them phew.

Originally posted by: you2

https://twitter.com/IIFA/status/1147839510861864960

All three are looking bakwas. 🤢

No charm, no looks, nothing.

Originally posted by: SungJin

Surprise Masand didn't include Vicky in the list.

he has already made it

Originally posted by: hedwig_fawkes

he has already made it

Ah, I see. Genuine question though, hasn't Karthik also already made it? I mean, much more than Vicky from the bollywood newsfeed I read. Am not from India so not sure but I really thought Karthik is super big and famous there