Bollywood Half-Yearly Report: Best Performances of the Year So Far

As Bollywood films improve in quality, we are witnessing a rise in level of performances given by actors. This year has been a proof that actors have begun to take more risk and as a result, we have seen some remarkable roles.  

So in the next entry of Desimartini's Half-Yearly Report, we recognise the best performances in Bollywood this year.

Here they are:

Randeep Hooda in Sarbjit

There has been no actor who has given more to a role than Randeep Hooda as the captive Sarabjit Singh. Not only did he lose 18 kg for the role but his intense performance was both heartbreaking and inspiring.

Manoj Bajpayee in Aligarh

Playing a role of an isolated gay professor was enough of a risk in itself. But to play that role with such quiet intensity, Manoj Bajpayee not only delivered one of the best performances of the year, but of the past decade.

Alia Bhatt in Udta Punjab

With her emotionally absorbing role as a Bihar migrant who gets tangled in the messy drug situation in Punjab, Alia Bhatt shows all the signs that she is going to be a crucial part of Bollywood's future. 

Shah Rukh Khan in Fan

Shah Rukh Khan silenced a lot of his detractors with his dual role in Fan. His high-octane performance was actor's best since Chak De India.

Swara Bhaskar in Nil Battey Sannata

Swara Bhaskar stole our hearts with her attention-grabbing turn in Nil Battey Sannata. With her first lead role of her career, she now has truly arrived in Bollywood. 

Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Raman Raghav 2.0

To give the best performance of his career, Nawazzudin Siddiqui really needed to do something special, given how many great performances he has already given. That came in Raman Raghav 2.0, when his role as a psychotic serial killer broke all expectations we have from the actor. 

Sonam Kapoor in Neerja

Her charming and heartrending role as flight attendant Neerja Bhanot was Sonam Kapoor's best till date by a long way. She is also amongst this year's acting elite.

Fawad Khan in Kapoor & Sons

In one of the best films of the year so far, Fawad Khan's role as a closeted gay man was the most engaging. This well-written role was played convincingly by the Pakistani actor.

Shahid Kapoor in Udta Punjab

Shahid Kapoor did justice to his role of Tommy Singh, an eccentric and drug-frenzied popstar. His performance was brimming charisma and is one of the truest representation of music stardom Bollywood has ever produced. 

Read more: (Bollywood Half-Yearly Report: The Best Films of the Year So Far)