Sonu Sood (Ek Vivaah Aisa Bhi, Jodhaa Akbar)
Just like Eesha, Sonu Sood was in great need of an image makeover, with none of his earlier films making much of an impression with the critics or at the box office. Earlier this year, he starred as Jodhaa’s brother in Jodhaa Akbar and came across confident and strong. The role won him several accolades and is likely to garner at least a few nominations this awards season. Later on, he followed it up with a lead role in Ek Vivaah Aisa Bhi where he proved that he too could pull a ‘Prem’, just like Shahid Kapur and Salman Khan. Let’s hope he keeps the diversity up because that’s most certainly the greatest strength of any actor.