4. Naseeruddin Shah (Maharathi, Mithya, Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, A Wednesday)
Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has had a tremendous year with tip-top performances in movies such as the critically-acclaimed A Wednesday – very eerie to have watched this just after the Mumbai attack as I did; the controversial Shoot on Sight, which had a very emotive release in the UK; the first-class ensemble murder-mystery Maharathi and the excellent Mithya. He also popped up of course in Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na at the beginning of the year. After the success of A Wednesday, a film which Kamal Hassan is said to be thinking of remaking, Neseeruddin and co-star Anupam Kher were flooded with offers. Enjoying his new wave of success, Anupam joked, “I keep telling Naseer we are the new rock stars of Bollywood.”
