Here are 20 of the best action heroes that Bollywood has ever seen.
In addition to acting and dancing, a Bollywood hero also needs to know how to fight. He has to make the audience believe that he can singlehandedly beat the pulp out of 20 goons. But then all actors are not equally good at the art of action, but there are quite a few who have rightfully earned for themselves the tag of action hero. Here are 20 of the best action heroes that Bollywood has ever seen.
20. Feroz Khan: The desi Clint Eastwood has acted in action thrillers such as Khote Sikkay, Kala Sona, Dayavan, Dharmatma and Yalgaar. Known for his flamboyant style Feroz Khan was Bollywood very own cowboy. His action was less about punches and kicks and more of the guns and babes kind.
19. Bobby Deol: Born Vijay Singh Deol, Bobby made his debut as a romantic star in Barsaat, but then very soon hit the action trail with Gupt: The Hidden Truth, Soldier, Badal, Bichhoo, Apne and Ek - The Power of One. Being Dharmendra's son and Sunny Deol's brother it would've been surprising if Bobby didn't turn out to be an action star.
18. Vinod Khanna: Often called the most dashing villain that Bollywood ever saw, Vinod Khanna soon graduated as the leading hero. He left his mark with action thrillers that include The Burning Train, Kuchhe Dhaage, Aakhri Daku, Daaku Aur Jawan and Dayavan. He also made one of the best on-screen daciots.
17. Govinda: Though now, thanks to David Dhawan, we know Govinda as the comedy star but early in his career Chi Chi was quite an action hero. Govinda's action ouvre include Hatya, Do Qaidi, Taaqatwar and Khatarnaak.
16. Hrithik Roshan: When he first made his appearance as an adult on the big screen girls all over started swooning. But then there is more to the actor with amazing dancing abilities, he is good with the kicks, punches, somersaults and more. This was evident in Mission Kashmir, Krrish and Dhoom 2.
15. Dara Singh: What will a world champion wrestler do in Bollywood? Fight of course! And that's what Dara Singh did in innumerable films for over 50 years. Though he is best known for his role of Hanuman in the TV series Ramayan, Dara Singh put his wrestling skills and physique to good use on the big screen.
14. Jackie Shroff: Jaikishan Kakubhai Shroff, better known as Jackie Shroff made an action-full impact on Bollywood with Hero and then followed it with film like Karma, Parinda, Tridev, Khalnayak, Gardish and Mission Kashmir.
13. Anil Kapoor: While Slumdog Millionaire made Anil Kapoor a global star, he has essayed a variety of roles in Bollywood with action being one of his popular genres. Anil Kapoor's popular action films include Parinda, Virasat , Musafir and Tezaab.
12. Rajinikanth: Though Rajinikanth wasn't as successful in Bollywood as he is in Kollywood, he did make an impact with his stylish action in Andha Kanoon, Chaalbaaz and Hum.
11. Suniel Shetty: Had it not been for his action abilities Suniel Shetty wouldn't have been an actor. Though lately he has forayed in comedy, Suniel had been a action hero. Ever since his debut with Balwaan Suniel acted in almost 30 action films before Hu Tu Tu which was his first foray in off-stream cinema.
10. Shah Rukh Khan: No one romances like SRK, they say. But when it comes to action the King Khan doesn't lag behind. Right from Baazigar to Don - The Chase Begins Again, Shah Rukh has played the action hero in over 10 hit films.
9. Aamir Khan: The perfectionist also being precision to his action as evident from the huge success of Ghajini. Though Aamir was originally pegged as the chocolate boy hero he did break the mould with films like Raakh, Parampara, Baazi, Ghulam and Sarfarosh.
8. Mithun Chakraborty: Mithunda is one of the best dancers in Bollywood but he also counts amongst the best on-screen fighters. His filmography is dotted with hit action films.
7. Dharmendra: They don't call his Garam Dharam just like that. The original Bollywood He Man didn't shy away from displaying his biceps, even decades later when they started to sag.
6. Sunny Deol: Sunny Deol did full justice to Dharmendra's legacy and when he uprooted a tube well to ward of the Pakistani Army in Gadar he ensured that his name would always figure in the list of top Bollywood action heroes.
5. Ajay Devgn: When Ajay Devgn (then Devgan) made his entry into Bollywood balancing himself on two bikes in Phool Aur Kaante, he announced the arrival of the next big action hero and did live up to his action director father Veeru Devgan's expectations. Like his contemporary Suniel Shetty, Ajay has also ventured into comedy but he is still remembered for his fight sequences.
4. Salman Khan: When Salman Khan first displayed his ripping muscles on the big screen, gym memberships multplied overnight. Even at 44 Salman hasn't lost any of the energy and the blockbuster Wanted is testimony to the fact.
3. Sanjay Dutt: Before Salman Khan it was Sanjay Dutt whose muscles sent many a heart aflutter. Sanjay Dutt was made of action is still best loved in action roles.
2. Amitabh Bachchan: The original Angry Young Man has be to somewhere near the top of the list of Bollywood's action heroes. There was a time when Bollywood heroes displayed their fighting abilities only in the climax and then came the Big B and changed the formula for ever. He is now 67 but doesn't still shy away from punching a punch and kicking a kick.
