10 Theatre Actors Who Should Be Superstars Instead Of Khans

5. Manoj Bajpayee

A power house of talent, Manoj Bajpayee is known for playing off beat and unconventional roles with aplomb. Rejected four times by NSD, he joined Barry John’s school of acting and did various theatre projects early in his career. He did a minor but noticeable role in Shekhar Kapur’s ‘Bandit Queen’ in 1994. But it was his role of a gangster Bhiku Mhatre in ‘Satya’ in 1998, that proved to be a breakthrough. Manoj Bajpai, perhaps, opened the doors for other method actors to be accepted in lead roles in Bollywood. He has won several awards including two National Awards for his performances.

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6. Irrfan Khan

A versatile and natural actor, who has captivated the audience with his superlative performances, Irrfan Khan has had his share of struggles in life. After Graduating from the NSD in 1987, he dabbled in theatre and television for many years. His first Bollywood lead role was in the movie Rog, where his performance was praised by the critics, however it was his stellar performance in ‘Paan Singh Tomar’ that got him a National Film Award and gave him the recognition he deserved. He has since received many different awards and has acted in several International projects as well. In 2011 he received the Padma Shri for his contribution in the field of arts.