Shah Rukh Khan To Rajkummar Rao – Anti-Heroes Who Defined Power And Redemption On Screen

Lots of heroes have gone ahead and portrayed anti-heroes on screen. You can’t call the characters entirely villains because they’re not doing something evil, but have gone away from the path of righteousness. Here are a few such actors who played anti-heroes to perfection.

Prateek Sur

Updated on: 8 September 2023 10:38 am

Shah Rukh Khan In A Still From 'Jawan'

We often find ourselves drawn to characters who walk a fine line between good and evil. These anti-heroes have a way of making us root for them with their complex personalities, questionable morals, and, surprisingly, their ability to steal our hearts.

Today, we’ll explore a few unforgettable anti-heroes:

Shah Rukh Khan (‘Jawan’)

Shah Rukh Khan’s latest release ‘Jawan’ is winning hearts all over. The actor has played villainous characters before in films like ‘Baazigar’, ‘Darr’ and ‘Anjaam’, but with ‘Jawan’, he has played a Robinhood sort of anti-hero who goes against the system to correct come wrongs of today’s society. His powerful persona makes the screens come alive and you’re just left in awe of his superlative performance.

Rajkummar Rao (‘Guns & Gulaabs’)

In ‘Guns & Gulaabs’, Rajkummar Rao portrayed the character of Paana Tipu, a charming mechanic who is also a gangster. What made Tipu stand out was not just his criminal endeavours but the comical manner in which Rao portrayed him. Tipu, though far from being a typical hero, won hearts with his quirky antics and a knack for finding humour in even the direst situations.

Saif Ali Khan (‘Omkara’)

Saif Ali Khan took a bold step away from his usual romantic hero roles to play the role of Langda Tyagi in ‘Omkara’. His transformation into this devious character was astonishing. Khan's performance as the anti-hero left a lasting impact on viewers, making Langda Tyagi one of the most memorable anti-heroes in Indian cinema.

Akshay Kumar (‘Robot 2.0’)

Akshay Kumar embraced the role of the anti-hero in ‘Robot 2.0’, the Hindi dubbed version of the Tamil film 2.0. His portrayal required extensive prosthetic makeup and animatronics to transform into his character, adding a new dimension to his career.

Hrithik Roshan (‘Dhoom 2’)

Hrithik Roshan embraced the role of the suave and cunning thief, Aryan Singh, in ‘Dhoom 2’. His heists, elaborate disguises, and electrifying dance sequences left audiences in awe, blurring the line between right and wrong.