12 Bollywood Supporting Characters That Were Better Than The Main Leads

Make some noise if you’re a true Bolly buff! I know almost the entire country will be an uproar. Cinema and films are such a deep-rooted part of our culture and the glamour of storytelling just takes you in wholeheartedly. While through the hundred odd years the Bollywood has flourished, there have been movies that were great, movies that were so terrible that they shouldn’t have been made and then there were movies that just stayed with the audience for a long time after they were over.

It was those movies that gave us characters we’ll never forget and iconic roles that were beyond what we had seen on screen. While the story is always about the lead characters and their lives, sometimes it’s the ones on the sides, the supporting roles that truly tie the film together. So we’ve curated a list of these supporting characters that just stole the limelight from the main lead!

1. Saif Ali Khan in Omkara

Let’s just take a moment and think about Langda Tyagi and how he just aced Vishal Bharadwaj’s film Omkara. Saif who is known for his chocolate boy looks and his dreamy eyes as a romantic lead portrayed a negative character and boy, did he nail it! The audience loved him so much that there are rumours afloat that Langda Tyagi will be back on the silver screen with a film of his own.

2. Anil Kapoor in Dil Dhadakne Do

The cast of Dil Dhadakne Do included some of the biggest names of the industry. From Priyanka Chopra to Anushka and Ranveer, it was difficult for any one person to outshine the other. However, it was Anil Kapoor in his role as Kamal Mehra, a patriarch who headed the dysfunctional family and, the film itself.

3. Parineeti Chopra in Ladies VS Ricky Bahl

The film was supposed to be Anushka and Ranveer’s but PC Jr. made sure she was the star of her debut movie. Dimple Chhada was all anyone could talk about. With such a dhamakedaar debut, Parineeti came in and told the industry that she isn’t just Priyanka’s sister but a star in her own right.

4. Annu Kapoor in Vicky Donor

“Hey jeda poora world hai na… sperm hai.” The man obsessed with sperms (does his hand gesture) just made Vicky Donor what it is today. With hilarious dialogues and Annu Kapoor’s top-notch portrayal of the fertility specialist Dr Chadha, this is one character that stayed with the audience long after they left the movie theatre.

5. Amrita Puri in Aisha

The Sonam Kapoor-Abhay Deol starrer, Aisha could have been just another chick-flick which would be forgotten. However, actors like Ira Dubey and Amrita Puri made this adaptation of Emma, a special one. It was Shefali and her truly middle-class ways that won our hearts.

6. Paresh Rawal in Hera Pheri

You can’t think of Hera Pheri and not think of Babu Bhaiya and his Baburao ka style hai! Paresh Rawal and his comic timing, hilarious expressions and jovial attitude had the audience in splits and that’s why even now his character still remains iconic!

7. Kalki Koechlin in Dev D

Abhay Deol’s brilliant comedy-drama Dev D had a lot of great things going on for it. But above everything, it was Kalki’s short role as Chadramukhi that won, not only hearts but also praises from the critics.

8. Jim Sarbh in Neerja

While many people say it was Sonam Kapoor’s best work, for us Neerja was Jim Sarbh’s film through and through. The menacing terrorist owned every frame he was in so well that even sitting in their seats, the audience trembled with fear.

9. Richa Chadha in Gangs Of Wasseypur 1

Anurag Kashyap’s highly critically acclaimed two-part series had the cast of a lifetime. While many talk about the men in the movies, it was actually Richa Chadha as Najma with her dirty mouth that stole the show for us.

10. Priyanka Chopra in Bajirao Mastani

The tale that was supposed to be an epic love story between Peshwa Bajirao and Mastani was somehow overpowered by Priyanka Chopra role as Kashi Bai. Now whether you give it to PC owning just about everything she sets her finger on or just the strong character of Kashi, she nailed it and how!

11. Rishi Kapoor in Kapoor and Sons

The family drama dealing with the nuances of human relationships, complications of life and touching upon subjects of homosexuality was a mix of love, laughter and tears for the audience. With big names of Bollywood like Ratna Pathak Shah, Alia Bhatt, Fawad Khan, Sidharth Malhotra and Rajat Kapoor it was actually the fun-loving Dadu, Rishi Kapoor, who outshone the rest. We love ourselves a cardboard cutout, don’t we!?

12. Siddharth Suryanarayan in Rang De Basanti

It’s difficult to say who was better than the other in this cult film. While the entire cast and the production team of Rang De Basanti had a role to play in it becoming not only a hugely successful venture but also a revolution in its own rights. Sidharth’s character Karan Singhania still stays with us as he announces the death of his father on live radio. What a great job!

So big or small role doesn’t really matter, owning the frame does!