The Hindi film industry’s showtime is far from over regardless of what some masses may claim, and this statement is further proved right by some of the best performances in Hindi films of 2022. Be it the nuances of a layered and equivocal character or just a straightforward emotional articulation, some of our actors know just how to carry themselves in style.
While the list may not have credited some acts, we’ve given it our all to highlight the best of the best with this curation. Here are some definitive accomplishments that kept us entertained to the fullest throughout the year.
Best Performances in Hindi Films of 2022 We Couldn’t Stop Raving About
Alia Bhatt (Gangubai Kathiawadi, Darlings)
Bhatt took the Hindi cinema by storm this year, especially with her titular portrayal of Gangubai in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film, a performance which gave even the notable filmmaker goosebumps. Her former character is starkly different from her role in Jasmeen K. Reen’s Darlings. While the first one allowed her to leave a mark as a full-fledged actor, knee-deep in her artistry, the second one gave her more room to polish her quirky edge in a dark comedy.
Tabu (Bhool Bhuliayaa 2)
Anees Bazmee’s sequel to Priyadarshan’s 2007 project may not be the one of the best movies we’ve seen this past year, but when the film was held up with Tabu’s veteran support, her character came out as the obvious winner. Her double delivery in this movie is a solidifying testament to her ability to flexibly adapt to whatever kind of character face is offered to her. Whether it comes to playing the pleasant side of Anjulika or her sister, Manjulika, ruling the dark side, she can do it all!
Deepika Padukone (Gehraiyaan)
Living out a dark reality of relationships by digging into intimate themes of infidelity, the movie itself reeled in mixed responses. However, Padukone’s Alisha came out strong with complete control over the character despite the uncomfortable tone of the issue. Her enactment of the nuanced character having fallen out of love is a resounding reminder of how well she can balance the vulnerable sensitivity as well as the strong-headed demeanour in the same composition.
Kareena Kapoor Khan (Lala Singh Chaddha)
Walking alongside Aamir Khan in the Hindi remake of Forrest Gump, Kareena Kapoor Khan may not have seemed like the shining star of the film on the surface, but she made the most of her short appearance as Rupa with the most calm and collected mien.
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Shefali Shah (Jalsa, Darlings)
When you pair up the greatest of the greats – Shefali Shah and Vidya Balan – in Jalsa, you just know it’s a magical takeover regardless of what the final storyline of the film may look like. Shah’s Rukhsana, however, climbs up the ladder a bit higher as she is the winning charm of the film’s totality. On the other hand, in Darlings, her chemistry with Alia Bhatt is one for the books. She rises high as the indomitable mother who’s willing to whatever it takes to support and protect her daughter, even if it asks for the most unconventional actions.
Triptii Dimri (Qala)
Playing the titular renowned playback singer of the olden Indian era, Dimri’s character is then preyed upon by the ghosts of her past. Her portrayal of this troubled artist is especially breathes this film to life. Her layered and bewitching aura proves that she’s the new queen of experimentation in Hindi cinema.
Rajkummar Rao (Badhaai Do, Monica O My Darling)
Turning up as a closeted gay cop in Badhaai Do, Rao plays Shardul who’s compelled by his family to tie the knot in the conventional heteronormative setup. Shardul’s portrayal comes out (pun intended) as a non-stereotypical vision, especially since his character steps away from the presentation of an effeminate gay man, which again raises an important discussion of gender and sexuality not being synonymous to each other. And when it comes to opening up about his reality, his angst finds an appropriate emotion meshed with sensitivity in Rao’s delivery.
Conversely, he plays Jayant in the noir murder mystery, Monica O My Darling, a genius underdog at the centre of it all, and once again he taps into his versatility to make wonders happen.
Ayushmann Khurrana (An Action Hero)
Racing into his first action film as Maanav, Khurrana is an arrogant Bollywood icon in the film who gets wrapped in an accident during filming. Maanav is evidently a grey character because you just can’t box him into the good or bad category in this satirical explosion. Ayushmann pulls up with a narcissism that he’s never embodied in his onscreen avatars before, but when it’s time to highlight the sense of loneliness he feel trapped inside, belts our another note which again underlines his role’s ambivalence.
Ranbir Kapoor (Shamshera)
Although Brahmastra may have been the bigger commercial success under Ranbir’s name, his eponymous role in the mentioned movie seeks more attention. While the story stays down, his ascent (as both the characters he’s playing) is inevitable as always, and becomes one of the very few life-sustaining forces for the period action film.
Vijay Varma (Darlings)
Varma may hate his character of the abusive husband, Hamza Shaikh, in Darlings, but you can’t reject the efforts put in to make us hate him. Once an actor has achieved this feat of making us hate (for the right reasons) his onscreen countenance, he had done his job right. His performance is top-notch, even more so, because he induces our urge to put him down even while fearing his next move.
Shahid Kapoor (Jersey)
In the Hindi remake of the Telugu movie of the same name, Kapoor emerges as a star playing the Ranji player Arjun Talwar. Having quit his career, he strives to bring his game back to life after a gap of ten years. The movie demands the ever-presence of emotional poise, especially since its plot concerns with relationships of various tones. Kapoor never lets the balance tip over by keeping it all under control regardless of which response he may be conveying on screen – that of coming out victorious, feeling helpless, etc.
Varun Dhawan (Bhediya, Jugjugg Jeeyo)
Now a significant player in Amar Kaushik’s extended horror comedy universe, Varun Dhawan fiercely pounces on the winning trophy as his shape-shifting self. There’s no doubt that his role in Bhediya is quite physically demanding and may have left the actor in exhausted with all those transformation sequences. Nevertheless, he doesn’t let us catch a hint even for a second and his effervescent energy remains constant on the scale till the end. He knows just how to make our ribs tickle, but when it comes to his delivery of Kukoo Saini in Jugjugg Jeeyo, he pulls the trump card yet again, but with more sentimental prudence.
Do you approve of our list of best performance in Hindi films released this year? Which one of these is your personal favourite and why? Is there any other name that should’ve made it to this list? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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