Before Vijay Sethupathi in Jawan, 10 Actors Who Impressed as Villains Opposite Shah Rukh Khan!

Vijay Sethupathi is poised to make his debut as an antagonist in Bollywood with Atlee's Jawan. The trailer confirms his role as Kalee, a perilous arms dealer set to pose a threat to Shah Rukh Khan's dual characters. Playing negative characters is not new for the acclaimed National Award-winning actor, who has portrayed villains in a range of films down South, including Sundarapandian, Petta, Master, Uppena, Vikram, and many others. Jawan: SRK Grooves to 'Zinda Banda', 'Besharam Rang' with Fans at a Club in Dubai.

The question of whether Sethupathi can leave a lasting impression as an antagonist remains to be seen when Jawan hits theatres on September 7. Interestingly, his opponent in Jawan has excelled as an antagonist in several films, such as Darr, Anjaam, Duplicate, Don, and FAN. Then there are other actors who have made life miserable for his more heroic roles in some immensely popular films, and they've excelled at doing so. In this special feature, we delve into ten such actors who have impressed as villains opposite Shah Rukh Khan.

Amrish Puri in Various

The great Amrish Puri has been the epitome of onscreen villainy in Bollywood. From Amitabh Bachchan to Sunny Deol to Salman Khan, this legendary icon has terrorised them all with his array of antagonistic roles, and Shah Rukh Khan gets no fair treatment either, right from his big screen Bollywood debut. Deewana, Karan Arjun, Koyla, Baadshah... Amrish Puri has been a menacing villain in these films. And we are not even including the late actor's tough daddy love in movies like DDLJ and Pardes.

Jaaved Jaaferi in Oh Darling! Yeh Hai India!

Ketan Mehta's absurdist satire features Shah Rukh Khan and Deepa Sahi and revolves around events that unfold over a night, nearly leading to the country being sold in a villainous auction. While Amrish Puri plays the super-don in this tale, it's Jaaved Jaaferi who shines as the arrogant son of the said don, infatuated with Deepa Sahi's street-walker character.

Mohan Agashe in Trimurti

The late Mukul Anand's revenge saga brings together Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, and Shah Rukh Khan in leading roles, and introduces an intimidating villain in Mohan Agashe's Khokha Singh. While the film may not be a cinematic masterpiece, Mohan Agashe's getup and stands out, particularly in the songs.

Naseeruddin Shah in Chaahat

Mahesh Bhatt's Chaahat sees the esteemed Naseeruddin Shah impressing as a gangster who dotes on his younger sister and fulfills her every wish, even if it means separating a couple because the sister is infatuated with one of them. Ramya Krishnan plays the younger sister, while Shah Rukh Khan and Pooja Bhatt portray the unlucky couple.

Aditya Pancholi in Yes Boss

In Aziz Mirza's adaptation of Michael J  Fox's For Love Or Money, Shah Rukh Khan portrays an opportunistic employee to Aditya Pancholi's womanizing boss. The story unfolds as the boss becomes attracted to the woman Khan loves, leading Khan's character to rebel. Pancholi delivers a convincing performance as the lecherous boss willing to go to great lengths to pursue a woman he desires. Jawan: Before Atlee's Film, 8 Movies Where Shah Rukh Khan Played Double Roles and How They Fared at the Box Office.

Sharad Kapoor in Josh

"The Eagles" and "The Bichchoos" are the famous rival gangs in Mansoor Khan's adaptation of West Side Story. Shah Rukh Khan leads "The Eagles," while Sharad Kapoor provides strong competition as the leader of "The Bichchoos." Kapoor delivers one of his standout performances as the conniving criminal who prioritises vengeance over even his love for his sibling.

Suniel Shetty in Main Hoon Na

Farah Khan's directorial debut pays homage to '80s pulp films, with Shah Rukh Khan portraying Major Ram, who returns to college on a personal and protective mission. Suniel Shetty excels as the desi terrorist determined to disrupt India and Pakistan's peace efforts. What's remarkable about his character is that the film never compromises on the physical intimidation that Shetty brings to the role, even when the hero appears to have the upper hand.

Boman Irani in Don: The Chase Begins Again

While Shah Rukh Khan himself plays both the antagonist and the protagonist in Farhan Akhtar's film, Boman Irani also gets ample room to shine as the other antagonist. Aside from the film's final twist, fans often overlook another twist that deviates from the original Amitabh Bachchan starrer: the revelation that Boman Irani's supposedly honest cop character, originally played by Iftekhar, is the mysterious criminal Vardhaan. Irani delivers a highly convincing performance in this role, hinting that the remake will not follow the same path as the original. He also reprised the character in the sequel. Jawan: From Dil Se to Billu, Shah Rukh Khan Had Bad Box Office Luck With Directors From South; Will Atlee Break The Jinx?

Arjun Rampal in Om Shanti Om

Arjun Rampal takes on the role of an antagonist in two Shah Rukh Khan-starrers: Om Shanti Om and Ra.One. However, the writer has a soft spot for what Rampal brought to his villainous character in Farah Khan's entertaining love letter to Bollywood. As the suave yet cold-blooded producer, Arjun Rampal commands every scene he enters with his striking presence.

John Abraham in Pathaan

In Shah Rukh Khan's most recent blockbuster, John Abraham plays Jim, a mercenary with no national allegiance who wreaks havoc wherever he goes. By the time reviews poured in for the film, unanimous praise was showered on John Abraham for his portrayal of the handsome villain always one step ahead of the hero.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 04, 2023 03:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).