Year Ender 2019: Ranveer Singh in Gully Boy, Shahid Kapoor in Kabir Singh, Ayushmann Khurrana in Bala & More – 11 Best Male Performances of Bollywood in This Year

The year 2019 is coming to an end, and it is time for us to check out the profits and cut the losses when it comes to Bollywood. Box-office wise, 2019 has been a really good year for Bollywood, with so many films working well in the theatres. Actors like Akshay Kumar, Hrithik Roshan, Salman Khan, Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar, Kartik Aaryan, Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani et al all had a really good year at the box office, while two big Khans -  Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir - gave 2019 a miss. Year Ender 2019: 15 Best Moments From Your Fave Movies of the Year Featuring Ranveer Singh, Ayushmann Khurrana, Priyanka Chopra and More!

But box office hits don't really mean good films. Looking back at some of the big 'hits' of the year, you can clearly see that not many of them would stand the test of time. At the same time, there have been a couple of superlative movies that failed to hit the bulls' eye at the box office. There were some really good performances in bad films, some exemplary ones in overlooked films and some overlooked ones in mainstream fare. In our year-ender special feature, let's look at our favourite 11 performances of the year by a male actor, in order of the movie's release date.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Thackeray

If we dissect the performance apart from a problematic movie, then Nawazuddin Siddiqui's act as the late Shiv Sena Supremo deserves a lot of praise. His casting definitely raises a lot of eyebrows, as the actor is from Uttar Pradesh, and Bal Thackeray was infamous for his stand against immigrants from that state.

Casting aspersions aside, Siddiqui manages to encapsulate the fierceness of the political kingpin, right from his inflammatory speeches to his calmer, calculative side as a political mastermind. This was a very commanding performance, and Siddiqui aces the role as you always expect him to do! Thackeray Movie Review: Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s Power-Packed Portrayal Works in Favour of This Idol Worship.

Anil Kapoor in Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga

Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga is an opportunity not completely utilised to tell an unconventional story. It wastes a bit too much time to get to the point, and Sonam's less-than-average performance does the film little favour. But there are two actors who more than make up for some of ELKDTAL's huge flaws - Rajkummar Rao and Anil Kapoor.

Anil Kapoor, especially, delivers an empathetic performance as a patriarch who himself is forced to simmer his likes for the sake of his family, and sees his daughter doing the same with her sexual identity. A fantastic performance that has him hone his light-hearted and emotional facets of his act in a suitably restrained manner. Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga Movie Review: Anil Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao Pitch in Heart-Warming Performances in Sonam Kapoor’s Unusual Love Story.

Ranveer Singh in Gully Boy

Merely weeks away from his bombastic portrayal of a cop in Rohit Shetty's Simmba, Ranveer Singh puts up a far more controlled act as a rapper from the Mumbai slums in Zoya Akhtar's inspiring Gully Boy. While his offscreen persona may not be to everyone's tastes, it is mystifying how Ranveer controls his, well, 'Ranveer'ness, when the role asks for it.

Which is the case with Murad in Gully Boy. There are no airs of a superstar around this ordinary person, which makes his rise from rags to riches an underdog story worth rooting for. With Ranveer even rapping most of the songs, this was a well-committed performance from the actor that reiterates why he is such a brilliant performer. Gully Boy Movie Review: Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt Are Bloody Brilliant in Zoya Akhtar’s Finest Work to Date!

Sushant Singh Rajput in Sonchiriya

As the redemption-seeking dacoit, Sushant's performance in Abhishek Chaubey's visceral Sonchiriya is perhaps his finest. From nailing that difficult accent to depicting his character's internal anguish, Sushant's unlikely hero makes us forget he was in one of this year's biggest travesties -  Drive.

And it is also painful to see that not many ventured into the theatres to see both this fine performance and the fine film too, making Sonchiriya the most unfair box office bomb of the year. Sonchiriya Movie Review: Sushant Singh Rajput, Bhumi Pednekar, Ranvir Shorey Are Marvellous in Abhishek Chaubey’s Stunning Dacoit Drama.

Gulshan Devaiah in Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota

It is strange to see that Bollywood is yet to fully utilise so much of the untapped potential of this brilliant actor called Gulshan Devaiah. In Vasan Bala's quirky take on vigilantism, Gulshan had a double role of two diametrically opposite twins.

Gulshan is quite subdued as the alcoholic, Miyagi-inspired one-legged karate master, Mani. But it is his darkly funny role of the devious, antagonistic Jimmy that steals the show every time he appears on the screen. Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota Movie Review: Abhimanyu Dassani and Radhika Madan’s Action-Comedy Is a Sucker Punch to Bollywood’s Monotony.

Shahid Kapoor in Kabir Singh

You may love Kabir Singh. Or you may completely hate it. Whatever the case may be, you can't deny that Shahid Kapoor's powerhouse performance has a lot to do with in both the cases. As the narcissistic, arrogant but brilliant doctor who sets himself on a path of self-destruction, Shahid is highly impressive, making us both mesmerised and disgusted with his act.

Sure, Telugu fans may claim that Vijay Deverakonda was better in the role in the original film. While Vijay was fantastic, that doesn't really take away how Shahid owns the role with supreme confidence and makes Kabir stand apart from Arjun Reddy, thereby also reigniting the actor's box office appeal. Kabir Singh Movie Review: Shahid Kapoor Smashes His Way to a Career-Best Performance in This Problematic Love Story.

Akshaye Khanna in Section 375

Section 375 is quite an underrated drama that offers to show a different perspective to social media crucifixion of alleged criminals without offering a chance for them to defend themselves. Akshaye Khanna plays a top lawyer who takes a case that could harm his standing - of defending a top director in a rape case.

While Akshaye Khanna's recent choice of films is debatable, his performance in Section 375 makes us wonder why big studios aren't approaching him more with better roles. Be it his powerful arguments in the court or his silent indignation when ink is poured on his face, Akshaye puts up a fantastic show and deservedly walks away with most of the plaudits reserved for the film. Section 375 Movie Review: Akshaye Khanna Delivers a Powerful Act in This Murky Legal Thriller.

Hrithik Roshan in War

There might be a little disgruntling over choosing Hrithik Roshan's performance in War over what is deemed to be a worthy act in Super 30. Sorry, but I found Hrithik to be a miscast as the Super 30 founder Anand Kumar, and his performance also lacking in certain aspects. War's Kabir is more in Hrithik's alley, as the star nails the role of a fugitive army man with a dignified panache.

It may not be a very challenging role for the performer in Hrithik, but the actor brings in the right amount of dishiness and histrionics in the role, nailing the emotional beats. In comparison, Tiger Shroff looks like a kid lost in a candy shop. War Movie Review: Hrithik Roshan-Tiger Shroff’s Dynamic Duo and a Thrilling Third Act Make a Deadly Combo in This Action Thriller.

Farhan Akhtar in The Sky is Pink

It is not easy to stand out in a movie where you are pitted against two National Award performers in Priyanka Chopra and Zaira Wasim. Especially when the narrative is also inclined towards them. Which is why Farhan's act as the well-meaning father/husband in The Sky is Pink so special and underrated.

At various points of the film, Farhan has to show a gamut of emotions, from romance to anguish, from supportive calmness to helplessness and frustration. And there is not a single note that we can find wrong in his act. Our favourite scene of the actor is when his character and his son (played superbly by Rohit Suresh Saraf) cry into each other's arms over the impending loss of their family member. A terrific act indeed. The Sky Is Pink Movie Review: Priyanka Chopra-Farhan Akhtar's Emotionally Charged Film is Pure Gold.

Akshay Kumar in Housefull 4

Don't know if it is because the rest of the film is so bad that makes him look so good, but Akshay Kumar's performance in Housefull 4 is what you can call entertaining to the core. There are several problematic aspects to his role, like romancing two girls more than half his age and perverseness played around for gags. But that doesn't take away how funny Akshay is, especially as the haughty exiled prince Bala.

Akshay is clearly seen having a ball blending the meanness of the character with OTT hilarity, taking a page out of Sacha Baron Cohen's act in The Dictator. There is no doubt that Housefull 4 is a terrible film, but if the film did good business and made you chuckle at the rare few opportunities, it is all Akshay! Housefull 4 Movie Review: A Funny Akshay Kumar Owns the House in This Lowbrow, Regressive Comedy.

Ayushmann Khurrana in Bala

Ayushmann Khurrana had a really superb year in 2019 with all his films turning out to be successes. What's more, all of them featured terrific performances by the actor. While I was tempted to put up his scintillating act as police officer Ranjan in Anubhav Sinha's hard-hitting Article 15, I had to favour Ayushmann's far-more rounded act in Bala in this list.

As the flawed young man who suffers from premature balding, Ayushmann suitable depicts the frustrations and desperation of the character. But whats cinches the spot for the National award-winning actor in this list is hilarious impersonations of popular actors in TikTok videos. His comic timing is spot-on in those scenes, the reason why people like Ayushmann so much. Bala Movie Review: Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar and Yami Gautam Are in Rollicking Form in This ‘Hair’-Raising Comedy.

So how did you find our picks of the best male performers of 2019? Share your thoughts, likes and dislikes in the comments section below.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 23, 2019 07:47 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).