9 breakthrough performances Indian cinema gave us in 2015

Bhumi Pednekar in Dum Laga Ke Haisha

Whether it is giving it back to her snide sister-in-law or seducing her husband, Sandhya (Bhumi Pednekar) had audiences rooting for her from the get-go.

Formerly an assistant to casting director Shanoo Sharma, Pednekar put on kilos for her debut role but it was with her pitch-perfect performance as the young bride who stands up for herself, and not her size, that she stood out.

Kangana Ranaut in Tanu Weds Manu Returns

The moment from 0.15 to 0.24 is Kangana hitting the right notes as Kumari Kusum Sangwan aka Datto, the Haryanvi sportswoman whose candour and spirited ways conquer hearts.

Without her Tanu Weds Manu Returns would be a forgettable film with too many weddings. That the film made over Rs 150 crore proof of Kangana’s talent and appeal.

Vicky Kaushal in Masaan

As Deepak in Neeraj Ghaywan’s directorial debut, Vicky Kaushal exuded such calm and maturity that it is hard to believe it is his first lead performance.

Deepak’s furtive looks demonstrate the magic of first love. His breakdown at the ghats is the heartbreaking cinematic moment of the year. And the subsequent suffering on his face cannot be missed. Kaushal makes Deepak dolorous but never too dour.

Irrfan Khan in Piku and Talvar

Rana Chaudhary coyly flirting with Piku as they both eat rolls, his outburst in the car which silences Bhaskor (Amitabh Bachchan), his “Arrey Chhup” in Piku’s ancestral household... and pretty much every other scene featuring Khan in Piku is memorable.

Caught in the hot-headed tug of war between a stubborn father and an equally stubborn daughter, Khan’s Rana was just the laidback, charming personality the doctor ordered to deal with the two. As the CBI officer trying to undo the wrongs of the police, Khan brought the right balance of obsession and sardonic humour which made audiences question whether the Talwars were indeed guilty.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Badlapur and Bajrangi Bhaijaan

In one of the best introductory scenes for a character, Siddiqui wins over audiences instantly as Chand Nawab, the irritated Pakistani TV reporter at the train station.

That he pulls Salman Khan’s leg later in Bajrangi Bhaijaan makes him even more endearing. And the scene in Badlapur in which he talks dirty behind the bars is terrifyingly great.

Geetanjali Kulkarni in Court

As a public prosecutor by day and a Maharashtrian housewife by night in Court, Geetanjali Kulkarni amazes as she shuttles between the two diverse worlds with effortless ease.

The train sequence in which she casually discusses the merits of olive oil with a friend is a superb example of director-writer Chaitanya Tamhane’s brilliant wit and Kulkarni’s own thespian skills.   

Ranveer Singh in Bajirao Mastani

He broke his shoulder during the making of the film. He grew a moustache. Went bald. Singh’s investment to the role of Peshwa Bajirao I is unquestionable. The chest is out, demonstrating the bravado.

The lose-yourself jig to “Malhari” reiterates that he is one of the most energetic actors in Bollywood.

But it is as the aggrieved lover who struggles to win social approval for Mastani even as he wins innumerable battles and the husband failing to hold on to his first love that he really shines.