Actors Who Have Played the Villain in Films

Anushka Halve

1. Manoj Bajpayee in Satya (1998)

Mumbai ka King kaun? Bhiku Mhatre! You can’t talk about villains without raising a toast to Manoj Bajpayee's brilliant portrayal of Bhiku Mhatre in Satya.

2. Shabana Azmi in Makdee (2002)

Shabana Azmi, as the evil witch in Makdee may not be the film’s central character, but she’s the one who haunts the audience’s memory.

3. Tabu in Maqbool (2003)

Tabu's performance in Maqbool as Nimmi is one of her most powerful portrayals of a femme fatale on the Indian silver screen — one that transcended the clichéd portrayal of a seductive and manipulative woman.

4. Priyanka Chopra in Aitraaz (2004)

Another leading lady who stole the show as an antagonist is Priyanka Chopra as the manipulative and ambitious character of Sonia. The role cemented her status as one of the most talented and sought-after actresses in Hindi cinema.

5. Shah Rukh Khan in Don (2006) and Don 2 (2011)

Everyone always talks about Rahul Mehra from Darr (1993), but Shah Rukh Khan's portrayal of the charming yet ruthless Don is one of his best performances.

6. Saif Ali Khan in Omkara (2006)

In Vishal Bharadwaj’s adaptation of Othello, Saif Ali Khan played the role of Langda Tyagi, bringing the sinister Iago to the Indian hinterland and shedding the sophistication that he exudes off-screen.

7. Rajkummar Rao in Omerta (2017)

Rajkummar Rao played Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, a British terrorist of Pakistani descent, showcasing just how versatile he is as an actor.

8. Ranveer Singh in Padmaavat (2018)

Ranveer Singh played the terrifying and mesmerizing Alauddin Khilji. Singh's version of the deluded ruler Khilji is a complex and layered antagonist.

9. Hrithik Roshan in Vikram Vedha (2022)

It’s evident that Hrithik Roshan delighted in the role of a sociopathic killer in the Hindi adaptation of the Tamil film Vikram Vedha. Roshan brought a sparkle of humour and an unexpected sexiness to Vedha.

10. Sanjay Dutt in KGF Chapter 2 (2022)

Sanjay Dutt has portrayed some memorable villains in Hindi cinema, including his portrayal of Kancha Cheena in Agneepath (2012). In KGF Chapter 2, Dutt brings a Viking vibe to the menacing and ruthless Adheera.

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NEXT: Conniving, Cruel and Crafty: Our Favourite Female Villains