Why: As Balram in The White Tiger, Adarsh Gourav was stunning, ruthless and raw, all at the same time. Here was a 26-year old, portraying an utterly complex character in an international film with two acclaimed actors, directed by Ramin Bahrani. What he executed in his detailing of a complex, twisted small-town boy with sky-high ambitions was independent of it all. Critic Richard Lawson, in his review for Vanity Fair wrote, "Adarsh Gourav, an up-and-comer confidently holds the center of the film. Gourav deftly shades Balram; his innocence is never too wide-eyed, his hardening worldview never too unyielding." His spirited performance earned him a BAFTA nomination for Best Actor and a Film Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead.
For creating India’s first true hit theme music in the prestige TV tradition.
Created a stellar second season of their popular spy thriller show
Showed us that you don’t always need a big star to pull in crowds
