Amitabh Bachchan

Arguably the biggest star in the country, Amitabh Bachchan’s is a name that hardly anybody hasn’t heard of. The prolific actor, after four decades of work in Hindi cinema, ventured out into the West. He was slated to play a supporting role alongside Johnny Depp in ‘Shantaram’ back in 2008, but the project was shelved indefinitely owing to writers’ strike and other factors. Bachchan has now played a short role in Baz Luhrmann’s ‘The Great Gatsby’. The film is due to release in 2013 and marks the megastar’s debut in Hollywood.

Irrfan Khan

Hollywood’s favourite Indian actor, Irrfan Khan, has appeared in many films and television series in the US. Among his noted performances, the role of Pi in Ang Lee’s ‘Life of Pi’ (2012) is probably the most applauded. Apart from ‘Life of Pi’, Khan has acted in films like ‘A Mighty Heart’, ‘New York, I Love You’, ‘The Namesake’, ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’, etc. One of the best actors in the contemporary Hindi film industry, Irrfan Khan has been appreciated for his performances in the international circuit too.

Aishwarya Rai

She has been voted one of the most beautiful women in the world, she has been constantly seen working in the international circuit, she has performed in many Hollywood movies. Aishwarya Rai has acted in films like ‘Bride and Prejudice’, ‘Mistress of Spices’, ‘Provoked’, ‘The Last Legion’ and so on. According to Forbes’ list of most bankable stars in Hollywood, Rai is ranked the highest among her Indian contemporaries. She is the only Indian star to have appeared on ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ twice. Rai’s list of accomplishments around the globe is undoubtedly an enviable one.

Anupam Kher

In addition to being one of the most prolific actors in the current Hindi film industry, Anupam Kher is probably one of the most versatile of actors too. Kher has been seen in innumerable films in India, and has now left his stamp upon Hollywood too. With his performance in the Oscar-winning 2013 film ‘Silver Linings Playbook’, Anupam Kher has received a lot of critical acclaim. Other Hollywood projects that he has been a part of include ‘Bend It Like Beckham’, ‘Bride and Prejudice’, ‘The Mistress of Spices’, etc.

Anil Kapoor

When it comes to global recognition, Anil Kapoor arguably enjoys the most of it as far as an Indian actor is concerned. Kapoor’s stints in ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and ‘Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol’ were praised by critics and general viewers alike. In addition to working in Hollywood films, the actor has been seen in the action series ‘24’ too.

Naseeruddin Shah

Most noted in the West for playing Captain Nemo in the Hollywood comic book adaptation ‘The League of Extraordinary Men’, Naseeruddin Shah has made a mark in cinema outside India. The actor is to play a role in ‘Amma 3D’ – a film that is simultaneously being made in Telugu, English, Hindi and Tamil.

Mallika Sherawat

Born in a conservative Jat family in Rohtak, Reema Lamba – aka Mallika Sherawat – lost no time in establishing herself as an actress in Hindi cinema, courtesy – mostly – shedding clothes and locking lips on celluloid. After a more-or-less lukewarm career in film sin Bollywood, Sherawat broke into the international arena with ‘Hisss’ and ‘Politics of Love’. In 2005, the actress was seen across martial arts legend Jackie Chan in the Chinese film ‘The Myth’.

Kabir Bedi

Kabir Bedi is an actor whose acting prowess has been hailed across three continents – that of Asia, Europe and America. Bedi has acted in many Hollywood projects and is most known for his portrayal of Emperor Shah Jahan in ‘Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story’. In addition to that, Kabir Bedi enjoys the rare distinction of being the only Indian actor to have appeared in a James Bond flick (‘Octopussy’).

Emraan Hashmi

One of the most commercially successful actors in India, Emraan Hashmi has had a great career in Bollywood. Post his brilliant success in the Hindi film industry, Emraan Hashmi has recently stepped into Hollywood too. The actor has been roped in to play a role in an upcoming film by the Academy Award winning director Danis Tanovic.

By Ananya Bhattacharya