5 Actors who are blurring lines between indie and commercial cinema

Over the course of years, the Hindi film industry has been witness to two sects of films, independent and commercial. Though the majority is divided among the two, the past couple of years have explored the idea of breaking down the notion to something new.

Taking this thought forward are some of the most noted actors from Hindi cinema. These actors are not afraid to experiment, to step out of their boundaries and choose more intriguing scripts. Redefining originality in the industry and coming up with new ways to expand the culture; here are a few names who top our list.

Irrfan Khan 

Irrfan Khan

Irrfan Khan has been on the scene for several years, impacting and influencing a global audience. From smaller independent yet noticeable films like Haasil, The Lunchbox and Qissa to studio films like Paan Singh Tomar, Saat Khoon Maaf, Madaari and his international projects, Irrfan’s filmography is proof that he is not one to shy away from a good script irrespective of its size and backing.

Vicky Kaushal

Vicky Kaushal

Though a relatively new entrant in the industry, the young and dynamic Vicky Kaushal is an actor who is balancing indie and commercial cinema with elan. He started out with a role in an independent principal storyline in Masaan and has now gradually expanded full-fledged within this new idea of cinema without being associated to stereotypes. He will soon be seen in Sanjay Dutt’s biopic which is going to be in stark contrast to his previous films.

Alia Bhatt 

Alia Bhatt

Alia Bhatt is one actor who has impressed us time and again with her choice of films. While she started out with an entertainer like Student of The Year, she has not shied away from taking a risk with films like Highway, Udta Punjab or the more recent Dear Zindagi, which blur the lines between parallel and mainstream cinema.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui

Nawazuddin Siddiqui

Nawazuddin Siddiqui started out with a small role in Sarfarosh along with Aamir Khan, and has since been part of some highly appreciated commercial as well as independent films. The length of his role not withstanding, Nawazuddin has surprised and impressed us with his brilliant performances in films that are pushing the envelope with innovative content. Some of our favorites include Gangs of Wasseypur, Kahaani, Miss Lovely, The Lunchbox and Talaash among others.

Rajkummar Rao 

Rajkummar Rao

He started his career with a film (LSD: Love Sex aur Dhokha)  that was anything but safe or conventional. And since then there has been no looking back for Rajkummar Rao, one of the few actors who are defying boundaries within cinema. Be it Kai Po Che or his poignant performances in Aligarh, City Lights and Shahid, Rajkummar is a game changer for Hindi cinema. He is currently in the news for his latest film Newton which is a black comedy.