5 actors who set the benchmark for dark and intense roles

Ranveer Singh – Padmaavat

Ferocious and obsessive, Ranveer infused Khilji with raw intensity and unrestrained energy. His menacing presence made Khilji terrifying and mesmerizing

Varun Dhawan – Badlapur

Playing a man consumed by grief and revenge, Varun delivered a layered performance that explored the psychological cost of vengeance, revealing his dark side

Nawazuddin Siddiqui – Raman Raghav 2.0

Portraying a real-life serial killer inspired, Nawazuddin masterfully blended menace with eerie calmness, creating a character that lingers long after the end

Vikrant Massey – Sector 36

Vikrant shed his gentle on-screen image. His restrained yet haunting performance captured the psyche of a man operating in the darkest corners of society

Shahid Kapoor – Haider

Set against the conflict in Kashmir, Shahid portrayed a man descending into emotional turmoil and revenge, capturing vulnerability and darkness in equal measure