Top 10 Indian Actors Who Impressed Hollywood Till 2023

By Nida Naaz May 20, 2023, 14:43 IST

With memorable Hollywood castings, Indian actors with domestic renown are captivating western minds. Some of these appearances were as supporting characters, while others were as main characters. Nonetheless, the unique charm of these Indian actors has captured the attention of Western viewers. With the growing popularity of foreign cinema in the English-speaking world, it's worth revisiting these appearances. Here are 10 Indian actors who have captivated Western audiences with memorable Hollywood roles.

  1. Priyanka Chopra

Priyanka Chopra is one of the few Indian actors on this list who has "broken through" to Hollywood. The former Miss World demonstrated a taste for experimental roles in Bollywood, appearing in films such as What's Your Raashee? in which she plays 12 different roles, each representing a different horoscope sign. She signed on to play Alex Parrish in the action thriller Quantico in 2015. Her performance in the American series received critical acclaim, paving the way for many Hollywood film roles. IGN named her performance as the antagonist in the 2017 film Baywatch as the best among the cast members.

  1. Amitabh Bachchan 

Throughout his five-decade career, Amitabh Bachchan has wielded absolute power in Bollywood. The 79-year-old Bollywood veteran is affectionately known as "Big B," but he has also been dubbed the Shahanshah of Bollywood, which translates to "Emperor of Bollywood." Bachchan briefly appeared as the shady underworld businessman Meyer Wolfsheim in the 2013 film The Great Gatsby. His performance in the film is nothing short of charismatic, and he perfectly embodied the character's sense of mystery and wickedness. Even Leonardo DiCaprio praised him as an actor, calling him "amazingly talented."

  1. Irrfan Khan

Irrfan Khan is widely regarded as Hollywood's most well-known Indian actor. Although he died at the age of 53 in 2020, he left behind a large body of work that included many notable Hollywood roles. His career path appears to be quite appropriate, as he got his big break after The Warrior, a British film that was released internationally. He has appeared in critically acclaimed Hollywood films such as The Namesake, Slumdog Millionaire, and The Darjeeling Limited.

  1. Dimple Kapadia

Dimple Kapadia is a veteran actress who has a long history of portraying complex female characters. Despite taking on fewer roles in later years, she has remained relevant because she chooses her roles with great care. Her extensive work in arthouse cinema has also inspired many filmmakers to create roles just for her. She made her Hollywood debut as the arms dealer Priya Singh in Christopher Nolan's 2020 film Tenet. Her natural acting style complemented the film's tense, thrilling tone.

  1. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Aishwarya Rai entered the public eye as the Miss World winner in 1994. She proved to be a capable actress despite being referred to as the most beautiful woman in the world. She has appeared in several iconic Bollywood films from the 2000s, including Mohabbatein and Devdas, which was nominated for a BAFTA for Best Foreign Language Film. During this decade, she appeared in a number of Hollywood films, including Mistress Of Spices, The Last Legion, and The Pink Panther 2.

  1. Ali Fazal

Ali Fazal has carved his own identity in Hollywood cinema, best known as the ferocious Guddu Bhaiyaa in the Amazon Prime series Mirzapur. He rose to prominence in Bollywood thanks to the massively successful film 3 Idiots. The majority of his roles have been in non-blockbuster Bollywood films such as Fukrey and Milan Talkies. His boyish charm, on the other hand, has found a lot of takers in Hollywood, with roles in Furious 7 and Death On The Nile. He co-starred in Victoria & Abdul with Judie Dench in 2017. He recently landed a key role in the upcoming Gerard Butler film Kandahar. Fazal appears to be on his way to supplanting the late Irrfan Khan as the most recognisable Indian face in Hollywood.

  1. Dhanush

Dhanush, a major star of regional Tamil cinema, has gained national acclaim by appearing in a number of Bollywood hits. Despite being a product of South Indian cinema's nepotism culture, Dhanush has amassed a large fan base through his compelling film performances. He is also a talented singer, songwriter, and director, for which he has received nominations or awards. He was recently signed by the Russo Brothers for The Grey Man, in which he played a world-class assassin. 

  1. Anil Kapoor

Anil Kapoor is regarded as a member of the so-called Bollywood royalty. Throughout his 40-year career, he has established himself as an icon while also reinventing himself. He began as a Bollywood pretty boy before moving on to more gritty roles. His wide range and commanding screen presence made him an ideal choice for Hollywood roles. Anil Kapoor's first appearance in the West was in Slumdog Millionaire, in which he played the host of a reality show. In addition, he has appeared in Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol and the action drama series 24.

  1. Anupam Kher

Anupam Kher, 67, is a Bollywood mainstay and prolific actor, having appeared in over 500 films. He is frequently seen portraying benign paternal figures, and he is capable of slipping into his roles with effortless grace. A similar pattern can be seen in his Hollywood roles. His understated, tempered performances have made him a popular choice for many Hollywood films. His performances in English-language films include The Big Sick, Silver Linings Playbook, and A Family Man.

  1. Freida Pinto

With the success of Slumdog Millionaire, in which she plays Jamal's love interest Latika, Freida Pinto became an overnight global star. Despite the fact that she was born and raised in India, the success of Slumdog Millionaire catapulted her to a career in the Hollywood film industry. Her direct follow-up to that film was Woody Allen's You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger. Her film roles have ranged from the major sci-fi film Rise of the Planet of the Apes to the art drama Knight of Cups and the neo-western action film Blunt Force Trauma.