As Hindi films get increasingly character-driven, and as scripts open up to real people rather than cardboard paragons and caricatured monsters, perhaps it's time to rewind and go on a trip to the most memorable forays by stars into darkness.
Here we have terrible, ten heroes who did everything they should not ' and came clean and clear winners.
In 'Being Cyrus', Saif Ali Khan's persona was truly disgusting.
He targeted a dysfunctional family from his own community ' the Parsis and played a Machiavellian game to destroy them and siphon off their huge wealth and assets.
Director Homi Adajania gave an added edge to the film by making Cyrus narrate the sage almost as a triumph.
Hrithik Roshan in 'Dhoom 2' tests both the nerves and the skill of cops Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra.
This is the latest example in a stream of dark roles that prove that reel-life crime, evil and all things improper do pay ' for lead actors.
All his dark turns in 'Jism', 'Karam' and 'Zinda', however nothing to the role he played in 'Dhoom'.
John Abraham's character in 'Dhoom' achieved iconic status ' and everyone hated the lovable rake's 'death' in the film and believes him alive and well enough to resurface in a future film in the series!
And lovable John was ' he was soft, fair, gentle, ever-smiling, easygoing, non-violent and a complete and savvy gentleman ' what more could you ask for from a criminal?
Mani Ratnam's 'Yuva' was a sheer disaster, but Abhishek Bachchan shone in it as the utterly despicable cad who treated his wife like dirt (except when it suited him) and was too fist-happy to be fit to live in the world of the civilized.
This film was his first step upwards in the year that established him as a star rather than just an actor.
You hated the film and you hated him ' but for diametrically opposite reasons.
Aamir Khan in 'Fanaa' played a misguided terrorist who makes the fatal error of falling in love.
Even in a script that could have been eons superior, Aamir brought out poignantly the tragedy of his see-saw life of happiness and joy and ugliness and beauty.
Aamir also had gray shades to his roles in 'Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander', 'Raakh', 'Ghulam' and 'Akele Hum Akele Tum'.
In 'Ajnabee', action hero Akshay Kumar's role was of an amoral scoundrel.
The sheer absence of even a shred of humanity in his character makes it stand out in the rogue's gallery of Hindi cinema and his effortless performance uplifts it.
In 'Baazigar', every mood Shah Rukh made was aimed at furthering his vendetta.
Obsessed with revenge, he overstepped the limits himself and paid for his crimes.
Shah Rukh further forays into devilry in 'Darr', 'Anjaam' and 'Duplicate'.
No principals needed in a dirty game ' that's what Akshaye Khanna follows in 'Humraaz'.
Nothing scares him in the mission for millions.
He even uses the girl he loved as a tool for fleshing out selfish ends.
In 'Deewaar', Amitabh Bachchan's strong belief that honesty does not pay, ultimately makes him a smuggler.
From there it's a one-way journey to hell for Amitabh in the film.
In films like ' 'Mohabbatein', 'Aankhen', 'Kaante' and most recent 'Sarkar', Amitabh played roles which have black shades.
Also he will be playing the deadly Gabbar Singh's role in Ram Gopal Varma's Sholay.
Saif Ali Khan in 'Ek Haseena Thi' chilled us with his sheer lack of the slightest ruth.
Urmila's lovable boyfriend turned out to be anything but that.
As the blackguard extraordinaire, Saif Ali Khan stumped us with his cool, almost chic devilry.
On screen, he paid horribly for his crimes; off-screen he received accolades for an astounding turn.
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