~*Sushant's Bollywood Journey *~#17 - Page 33

BOLLYWOOD

HOW DO TODAY'S YOUNG HEROES STACK UP IN TERMS OF ACTING TALENT AND SEX APPEAL? At2 REPORT CARD

ADITYA ROY KAPOOR The former VJ made his debut as a supporting actor in films like London Dreams and Action Replayy , but hit big time only last year " first with Aashiqui 2 and then with Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.

Debut: London Dreams ( 2009).

Filmography: Action Replayy ( 2010), Guzaarish ( 2014), Aashiqui 2 ( 2013), Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani ( 2013) High point: The alcoholic suicidal lover in Aashiqui 2 may have tugged at the heartstrings, but we simply loved ARK as the alcoholic ( yet again!) best friend in Yeh Jawaani.

Low point: The three years he was sitting at home without any work. Our loss, totally.

Strength: The vulnerability in his eyes and that angular jaw. Boy, is he good- looking!

Weakness: Isn't too much of a go- getter. Buck up, boy!

Sex appeal: Those eyes and that smile. That occasional stubble and that unmissable Afro.

Coming up: Daawat- e- Ishq ( with Parineeti Chopra), we like the title because he is good enough to eat (!); Fitoor ( with Katrina Kaif)

Fan speak: " The curly- haired boy just stole my heart in Guzaarish. He was so natural in Aashiqui 2 and I wanted a boyfriend just like him! He wasn't the lead in Yeh Jawaani and yet shone in his part" " Sreetama Mukherjee, Asutosh College

AYUSHMANN KHURRANA Also a former VJ, the 29- year- old father of two shot into the spotlight with the 2012 sleeper hit Vicky Donor, but has had a ho- hum run since.

Debut: Vicky Donor ( 2012). The Chandigarh boy hit a home run with his turn as a street- smart Delhi sperm donor in this Shoojit Sircar film.

Filmography: Nautanki Saala! ( 2013), Bewakoofiyan ( 2014)

High point: Floored us with his easy charm and natural screen presence in Vicky Donor.

Low point: Nautanki Saala !, in which Ayushmann played a theatre actor, was a film he never should have done.

Strength: His boy- next- door charm.

Also, he can sing... and sing very well.

Remember Paani da rang?

Weakness: Tends to be repetitive. Also, isn't much of a looker.

Sex appeal: He may not be conventionally good- looking, but there's something about those eyes.

You spot it, too?

Coming up: Hawaizaada ( in which he plays scientist Shivkar Bapuji Talpade); Dum Laga Ke Haisha ( produced by Yash Raj Films); 1911 ( Shoojit Sircar's football film based in Calcutta)

Fan speak: " I loved Ayushmann Khurana during his VJ days on MTV. He made an outstanding debut with Vicky Donor . His songs like Paani da rang and Mera mann have made him all the more appealing. And isn't he just adorable?" " Mrittika Bandopadhyay, Lady Brabourne College

VARUN DHAWAN David Dhawan's son made an eyeballgrabbing debut in 2012 with Karan Johar's Student of the Year, following it up with the box- office hit Main Tera Hero , directed by dad David .

Debut: Student of the Year ( 2012). As the poor little rich boy Rohan Nanda, Varun, 27, impressed both with his dancing and acting skills.

Filmography: Main Tera Hero ( 2014)

High point: Varun's smart- talking Seenu Prasad in Main Tera Hero was the epitome of the quirky Bolly hero, Govinda- style " a little mad and a whole lot of fun.

Low point: That eeewww man boob jiggle in the Palat number from Main Tera Hero.

Strength: Dances well, has comic timing and a screen presence.

Weakness: Can he play a rugged, brooding lover? We doubt.

Sex appeal: There's something about that naughty grin and those playful eyes that has girls hooked.

Coming up: Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania ( opposite Alia Bhatt)

Fan speak: " I like Varun Dhawan because he is a good actor, one who can make you laugh out loud with his jokes and look so very hot at the same time! He is a good dancer, which is always a plus point" " Samata Ukil , Shri Shikshayatan College

ARJUN KAPOOR Though he made a mark with his debut Ishaqzaade , Arjun Kapoor, 28, has just hit the big league with his first Rs 100- crore film 2 States.

Debut: Ishaqzaade ( 2012). Boney Kapoor's son shunned the " safer" option of a typical romantic lead to debut with a character with grey shades in this Indianised Romeo and Juliet.

Filmography: Aurangzeb ( 2013), Gunday ( 2014), 2 States ( 2014)

High point: Playing Krish in 2 States : the role that helped Arjun go from just another hunk to heart- throb.

Low point: The double role in Aurangzeb, he looked bogged down trying to do justice to two parts.

Strength: Is versatile enough to play both fawning lover boy and street- smart goon.

Weakness: Needs to work on his expressions and dialogue delivery.

Sex appeal: His rugged charm and droopy intense eyes spell S- E- X- Y for his fans. Also, we loved him on Koffee with Karan, bromance buddy Ranveer Singh for company.

Coming up: Finding Fanny ( with Deepika Padukone); Tevar ( opposite Sonakshi Sinha)

Fan speak: " I feel Arjun Kapoor is the hottest amongst all the rising stars in Bollywood. He is what I would call ' every girl's dream'. He looked so cute with the glasses in 2 States " " Nidhi Hirjee, St. Xavier's College

SUSHANT SINGH RAJPUT The former TV heart- throb made a mark with his debut film Kai Po Che! and kissed his way to the box office with Shuddh Desi Romance. The 28- year- old is now working with all the big names " Rajkumar Hirani to Shekhar Kapur.

Debut: Kai Po Che! ( 2013). The Jaipur boy " playing the emotional do- gooder Ishaan " hit it right out of the park in this Abhishek Kapoor film.

Filmography: Shuddh Desi Romance ( 2013)

High point: Holding his own alongside Rajkummar Rao in Kai Po Che! and conjuring sizzling chemistry with Parineeti Chopra in Shuddh Desi Romance .

Low point: None so far

Strength: Has the acting chops.

Weakness: Can't slip into every kind of role. And not a looker.

Sex appeal: Most of his female contemporaries on Koffee with Karan may have ranked him low on sex appeal, but, for us, his brooding boy- nextdoor looks do add up to a certain sexy charm.

Coming up: Peekay ( co- starring Aamir Khan and Anushka Sharma); Detective Byomkesh Bakshi ( directed by Dibakar Banerjee and shot extensively in Calcutta); Paani ( Shekhar Kapur's pet project, co- starring John Travolta)

Fan speak: " Sushant Singh Rajput is a very talented actor. In his debut Kai Po Che! , he showed great potential. He has a different charm altogether and has a smile to die for" " Malvika Saraf, Bhawanipur Education Society College

SIDHARTH MALHOTRA The Student of the Year hunk became every girl's heart- throb in Hasee Toh Phasee and is looking smokin' hot in the Ek Villain promos.

Debut: Student of the Year ( 2012). The Delhi boy made an instant impression as the tall, brooding and handsome Abhimanyu Singh .

Filmography: Hasee Toh Phasee ( 2014) High point: We all wanted to take home Hasee Toh Phasee 's good boy Nikhil.

And we sure are loving the bad boy vibe in the Ek Villain trailer.

Low point: None yet.

Strength: Where do we begin... those smouldering eyes, that sexy stubble, the rugged charm, that gorgeous face, those perfect abs... where do we end?

Weakness: Can't really play an over- the- top tapori . Or can he?

Sex appeal: Sidharth spells S- E- X- Y. How many of you girls agree?

Coming up: Ek Villain ( with Shraddha Kapoor)

Fan speak: " Sidharth Malhotra has an amazing presence and his eyes speak a lot... just like a perfect boyfriend who is very romantic and can show it through his eyes. He has an extraordinary charm ... very casual but so perfect" " Swati Samanta, BPO employee