Top heroes of 2005

If 2004 gave Akshay two big hits with Mujhse Shaadi Karogi and Aitraaz, 2005 was better, thanks to Waqt and Garam Masala.

Both films made between Rs 45-50 crore at the box office. Akshay also proved to critics that he could do a tragedy like Waqt and also manage a comedy like Garam Masala well.

To his bad luck, Number One status is still some distance away. Shah Rukh is way ahead. Although his film outdid Paheli as well as Salman Khan's Kyon Ki, producers and distributors still prefer the Khans to our macho hero, at least for now.

There are no words left to describe this legendary actor. He may be over 60, but his name is still enough to bring in the crowds.

He can twist on songs like Kajra re in Bunty Aur Babli like any youngster and, at the same time, prove what a master he is with his performance in Black.

"Amitabh Bachchan is special because he was born special," is what Ram Gopal Varma had to say when asked to describe the actor. His films raked in the most moolah in 2005, making Rs 100 crore at the box office.

No one thought his surname would ensure lifelong goodwill in the industry. He debuted six years ago, only to meet with one failure after another. The only time Abhishek made news on his own was when his engagement with Karisma Kapoor broke off.

Obituaries of his career were about to be written, when Bunty Aur Babli and Dus happened. Sarkar came next, followed by Bluffmaster. With the latter, he proved that he too can deliver a solo hit, although to multiplex audiences alone.

The actor's films generated between Rs 65-70 crore in 2005.

The man has patience! That's the only thing we can come up with when we think about him.

12 years in the industry, and this talented actor has only played sidekick to others like Akshay Kumar in the Khiladi series and Shah Rukh in Kal Ho Naa Ho. We always wondered why he didn't give up acting and start looking after his father's business. When we put the question to him, Saif replied, "I fear the day I won't get to act, because I know nothing else in life."

He gave his second solo hit after Hum Tum in 2005, with Salaam Namaste, which earned between Rs 15-20 crore. Parineeta, shot expensively at a budget of more than Rs 20 crore, could only recover its money from the box office.

Did Salman really just put in a special appearance for No Entry? It was hard to say, considering the actor walked away with all the whistles in theatres the minute he appeared on screen. He rocked in the song Just love me. Anil Kapoor and Fardeen Khan looked like pygmies while facing the macho Khan. The film was the year's biggest hit, making more than Rs 40 crore. Had controversies not bogged down Maine Pyaar Kyon Kiya, it too could have made more money.

The film had to settle for a little less than Rs 20 crore before it went off theatres.