#BirthdaySpecial: April-born actors and their best performances

As part of our continued series, #BirthdaySpecial, we celebrate the works of actors born this month. While there are a bunch of April-born superstars—from Varun Dhawan and Rashmika Mandanna, to Paul Rudd, and others—we will give you a glimpse of the works of our favourite five: Ajay Devgn, Vikrant Massey, Robert Downey Jr., Jennifer Garner, and Manoj Bajpayee. While it’s tough to choose the best movies from their stellar filmography, we’ve rounded up two movies and we can't recommend these enough. 

Ajay Devgn (April 2)

The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002)

Over the decades, countless actors have portrayed the iconic revolutionary on screen, but none as memorable as Devgn, who won a National Award for it. Devgn’s portrayal of Singh brilliantly embodied the hero’s life, struggles, and determination, spanning his journey from a reserved young man to a revolutionary freedom fighter, and a martyr. The film transports audiences into the heart of the freedom movement, making it one of the finest depictions of an Indian freedom fighter.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Drishyam and Drishyam 2 (2015 and 2022)

It’s tough for any actor to step into the shoes of legendary actors like Mohanlal and Kamal Haasan, playing the same character for Hindi-speaking audiences. Yet Devgn emerged a winner in this whodunit murder mystery, playing a character that is fiercely protective of his family. His intense gaze, expressions, and charismatic presence speak volumes. Always one step ahead of everyone, owing to his meticulous planning, Devgn's scenes with Tabu, the mother of the murdered victim, are an absolute treat, showcasing why he remains one of Hindi cinema’s finest actors.

Where to watch: Disney+ Hotstar and Netflix

Vikrant Massey (April 3)

Haseen Dilruba (2021)

The film centres on a woman suspected of murdering her husband, who recounts their marriage to investigating officers in search of evidence against her. In this riveting thriller, Massey portrays Rishab ‘Rishu’ Saxena, the husband, with a phenomenal acting range, evolving from an innocent spouse to a determined figure willing to go to extreme lengths for love. Alongside Taapsee Pannu, Massey's performance enhances the compelling narrative, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. There’s more in store with the upcoming sequel, Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba set to release this year. 

Where to watch: Netflix

12th Fail (2023)

Massey's portrayal of Manoj Kumar Sharma, a civil service exam aspirant who rises from poverty to become an IPS officer, was exceptional to say the least. His performance earned him the Best Actor (Critic) award at the 69th Filmfare Awards. Playing the role of the underdog, he persevered relentlessly against all odds. From his humble beginnings to engaging in menial jobs, preparing for his UPSC exam, Massey's growth felt real, compelling, and engaging emotionally and intellectually.

Where to watch: Disney+ Hotstar

Robert Downey Jr. (April 4)

Chaplin (1992)

Downey Jr. earned his first Oscar nomination for his performance as the legendary silent film star known for slapstick comedies. He embodies Chaplin with remarkable resemblance and effortlessly captures his mannerisms and charm. The film spans Chaplin's life, exploring his battles, sadness, upbringing, relationships, and clashes with the FBI. It’s a film filled with mischief, magic, and melancholy, one that you certainly should watch. 

Oppenheimer (2023)

Robert Downey Jr.'s portrayal in the film, alongside director Christopher Nolan and actor Cillian Murphy, garnered widespread acclaim, earning Downey Jr. his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Despite the film's focus on 'the father of the atomic bomb', Downey Jr.'s character, Lewis Strauss, a member of the United States Atomic Energy Commission, played a pivotal role in orchestrating a conspiracy to destroy the scientist’s career. Going about seeking revenge for a perceived slight, we get to see the actor play a character that's arrogant, petty, manipulative, and coward, all at once. His hatred for the man brings out a raw intensity to the role, showing us a side of the actor we’ve rarely seen in previous performances. 

Where to watch: JioCinema and Amazon Prime Video

Jennifer Garner (April 17)

13 going on 30 (2004)

This rom-com sees Garner deliver one of her most iconic performances of all time. It revolves around a 13-year-old who wishes to be 30, unable to deal with the stresses of her teenage life. Her wish comes true and she is magically transformed into the adult version of Jenna (played by Garner). She now has to navigate the new world she finds herself in and correct all the mistakes she made when she was young. Filled with light-hearted moments and laughs, Garner adds life, zeal, and a lot of heart to the movie as she plays a young girl who finds herself in a place she doesn’t want to be, but soon falls in love with. 

Where to watch: Apple TV

Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

The movie stars Matthew McConaughey, an electrician from the 1980s, who discovers he has AIDS with only a month to live. He and another patient seek out medicine and therapies, with Jennifer Garner portraying Dr Eve Saks, their doctor. To step into the shoes of the character, Garner immersed herself in researching the medical perspective of the mid-1980s HIV/AIDS era, buying old medical journals from eBay. Despite its upsetting subject matter, the film is significant due to its portrayal of an important topic and Garner's compelling performance.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Manoj Bajpayee (April 23)

Aligarh (2015)

This 2015 film directed by Hansal Mehta revolves around the life of Professor Ramchandra Siras (Bajpayee) who was suspended on moral grounds from the Aligarh Muslim University for being a homosexual. The actor perfectly combines his voice modulation with the body language needed for his defeated and lonely character to give us a person who is affectionate and pure with all his heart. Conveying his pain through alcohol and poetry, Bajpayee’s portrayal of Siras was one of the most powerful characters seen in Hindi cinema in recent times. It was also a refreshing change to see just a realistic portrayal of the gay community in the film, as compared to the many stereotypes and tropes seen in previous films. The performance saw Bajpayee win a Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor and the Asia Pacific Screen Awards for Best Actor Award.

Where to watch: JioCinema, YouTube, ZEE5, Amazon Prime Video

Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai

Inspired by true events, the film is a courtroom drama starring the actor as lawyer P.C Solanki. He plays a high court advocate who single-handedly fought an extraordinary case against the country’s biggest godman and successfully ended up prosecuting him for the rape of a minor under the POCSO act. Carrying the engrossing narrative on his shoulders, Bajpayee drives the message home that just one person is more than capable of making a positive change to society, the way it thinks and the things it believes and has blind faith in. Loved and appreciated by audiences worldwide, the actor received a standing ovation at the New York Indian Film Festival for his outstanding performance. 

Where to watch: ZEE5

Lead image: IMDb

Also read: Birthday Special: April-born actors and their best movies to watch this month

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