In a era of characters being an integral part of a script rather than a super-hero or a super-villain, it is hard to choose between a lead role and a supporting role. Can there be a Munna without a Circuit? Would the case have been solved in '36 China Town' without Akshaye Khanna stepping in? And how would have a ride looked if Nana Patekar' wasn't driving 'Taxi No. 9211'? Over to those 11 men who provided best support in 2006
1. Dilip Prabhawalkar - Lage Raho Munnabhai
One had heard stories about a child in Mahatma Gandhi. Dilip Prabhawalkar brought that child to fore when he enacted the role of The Father Of The Nation in 'Lage Raho Munnabhai'. Aided by a powerful script and some great dialogues, veteran actor Dilip was near flawless in his performance of a legend who was nothing but an inner conscience of our over own Munnabhai - Sanjay Dutt! No wonder, the screen lit up every time he was on the frame. Wish we can see more of him in the coming years!
2. Abhishek Bachchan - Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
He was childish. He was emotional. He had a libido of any normal male. And he loved to keep his wife happy. And still, from deep within inside, he was unhappy...and confused! Confused because he never knew that why his wife didn't love him...or worse, sleep with him? And he had an outburst! An outburst that any normal man may have. And it was this normalcy that he brought out with such ease on celluloid while enacting a complex role in Karan Johar's KANK. No wonder, he walked away with accolades and finds himself sitting tight at #1 spot for best supporting actor of the year.
3. Arshad Warsi - Lage Raho Munnabhai
No, we don't call his Circuit act as a comic act anymore. That's because a comedian doesn't make you weep as he made you do at not one but more than a couple of instances in the film. He is a guy who would bring 'hakka noodles' for his 'munnabhai' in the middle of the night and still not complain! Flawless, and excellent, he is now an indispensable part of 'Munnabhai' franchise. And that's because you can't get just some random comedian to fill up his place. After all....he is different!
4. Amitabh Bachchan - Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
Can you think of any other 60+ actor as 'Sexy Sam'? Think hard, and you won't be able to find an answer. This is what makes Amitabh Bachchan different from the lesser mortals. Sleep walking through his role while wearing red from tip to toe, he can command his son to get hot blondes in his party and prefer them to wear nothing. And guess what, he can still walk away after saying this ! Now that's style, that's finesse, that's attitude, and that's Amitabh Bachchan!
5. Navin Nishchol - Khosla Ka Ghosla
This may as well be termed as a comeback of an immensely talented actor who was seen quite often in the 70s and early 80s. Navin Nishchol was the surprise package of an anyways surprising film 'Khosla Ka Ghosla' that has benefited almost anyone who has been associated with the film. As a theater actor who had to come up with a performance of a lifetime by acting as a Dubai returned entrepreneur, Nishchol taught a thing or two to the younger generation when it comes to finer points of acting. That's because he showed that getting into the gear of a businessman didn't mean you could camouflage your soul too!
6. Akshaye Khanna - 36 China Town
Many believe that if it was not for Akshaye Khanna and to a decent extent, Himesh Reshammiya's 'Aashique Ye Meri', '36 China Town' may not have been half as successful as it eventually turned out to be. He arrived late on the screen as an investigating cop but more than made up for it in each of the scenes thereafter. Suave and sophisticated, he knew how to get the truth out. This too with just his brains and not kicks! Intense Khanna at his intense best!
7. Salman Shahid - Kabul Express
Open your arms for an actor from the next door neighbors. Hailing from Pakistan, Salman Shahid showed his brilliant act as a Pakistani/Talibani in 'Kabul Express'. He may have been holding a gun throughout the film but inside his tough exterior was an emotional man who cared for his family. To add to it, he knew the true meaning of friendship. Watch him shrug away the mock warning he gives about killing his hostages [John Abraham, Arshad Warsi] and you would love to see him in many more movies to come.
8. Kunal Kapoor - Rang De Basanti
There were horde of actors that shared screen space in 'Rang De Basanti'. But the man who showed how one could be different from the stereotype was Kunal Kapoor. His character had its own troubles, frustrations and insecurities but one film old Kunal acted as a pro and came up with a performance that was noticed by one and all. Day is not far away to see him in a lead role seen since in quick time he is being approached by all who matter.
9. Sanjay Dutt - Anthony Kaun Hai
After watching 'Anthony Kaun Hai' one just wanted one of the two wishes to come true. a) Either have the film star Sanjay Dutt in a major role or b) Have the film reduced to 30 mins, the duration when Sanju baba is on screen! No one, just about no one can play the bad man with a golden heart like him and he proves it once again in his 'killer' act in 'Anthony Kaun Hai'. He may have played a criminal in 50 films but he knows how to do it different every time.
10. Nana Patekar - Taxi No. 9211
Audience loves to see him scream and shout and he got to do that aplenty as a cabbie in 'Taxi No. 9211' which was yet another example of New Age cinema arriving in Bollywood. A little frustrated, a little panicky, a lot of a family man and a man with his conscious still alive amidst all the diversities, the character played by Nana Patekar was complex with many dimensions but the actor knew how to bring that alive on screen.
11. Chunky Pandey - Darwaza Bandh Rakho, Apna Sapna Money Money, I See You
Come back Chunky, we still love you! He may have been around for long now but this could well be the best time for him to be seen in number of interesting roles. He came up with a very good performance in 'Darwaza Bandh Rakho' that unfortunately was publicized and released poorly. Watch out for his funny little interaction with Manisha Koirala! Later he was one of the best things to have happened to 'Apna Sapna Money Money' where he was supporting the rest of the starcast throughout the film and played an integral part of the plot as a Nepali/Afghani don. 'I See You' coming as the least release of the year has been an icing on the cake for 40+ but still young Pandey!
