Ranveer Singh or Ranbir Kapoor? Who wears the Bollywood crown?

It’s been a year where the mighty Khans – Shah Rukh and Salman – continued to win over their fans with their pomp and show, but didn’t quite manage to secure top ranks in the year-end (acting) report card. In fact, those slots were reserved for performances unadulterated by star power. While Ranveer Singh and Ranbir Kapoor enjoy a decent fan following, but they are still a long way off from demanding the hero worship the Khans enjoy. But, they managed to make up for that with their performances this year. Here’s our top 5 for 2015 Ranveer Singh in ‘Bajirao Mastani’ For any actor to outshine the shimmering magnificent sets that Sanjay Leela Bhansali pitches on-screen is a feat in itself, but that’s something Ranveer Singh surpasses with ease. In fact, he manages to hold his own in a poetry that Sanjay spins so exquisitely. He abandons his off-screen persona and surrenders wholeheartedly to Bajirao’s majestic life on the battleground, and off it. He lends credibility and charm to a warrior torn between the love for his land and his love. Much of ‘Bajirao Mastani’ rides on Ranveer, and he doesn’t falter or fumble. And, therein lies his brilliance. Vicky Kaushal in ‘Masaan’ He might have done bit parts earlier (one in this year’s biggest downer ‘Bombay Velvet’), but in Neeraj Ghaywan’s riveting ‘Masaan’ Vicky Kaushal emerges the real hero. He takes on a young boy’s dreams to break away from caste barriers, and own a life that’s radical for his community, with aplomb. There’s an inherent sincerity with which Vicky owns Deepak and his deep desire to live life that’s uncharted by his forefathers. The ease with which he tackles Deepak’s innocent love or his tragedies is mark of great talent. Irrfan Khan in ‘Talvar’ and ‘Piku’ He’s an actor par excellence. Two movies this year that benefitted immensely from his presence - one’s based on the Noida double murder and the other about an old man’s nagging tummy troubles. In both, he doesn’t take the lead, yet a lot rides on him. Despite coming from strikingly different backgrounds, both his men – Rana (‘Piku’) and Ashwin Kumar (‘Talvar’) share a wicked humour that deftly uplifts the movie. Amitabh Bachchan in ‘Piku’ Even when majority of Bollywood continues to favour heroes who can fight, romance and dance in abandon, it’s incredible how a cranky old man won us over, to find a top rank this year. Amitabh Bachchan plays the highly annoying, yet delightful Bhaskor, who is on the constant pursuit to flush out his tummy troubles, with aplomb. Armed with some killer lines penned by Juhi Chaturvedi, an adorable Bengali twang, and a cute potbelly, you can’t help but cheer him on. Ranbir Kapoor in ‘Tamasha’ After two not-so flattering moments on-screen with ‘Roy’ and ‘Bombay Velvet’ this year, Ranbir Kapoor manages to do some damage control as the fractured hero in Imtiaz Ali’s ‘Tamasha’. He lends immense depth to Ved’s charm and complexities, as he innocently lives a life that’s not his. You watch in awe as he exposes his angst in front of the mirror, almost wishing his reflection would step out and set his world right. Ranbir clearly outdoes himself, as he unhurriedly cracks Ved.