12 Popular Bollywood Actors Who Contributed To Films In Multiple Ways
Posted On: 26 Jun 2023 | Last Updated : 27 Jun 2023 | Views : 1.1k
Talent, hard work, and a bit of luck are all that you need to showcase your talent to succeed in Bollywood or for that matter any profession. The Hindi film industry is no doubt packed and blessed with some truly gifted actors who have enthralled us in many ways not just with their versatile acting skills but also others skills over the years. A majority of actors are happy with only acting or at the most producing films but a handful of them haven’t restricted themselves to just acting, but also learned and explored other skills in filmmaking to receive recognition. So, let’s take a look at some of the past and present famous Bollywood actors who were known as actors but also possessed a number of hidden talents that contributed to the making of a film or should we say actors who also excelled in other departments of filmmaking that added to the success of a film.
(Note: We have taken into consideration those Bollywood actors who possessed a minimum of five skills that contributed to the filmmaking process multiple times.)
1. Raj Kapoor: Actor, Producer, Director, Editor, Writer, Singer & Narrator
Known as Indian cinema’s first showman, Raj Kapoor was born for films. The extremely talented filmmaker donned many hats in his five-decade-long career which started off as a child artist in the 1935 film Inquilab. At the young age of 24, he produced, directed, and acted in Aag (1948), after which he never looked back. He acted in over seventy films including Barsaat, Andaz, Shree 420, Chori Chori, Anari, Teesri Kasam and Abdullah, etc. He produced and directed a total of eighteen films including Barsaat, Awaara, Shree 420, Sangam, Mera Naam Joker, Prem Rog, etc. He lent his vocals for films like Dil Ki Rani and Mera Naam Joker and edited Sangam, Mera Naam Joker, Bobby and Prem Rog, to name a few. He wrote Ram Teri Ganga Maili while turned narrator for Satyam Shivam Sundaram.
2. Dev Anand: Actor, Director, Producer, Writer & Singer
One of Indian cinema’s iconic and legendary multi-talented personalities was Dev Anand. In a chequered career of over six decades, the evergreen hero of the silver screen was known as an actor, director, producer, writer and playback singer. Starting his Bollywood career as an actor in Prabhat Films' Hum Ek Hain in 1946, he went on to play the male lead in films including Jaal (1952), Pocket Maar (1956), Munimji (1955), Funtoosh (1956), Paying Guest (1957), Kala Pani (1958), Hum Dono (1961), Tere Ghar Ke Samne (1963), Guide (1965) and others. He lent his vocals for songs in Mr. Prime Minister, Mahal and Pyar Mohabbat while he wrote, produced and directed movies such as Prem Pujari, Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Heera Panna, Des Pardes, Lootmaar, etc.
3. Kishore Kumar: Actor, Producer, Director, Singer, Composer & Lyricist
Undoubtedly, one of Indian cinema’s multi-talented personalities was the legendary Kishore Kumar. Kishore Kumar easily can be rated among the top 10 famous multi-talented Bollywood stars who though started off as a playback singer and delivered many memorable songs but slowly steadily shifted to acting where he played the lead in films like Bhagam Bhag, New Delhi, Aasha, Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, Jhumroo, Half Ticket and others. He wrote, produced, directed and composed songs for films like Jhumroo, Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein, Badhti Ka Naam Dadhi, Mamata Ki Chhaon Mein, etc.
4. Mehmood: Actor, Producer, Director, Writer & Singer
Another iconic multi-talented actor was our very own Mehmood who was also a singer, director, producer, and writer and most remembered for his comic roles in Hindi films like Dil Tera Deewana, Gumnaam, Pyar Kiye Jaa, Padosan, Humjoli and Bombay To Goa. He turned playback singer for films such as Naya Zamana, Do Phool, Kunwara Baap, Sabse Bada Rupaiya, and Ginny Aur Johnny while writing the story for Bhoot Bungla and Janta Hawaldar. His directorials include Chhote Nawab, Bhoot Bungla, Kunwara Baap, Ginny Aur Johnny, Ek Baap Chhe Bete while his production ventures were Padosan, Bombay To Goa, Do Phool and Sabse Bada Rupaiya.
5. Manoj Kumar: Actor, Producer, Director, Lyricist, Editor & Writer
Popularly known as Bharat, Manoj Kumar too qualifies on the list of Bollywood actors who are multi-talented when it comes to making films. Manoj Kumar started his career as an actor in Fashion (1957) and thereafter played the male lead in films like Hariyali Aur Rasta, Woh Kaun Thi, Gumnaam, Shaheed, Upkar, Shor, Sanyasi and others. He wrote, produced and directed films including Upkar, Purab Aur Pachhim, Shor, Roti Kapada Aur Makaan, as well as penned a few songs for his own films like Kranti, Ricky, and Clerk. He is also known for editing his films Shor, Roti Kapada Aur Makaan, Kranti, Clerk and Jai Hind.
6. Feroz Khan: Actor, Director, Producer, Editor & Writer
Feroz Khan continues to remain one of Bollywood’s most stylish actors and directors of his time. He started his acting career by playing the second lead in Didi in 1960. He appeared in over 60 films of which some of his best-known works have been in Arzoo (1965), Aurat (1967), Safar (1970), Mela (1971), Upaasna (1971), Apradh (1972), Khotte Sikkay (1974), Kala Sona (1975), Dharmatma (1975), and Qurbani (1980). He also directed, produced, wrote and edited films such as Janbaaz (1986), Dayavan (1988), Yalgaar (1992), Prem Aggan (1998), and Janasheen (2003)
7. Amitabh Bachchan: Actor, Producer, Singer, Narrator & Host
Amitabh Bachchan too is regarded as one of the Bollywood celebs who is multi-talented. An actor par excellence with several awards to his credit, he has contributed to Hindi cinema as a producer, singer, narrator, reciter and host. Besides singing for movies like Mr. Natwarlal, Silsila, Mahaan, Pukar, Baabul, Nishabd and Kahaani, he has produced Tere Mere Sapne, Mrityudaata, Major Saab, Aks, etc., under his ABCL banner. He was a narrator for Bawarchi, Tere Mere Sapne, Lagaan, Jodhaa Akbar, Ra.One, Krrish 3, etc. As a host who can match him for Kaun Banega Crorepati?
8. Kamal Haasan: Actor, Producer, Director, Writer, Singer, Lyricist, Editor & Host
The incredibly multi-talented Kamal Haasan has pulled off the impossible many times when it comes to making a film. The award-winning actor who has done over 220 movies in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu dons the hat of an actor, director, producer, writer, singer, lyricist, and editor. However, he is also a seasoned classical dancer and hosted the Tamil reality show Bigg Boss. Besides his South Indian language films, some of his Hindi films have been Ek Duuje Ke Liye, Sanam Teri Kasam, Sadma, Raaj Tilak, Saagar, Appu Raja, Hey Ram and Vishwaroopam. He has crooned for films like Sadma, Appu Raja, Chachi 420, and Hey Ram while writing for films like Appu Raja, Virasat, Chachi 420, Biwi No.1, Hey Ram, Mumbai Express and Ramji Londonwaaley. He has produced and directed Chachi 420, Hey Ram, Vishwaroopam and Vishwaroopam 2, so far and edited only one film in Tamil, Virumandi.
9. Aamir Khan: Actor, Producer, Director, Writer, Singer, Host & Narrator
Often called Mr. Perfectionist, Aamir Khan has come a long way since making his debut as a child artist in Nasir Husain’s Yaadon Ki Baaraat in 1973. The passion and dedication with which Aamir Khan works are known to most of us while he has proved his acting prowess in films like Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Dil, Rangeela, Raja Hindustani, Ghulam, Ghajini, and Dangal, he is also an extremely talented chess and tennis player. He has crooned songs like Aati Kya Khandala (Ghulam) and Is Deewane Ladke Ko (Sarfarosh) and produced hits like Lagaan, Taare Zameen Par, Delhi Belly, Dangal, and Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na. His solo directorial has been Taare Zameen Par and as a writer, he had written Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke. As a host, his talk show Satyamev Jayate was remarkable.
10. Salman Khan: Actor, Producer, Singer, Lyricist, Writer, Narrator & Host
Another name that makes it to the list of contemporary Bollywood actors who are multi-talented is none other than Salman Khan. Salman Khan started his career as a model and later as an actor who delivered some of the biggest industry hits like Maine Pyar Kiya, Saajan, Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, Karan Arjun, Biwi No.1, Wanted, Dabangg, Sultan, etc. He has produced Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Hero, Tubelight, Race 3, Notebook, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, and wrote Baaghi, Chandramukhi, Veer, and Dabangg. As a playback singer, he sang in Hello Brother, and Hero and penned Selfish song from Race 3 as a lyricist. He turned narrator for OMG and Main Tera Hero and hosted TV reality shows 10 Ka Dum and Bigg Boss. He is known for being a painter and an NGO that he runs by the name of Being Human.
11. Farhan Akhtar: Actor, Director, Producer, Writer, Singer & Lyricist
Farhan Akhtar is regarded as a powerhouse of talent who has not just explored various creative fields such as acting, direction, screenwriting, poetry, music, etc., but also has got good command over them. Farhan started his Bollywood career as a producer and director for Dil Chahta Hai in 2001. Since then, he has produced nearly 30 films and directed Lakshya, Don and Don 2 while writing Rock On!!, Game, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Talaash and Dil Dhadakne Do, etc. He made his acting debut in Rock On!! and thereafter appeared in Luck By Chance, Karthik Calling Karthik, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Toofaan, etc. He appeared as a playback singer for Rock On!!, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Dil Dhadakne Do, Wazir, etc., and lyricist for Bride & Prejudice.
12. Ayushmann Khurrana: Actor, Singer, Lyricist, Composer, Producer, VJ & Presenter
Ayushmann Khurrana is also among Bollywood actors who are multi-talented. Before making his debut in Bollywood with Vicky Donor in 2012, Ayushmann Khurrana had worked as an RJ, VJ and Television anchor. He is also a talented musician who composed and sang songs for Vicky Donor as well as Hawaizaada. Other films to which he lent his vocals were Bewakoofiyan, Andhadhun, Dream Girl, Badhaai Do and Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui. He contributed as a lyricist for Vicky Donor and Nautanki Saala!. He is a phenomenal guitarist and presenter too.
