Acting requires stars to be open and versatile in their roles, often requiring a balance between contrasting roles, often. However, it has been noticed that many times, several stars are stereotyped to certain genres. For example, Shah Rukh Khan, during his rise to popularity, became known for his romantic roles, while Robin Williams was best known for his comedic prowess. Interestingly, as a student and practitioner of performing arts, many actors break away from these molds and end up surprising the world with their talent. Here are 6 stars who strayed away from their image and ended up surprising fans.
Robin Williams
The late actor Robin Williams was known for his comedic roles in the industry. Some of his most popular roles in this genre include ‘Mrs Doubtfire,’ ‘Aladdin,’ and ‘Absolutely Anything.’ The star, however, surprised the world in 2002 when he featured as the loner Seymour Parrish in ‘One Hour Photo.’ His role as a reclusive photo technician who gets obsessed with a family and their life was heavily praised. It completely strayed away from his general warm and hearty image. Other than that, he also starred in ‘Insomnia’ the same year, where he played the role of a manipulative murderer, Walter Finch.
Riteish Deshmukh
Another popular star known for his comedic prowess, Deshmukh set his image as a comedy star with projects like ‘Housefull’ franchise, ‘Golmaal’ franchise, and ‘Heyy Babyy’, to name a few. His soft-hearted image and quirky roles made him popular in the early 2000s. This is why it came as a surprise when he was cast in ‘Ek Villain’ as the main antagonist of the film, the serial killer Rakesh Mahadkar. He broke away from his typecast roles and managed to surprise fans all around with his duality.
Robert Pattinson
The actor’s image as the dark and broody teen character from ‘The Twilight Saga’ stayed with him for years into his career. When he broke away from the mold, he grew in popularity in the romance and larger-than-life film genre. After all this, one of his recent roles came as a major surprise for fans all around. First, Pattinson’s feature in the horror-fantasy film ‘The Lighthouse.’ His shift towards independent cinema was well appreciated, and his representation of the tormented lighthouse keeper Thomas Howard chilled fans to the core.
Alia Bhatt
The actress had a strong start in the industry with ‘Student of the Year’; however, her early films set a typecast mold on her. From being turned into memes, to only being known for her lighthearted romantic roles in films like ‘2 States,’ ‘Badrinath ki Dulhania,’ and ‘Humpty Sharma ki Dulhania.’ Her transformation came with the film ‘Udta Punjab,’ when she took on the role of Kumari Pinky, an abused migrant labourer, who ends up becoming a victim of a drug trade. Her complex character on screen helped her establish her name in the market. Following this, her work in films like ‘Darlings,’ ‘Gully Boy,’ and ‘Jigra’ has helped her establish a more flexible and versatile persona in the industry.
Adam Sandler
Sandler is a household staple name in the comedy genre. He built an entire empire out of his goofy and quirky, larger-than-life characters, and continues to do so. There have been times, however, when the actor portrayed one of the most complex characters on screen and actually managed to hit the mark. In ‘Uncut Gems’ released in 2019, the actor played the part of Howard Ratner, a desperate gambler and jeweler whose life starts spiraling out of control. His raw performance on the big screen and ability to translate heightened emotions like anxiety and stress surprised the world as he transformed from his comedic genre.
Manoj Bajpayee
The star from ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, Bajpayee, set a name for himself in the action genre. He is usually known for his gritty and hardcore roles on screen, which include his portrayal of a naxalite in ‘Chakravyuh,’ as well as his latest feature in the series ‘The Family Man.’ In 2016, however, he starred as one of the leads in Hansal Mehta’s ‘Aligarh,’ which was a shocking turn away from what he was used to doing. While commercially the film was not a success, it was still a hit amongst his fans, as well as critics who praised his performance on screen. Manoj Bajpayee played the role of Dr Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras, a soft-spoken gay professor who fights for his rights. The complex character was a complete shift from his regular roles, and established him as a versatile star in the entertainment industry.
