Hollywood movies and American television are replete with extraordinary talent from all over the world. Several actors from India have been part of celebrated movies and shows that come out of Hollywood. From renowned Indian actors such as Irrfan, Om Puri and Nasiruddin Shah, to younger actors such as Dhanush, there is no dearth of talent when it comes to brilliant talent out of India.Actors from India have made waves in Hollywood for many years now, but there are a few stand-out names among them all, both old and new. Take a look at the list of five such indian actors who played a prominent role in Hollywood movies.

1.Irrfan Khan

Irrfan Khan was an actor who defined brilliance.The late actor was well-regarded for his varied roles in Bollywood, having starred in dramas, comedies and indie films too. Cited in the media as one of the finest actors in Indian cinema, Khan’s career spanned over 30 years and earned him numerous accolades, including a National Film Award, an Asian Film Award, and six Filmfare Awards. In 2011, he was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honour The late actor’s rendezvous with Hollywood started with A Mighty Heart and The Darjeeling Limited. In 2006, he starred in the lead role alongside Tabu in Mira Nair’s The Namesake. Other movies that he has starred in are Slumdog Millionaire, The Amazing Spider-Man in 2012, Jurassic World, Life of Pi and Inferno.

2.Anupam Kher 

Anupam Kher is an Indian actor and the former Chairman of Film and Television Institute of India. He has appeared in over 500 films predominantly in Hindi language, and many plays .Apart from being extremely popular in Bollywood and opting for roles that make his versatility evident, Kher was seen playing the role of court-mandated therapist, Dr. Cliff Patel in the romantic comedy movie “Silver Linings Playbook” (2012). He was also seen in ‘Bend it like Beckham’ playing the role of a quintessential Indian father.Kher also appeared in Hotel Mumbai, based on the true events of the horrific 26/11 attacks in Mumbai when terrorists took over several key spots in India’s financial capital, including the celebrated Taj Mahal hotel. In the movie, Kher played the head chef who decides not to escape the hotel when the window of opportunity presents itself and stays back to help the guests who are still trapped inside.

3.om puri

Another veteran Indian actor was Om Puri, known for his roles in Indian arthouse movies. The actor appeared in a number of Hollywood movies, from the Tom Hanks-Julia Roberts starring movie, Charlie Wilson’s War, The Hundred-Foot Journey, where he starred alongside Dame Helen Mirren, and the comedy-drama, East Is East . Om Puri was one of the few actors whose work has travelled from Bollywood to British and Pakistani cinema. The actor was part of Richard Attenborough’s Academy Award-winning film Gandhi. He was also part of Roland Joffe’s City of Joy, Mike Nichols’s Charlie Wildon’s War, Michael . Puri was also paid homage at Oscar Awards 2017.Puri was awarded Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of India, in 1990.In 2004, he was made an honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire.

4.Aishwarya Rai

The lovely Aishwarya Rai is one of the most popular Indian celebrities the world over & was one of the first of her generation of Indian actors to have crossed over to Western projects, with lead roles in movies like Gurinder Chadha’s Bride & Prejudice, Provoked, The Last Legion with Colin Firth and Ben Kingsley, and as the femme fatale in the comedy-drama, The Pink Panther 2.Rai is touted as one of the most beautiful actresses in commercial Indian cinema and has, for years, been on the jury for the Cannes Film Festival.Rai has received numerous accolades, including two Filmfare Awards, and was honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2009 and the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the Government of France in 2012. She has often been cited in the media as “the most beautiful woman in the world”

5.Ali fazal

Ali Fazal’s Bollywood journey is filled with hits and misses. However, he had done some notable projects in Hollywood. The actor has starred in Fast and Furious 7 and went on to play the lead in Victoria and Abdul alongside Judi Dench. One star who is slowly making inroads in the West is the versatile Ali Fazal. The actor, who is well known for his role in crime thriller web show ‘Mirzapur’, starred alongside Dame Judi Dench in ‘Victoria & Abdul’. He will soon be seen in ‘Death on the Nile’, a Hollywood adaptation of the Agatha Christie novel of the same name.