Adi Irani

Adi Irani’s been around the Bollywood block more than a few times—born in Mumbai back in ‘55, right in the thick of all the cinematic chaos. If you’ve watched Hindi movies from the ‘90s or caught a rerun on TV, odds are you’ve seen his face pop up, doing his thing. He’s not just any actor—he’s one of those guys who manages to slide into roles that stick with you, even if he’s not hogging the spotlight. Remember Baazigar? Yeah, that wild Shah Rukh Khan flick from ‘93. Adi was right there, mixing it up in the drama, making the story tick along. He’s done a ton more since then—like Welcome in 2007, that ridiculous comedy with Akshay Kumar and Nana Patekar running amok. Adi’s got this knack for blending into these big ensemble casts, tossing in just the right dose of comic timing or villainous sneer, whatever the scene needs. And then there’s Raqt from 2013, a thriller that’s a bit off the beaten path, but he’s in there too, keeping things tense. But he’s not just an actor, either. Dude’s directed stuff, worked behind the camera, probably yelled “action!” a few times himself. He’s one of those steady hands in the industry—maybe not always in the headlines, but always working, always popping up somewhere. If you start digging through the credits of any half-decent Bollywood flick from the last few decades, don’t be surprised if his name’s there. Seriously, the guy’s a Bollywood lifer—he’s seen it all, done it all, and still keeps coming back for more.