Sharman Joshi
Sharman Joshi's got this vibe—like, you see him on screen and you know he’s going to nail it, whether he’s cracking you up or pulling at your heartstrings. Born and raised in Mumbai, acting’s kind of in his DNA. His dad, Arvind Joshi, was already a big deal in theater and film, so Sharman basically grew up backstage, soaking it all in. Dude started out in theater himself, so his acting chops are seriously legit, not just some random Bollywood hustle.
Most people clocked him first in "3 Idiots"—honestly, who hasn’t seen that movie? He played Raju, the super relatable, stressed-out engineering student. The movie blew up, not just in India but everywhere Indians get together to watch films (so, like, everywhere), and Sharman held his ground playing alongside Aamir Khan and R. Madhavan. He was hilarious, but also totally believable when things got heavy.
But don’t box him in—he’s done way more than just college comedies. His role in "Rang De Basanti" stands out too; he was Sukhi, bringing this sort of wild, infectious energy to the group. Then there’s "Golmaal: Fun Unlimited," "Life in a... Metro," and, not to forget, "Ferrari Ki Sawaari" where he finally got to be front and center. No matter the genre—comedy, drama, whatever—he just fits. Plus, he’s not ditched his roots in theater, still hitting the stage when he can, and he’s even tried out web series now. Low-key, he’s one of Bollywood’s most grounded and underrated actors.