You may not have noticed them because the films containing these admirable performances came and went before you could say WAH!
Or it could be because these actors and their performances were not hyped up.
Subhash K Jha lists actors whom you may have missed this year.
Sunny Kaushal, Bhangra Pa Le
Sunny is every bit as talented as his brother Vicky Kaushal. And he proved it in the first release of the year, Bhangra Pa Le.
He played two different characters from two different eras, both obsessed with dancing the bhangra.
His dedication in getting the steps right was matched by his determination to excel in every sequence, light heavy or both.
This is a young, passionate actor, fully invested into his character.
He should have been recognised for his performance.
Actors in films about dancing are rarely celebrated.
Kumud Mishra, Ram Singh Charlie
Not too many saw this OTT release, which had a stand-out performance by Kumud Mishra as a Chaplinesque clown in an obsolete circus, pushed into wage-earning corners to support his family.
This is a performance brimming with compassion, bitterness rage and self-pity.
Sadly, it did not get the pre-streaming publicity it deserved.
Most viewers haven't even heard of it, but it's never too late to catch a terrific performance.
Pulkit Samrat, Taish
As the happy-go-lucky flirtatious Sunny, Pulkit's performance got submerged in intense performances by Harshvardhan Rane, Jim Sarbh and others.
Go back to the series to see just how much Pulkit contributed to the dramatic impact of this film.
Or better still, check out the expanded episodic-series version of the film to see the big scenes that got edited out in the movie version.
Vijay Raaz, Lootcase
While the focus was on Kunnal Kemmu in Lootcase, it was Vijay Raaz, who stole the show as a National Geographic-addicted gangster who explains his criminal deeds through analogies from the animal kingdom.
It was one of the funniest and yet menacing villains I have seen since Kader Khan and Shakti Kapoor retired.
Santosh Juvekar, Bhonsle
Are you wondering who this is?
Most viewers missed Santosh Juvekar's exceptional performance as a politician's hired goon who finds his nominal power slipping away.
Known mostly for his performances in Marathi cinema, Santosh Juvekar is an actor to watch out for.
