RAJIT KAPUR
Rajit Kapur is particularly known for his award-winning portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi in the 1996 film, The Making of the Mahatma. One of his most popular stints is his portrayal of Byomkesh Bakshi in a television series of the same name based on the character created by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay and directed by Basu Chatterjee.
Nandita Das is an award-winning Indian film actress and director. As an actress, she is known for her performances in Fire (1996), Earth (1998), Bawandar (2000) and Aamaar Bhuvan (2002). As a director, she is known for her directorial debut Firaaq (2008), which has won a number of national and international awards.
Anupam Kher is an acclaimed Padma Shri Award-winning Indian actor who has appeared in nearly 400 films and 100 plays. Kher made his acting debut in the 1982 Hindi movie Aagman. Then in 1984 came Saaransh, where he played a retired 62 year old man who has lost his son at the age of 28.
Naseeruddin Shah is an Indian film actor and director. He is considered to be one of the finest actors of Indian cinema. In 2003, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan for his contributions towards Indian cinema. Shah has acted in movies such as Nishant, Aakrosh, Sparsh, Mirch Masala, Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Ata Hai, Trikal, Bhavni Bhavai, Junoon, Mandi, Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho!, Ardh Satya, Katha, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, etc.
Om Puri is an Indian actor who has appeared in both mainstream Indian films and art films. His credits also include appearances in British and American films. He made his film debut in the 1976 film Ghashiram Kotwal, a film based on a Marathi play of the same name. He has collaborated in many films with Amrish Puri as well as Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil in art films such as Bhavani Bhavai (1980), Sadgati (1981), Ardh Satya (1982), Mirch Masala (1986) and Dharavi.
Shabana Azmi is an Indian actress of film, television and theatre. Azmi has appeared in over 120 Hindi films in both mainstream and independent cinema, and since 1988 she has acted in several foreign projects. In addition to acting, Azmi is a social and women's rights activist, a Godwill Ambassador of the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA), and a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian parliament. Her first release was Shyam Benegal's directorial debut Ankur (1974).
Kamal Haasan is an Indian film actor, screenwriter, and director, considered to be one of the leading method actors of Indian cinema. He is widely acclaimed as an actor and is well known for his versatility in acting. In addition to acting and directing, he has also featured in films as a screenwriter, songwriter, playback singer, choreographer and lyricist. In 2009, he became one of very few actors to have completed 50 years in Indian cinema.
Shobana Chandrakumar, popularly known mononymously as Shobana is an acclaimed Indian actress, choreographer, and an exponent of Bharatanatyam dance. She has won the National Film Award for Best Actress twice and has mainly acted in Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada films. In 1994, Shobana founded a school for classical Bharatanatyam dance in Chennai - Kalarpana. The aim of Kalarpana is to organize annual festivals throughout India.
Surekha Sikri or Surekha Sikri Rege is Indian film, theatre and TV actor. She has won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress twice, for her role in Tamas in 1988 and for Mammo in 1995. Surekha Sikri was the recipient of 1989 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. In Dec 2008, she was awarded "Best actress in negative role" for the serial Balika Vadhu (Colors TV), in the IDEA ITA Awards 2008.
