Happy Birthday Shahid Kapoor: Top Ten Roles – From ‘Jab We Met’ to ‘Haider’

Said time and again, Shahid Kapoor got a second lease of life in Bollywood with the 2014 release 'Haider'. Vishal Bharadwaj completed his Shakespearen trilogy with this adaptation of 'Hamlet' and gave Shahid the mantle to carry the burden on his drooping shoulders. Drooping, because, for all we know, the actor was being criticised for his career choices post 'R Rajkumar'.

But Shahid excelled and how! Not only did he go win the hearts of audiences and critics in equal measures, but also managed to win the 'Best Actor' award at almost every award event. And why not! His portrayal of the emotionally conflicted 'Haider' was heartrending and heart-wrenching at the same time.

Today, as he celebrates his 34th birthday, we bring nine more of his roles, which left us in wonder of the young superstar's talents - acting, dancing and screen presence.

With 'Haider' being the first, second in our list is Imtiaz Ali's 'Jab We Met'. Subtle and silent, that's how Shahid portrayed this character. Kareena Kapoor played the garrulous Geet in the movie, so took all the awards away that year. But Shahid's natural and organic expressions and demeanour of the emotionally conflicted Aditya Kashyap are worth an applause. We say this, because playing a loud character can still be easy, but restraining yourself to play a second fiddle isn't always easy. And Shahid did that with brilliance. 

It won't be an understatement if we say that Vishal Bharadwaj is the only person who has judged Shahid Kapoor's talent in the right manner and measures. Vishal Bharadwaj teamed up for the first time with Shahid in 2009 in 'Kaminey' where the actor played a double role - Charlie, with a lisp and Guddu, with a stammer - and nailed both the parts.

Both the parts - Charlie and Guddu - were as different as chalk and cheese and Shahid portrayed them unbelievably distinctly. It actually seemed that there were two different actors portraying them, as we do not like to exaggerate facts.

It won't be an understatement if we say that Vishal Bharadwaj is the only person who has judged Shahid Kapoor's talent in the right manner and measures. Vishal Bharadwaj teamed up for the first time with Shahid in 2009 in 'Kaminey' where the actor played a double role - Charlie, with a lisp and Guddu, with a stammer - and nailed both the parts.

Both the parts - Charlie and Guddu - were as different as chalk and cheese and Shahid portrayed them unbelievably distinctly. It actually seemed that there were two different actors portraying them, as we do not like to exaggerate facts.

It won't be an understatement if we say that Vishal Bharadwaj is the only person who has judged Shahid Kapoor's talent in the right manner and measures. Vishal Bharadwaj teamed up for the first time with Shahid in 2009 in 'Kaminey' where the actor played a double role - Charlie, with a lisp and Guddu, with a stammer - and nailed both the parts.

Both the parts - Charlie and Guddu - were as different as chalk and cheese and Shahid portrayed them unbelievably distinctly. It actually seemed that there were two different actors portraying them, as we do not like to exaggerate facts.

Shahid's debut venture was a career high. Not only did 'Ishq Vishk' catapult Shahid to instant fame and success, but also earned his 'Best Debutante' award at almost every award event that year. The cute Rajeev Mathur was an instant hit and the nation got a new heartthrob.

Shahid second movie 'Fida' was a far cry from what he did in his debut. Dark and edgy, the movie had Shahid running, killing, yelling, being soaked in blood - everything an actor won't attempt in his second venture, but Shahid is Shahid. He did and did it with aplomb. The movie, though, didn't do well, but earned him the status of a star who can act.

'Dil Bole Hadippa' was an out-and-out Rani Mukerji movie as it was her comeback vehicle, but in this Rani-dominated movie too, Shahid held his own. He was charming and dynamic as Rohan and got the nuances of the character pretty well. Watch the climax to know more.

Shahid often mentions what his father, veteran actor Pankaj Kapur, taught him - to ACT. And Shahid, being the obedient son, follows it to the tee. 'Mausam' might not have done well at the Box Office, but you can watch the whole movie just to see Shahid act. His every expression, every nuance fitted the character and took it to another level of brilliance.

Shahid often mentions what his father, veteran actor Pankaj Kapur, taught him - to ACT. And Shahid, being the obedient son, follows it to the tee. 'Mausam' might not have done well at the Box Office, but you can watch the whole movie just to see Shahid act. His every expression, every nuance fitted the character and took it to another level of brilliance.