5 Pakistani actors who rule hearts in Bollywood

To the shock of many it is not Indian but Pakistani actors who have made their mark in the Hindi film industry.

KARACHI: Bollywood heartthrobs Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan and Ranbir Kapoor have managed to rule the hearts of millions across India, but over the years Pakistani actors have increasingly given Indian actors a run for their money when it comes to looks and talent. 

Listed below are five Pakistani celebrities who have made their mark across the border:

1. Fawad Khan

This actor with a lot of attitude conquered many Indian hearts with his rugged good looks coupled with his acting brilliance. He made his first Bollywood appearance in Khoobsurat with Sonam Kapoor. This debut alone took him on an award-winning spree, making him the first Pakistani actor to bag a Filmfare award.



Fawad Khan continues to capture Indian hearts with his style and attitude. PHOTO: AFP

 

2. Ali Zafar

The Pakistani musician made his Bollywood debut in the 2010 satire Tere bin Laden as an actor as well as a singer. The film earned him a nomination for Filmfare's Best Male Debut Award. The rock star from Lahore just recently also clinched the ‘Most stylish import of the year’ award at HT Style Awards 2015.

 



Ali Zafar made his mark with his acting and singing skills and his sense of style. PHOTO: AFP

 

3. Mikaal Zulfiqar

After making his mark in the Pakistani drama industry, model-turned-actor Mikaal Zulfiqar tried in vain to replicate this success in Pakistani films. He had a lackluster Bollywood debut with Shoot on Sight, but garnered positive reviews for his role as Ashfaq in Baby which was released earlier this year. Unfortunately the movie did not get to see the light of day in Pakistan due to a ban on its release.

 



Mikaal Zulfiqar made his Bollywood debut with Shoot on Sight. PHOTO: AFP

 

4. Imran Abbas

With hit dramas like Dil-e-Muztar to his credit, Imran Abbas has managed to garner a huge fan following in his home country. His Bollywood debut Creature 3D unfortunately was universally panned by critics. While Imran's acting in the movie was severely criticized, his boyish good looks had female viewers swooning.

 



The cute-boy-next-door Imran Abbas made his Bollywood debut in Creature 3D'. PHOTO: AFP

 

5. Atif Aslam



Atif Aslam impressed Indian audiences with his vocal skills. PHOTO: AFP

The singer is yet to appear on-screen in a Bollywood movie but did a great job as an actor in Pakistani film Bol. He has managed to cement his position as a playback singer in India with hits like Tere Bin from Bas Ek Pal, Pehli Nazar from Race and Jeena Jeena from Badlapur under his belt. Atif recently revealed he has several offers to act in Bollywood films so we might soon see him taking the Hindi film industry by storm!

The story was originally published in International Business Times.