From Big B, Shah Rukh Khan to Deepika Padukone: The incredible transformations of Bollywood stars

Amitabh Bachchan's metamorphosis in 'Paa' is often celebrated as one of the exemplary performances in Indian cinema. He reinvented his voice, body language, and expressions to embody Auro, the young lead character who suffers from progeria . With the extensive use of prosthetic makeup, it was difficult for audiences to recognize the superstar, as the transformation had rendered him almost a different human being.Fast forward quite a few years later, Big B wowed audiences yet again with his dedication in 'Kalki 2898 AD' and the role of the narrative old Ashwatthama — an eternal warrior cursed for the last 3,000 years. In this instance, Bachchan was again all in as he personified the voice modulation as well as the natural imposing physical presence characteristics of the mythological being. He reiterated, yet again, that commitment and expertise knows no age limits or demise.

The king of Bollywood, known for his charm, certainly took on one of the most difficult roles in the movie'Fan'. Portraying dual roles of superstar Aryan Khanna and of an obsessed fan, Gaurav Chandna. In addition to rehearsal to obtain an "authentic" Delhi accent, Shah Rukh Khan took several hours every day in prosthetic makeup to deliver the look of a 24-year-old fan. The difference between the two characters' mannerisms, tone and energy is nothing short of astonishing, showing off incredible range and discipline.

Legendary actor Kamal Haasan is the epitome of versatility. This was even more evident in his transformation as vigilante, Senapathy, in 'Indian 2.' The character required considerable prosthetics, making Haasan look conspicuously older but still retaining sensibility from the previous characterization. In every minute detail of his voice, his body language, his costume, and even his facial lines, the implication of years of aging and wisdom was beautifully accomplished. Once again, Kamal demonstrated that no one surpasses his commitment to authenticity and depth of characterization.

In 'Chhapaak', Deepika Padukone may have certainly taken on one of her boldest and emotionally taxing turns when playing a survivor of an acid attack. She threw her whole self into that role, including the patience required to just sit there for maybe three to four hours to put it on, plus a similar amount of time stripping it all off at the end of lengthy shooting days and let's not underestimate the pain you'd have to endure at the end of cramming in as much as you could into a single day. Still, it was Deepika, who, despite the agony, represents endurance and grace to not only an otherwise repetitive one-note reality, but is so resonant in depth, real, and plausible.

Reputed for his bold and unconventional undertakings, Nawazuddin Siddiqui melted hearts in ‘Haddi,’ where he embodied a transgender character. He spent 3 hours each day putting on make-up, and dressing in sarees and elaborate jewelry for the film. It was transformative in every sense of the word - on screen, he dismantled the barriers of stereotype, displaying sensitivity and grace, but also strength and emotional resolve, as he once again pushed the boundaries of what is permissible in India film.

Akshay Kumar's terrifying villainous look in 'Robot 2.0' is one of the most radical makeovers in Bollywood history. Portraying Dr. Richard, a scientist who becomes a bird-like beast seeking vengeance, Akshay spent several hours each day in prosthetics and costume--all of which was part of the character. Even more than the physical makeover, Akshay borrowed from animal behaviour to mix in body language and vocal inflection to create additional, but continue responses and to chill the audience as the villain's character needed. Akshay's work attempted to set a great standard in Indian cinema for physical and psychological transformation.

Lara Dutta as Indira Gandhi in 'Bell Bottom' really blew people away. Even with the prosthetic make-up, hair styling, and then body language, she was able to perfectly mimic Indira Gandhi to the degree that almost no one saw Lara Dutta in her performance. Surprising and impressive, Dutta's metamorphosis as Indira Gandhi not only felt genuine, but was also acclaimed by critics and she received favorable mention by audiences. It is undeniably one of the most original, astonishing, and monumental transformations in Bollywood of late.

Leaving behind the glamorous and daunting roles, Priyanka Chopra played the role of Jhilmil in 'Barfi'. A differently-abled girl with Autism. She fully immersed herself in the character, changing not just lines of dialogue, but her entire body language and emotional range, as well. Priyanka was so believable in her portrayal, she became almost unrecognizable with her subtle body language, deep expressions, and light acting decisions.

Aamir Khan underwent an astounding change in physical appearance and emotional transition during his preparation for 'Ghajini.' Aamir engaged in vigorous training to fit the bill of a strong and muscular body, followed by an array of postures and theatrical facial expressions, in an effort to portray a man living with memory loss, in a quest to avenge the murder of his girlfriend. Just as his burdened character had an internal world, Aamir gave one of the most recognizable performances of his career, while engaging in fact, at times he was nearly unrecognizable.

Ranbir Kapoor underwent a remarkable transformation in 'Animal.' To inhabit a powerful, depersonalized character, he had to strip away everything that remotely resembled his usual self as an on-screen performer. He altered all aspects of body language, facial expressions, and quirks that are present in a raw and layered approach to the scenes. He used a combination of makeup, the tonal profile of the character, and extensive research that led him into a world of unrecognizable character development, proving his investment as a performer.

Hrithik Roshan also had to show an incredible transformation to portray one of the characters, Rohit, in 'Koi Mil Gya,' a character who had an underdeveloped brain. Hrithik modified the weight of his body, gestures, and general appearance for the care and believability of Rohit's innocence when faced with the wonder of the world. Hrithik was almost unrecognizable as a performer in this film. Using emotional depth and physical performance, he offered a beautifully understanding and sensitive performance that both connected with the audience as they felt it and did not forget it.