Indian movie actors are role models in the country. The masses love their idols to the extent of worshipping them. In return the Indian actors have continually striven to entertain their fans to the utmost. Being a vast country there are several film industries within the sub continent and the Indian actors in these industries are truly gifted. He enters the screen like a tempest, flirts with finesse, courts his lady love with panache, protects her from the wicked, suffers the pangs of separation and eventually he is rewarded with reunion by providence.

In accordance to Indian parameters a hero is virtuous; he can sing, dance, fight, emote, romance, has a good sense of humour and is blessed with rakish good looks. In the films they are instrumental in delivering poetic justice. However with time such a notion has undergone a huge change. Instead of being a larger than life character Indian movie actors enact characters that are more real, more believable. Such a transformation had been observed in the 1970s when Indian films were made with heroes who represented the common man. With time other changes seeped in. The hero was no longer the epitome of righteousness. To err is human and he, too, is no longer invincible. Apart from playing the hero`s role Indian movie actors have experimented with several path breaking roles. While one actor has the courage to play the anti hero at the peak of his career, another Indian actor explored the comic genre. Indian cinema, thus, presents a wide variety of proficient artists.

Bollywood Actors
The Hindi film industry or Bollywood is star studded. Some of the biggest stars in Indian cinema glitter in the sky of Bollywood. These Bollywood actors are talented enough to deal with films of almost all the genres. The Bollywood comedians and Bollywood villains have also left an indelible mark on the minds of the audiences. Beginning from the silent era of Indian films, Bollywood actors have ruled over the entertainment industry setting high standards in each era. Actors like Dilip Kumar, Ashok Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan and others have left a permanent imprint on the minds of audiences with their distinct style, a tradition which has been carried even by the present generation actors like Shahrukh Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan and others. Be it the portrayal of any role, Bollywood actors have always proved their skills in showcasing versatility.

Tamil Actors
Tamil film industry has given a number of critically as well as commercially acclaimed films to the Indian celluloid in which the contributions of Tamil actors are invaluable. Whether it is a fight sequence or an intense emotional scene these actors deliver their performances superbly. Tamil actors are also popular for their dances and versatility. Since the inception of Tamil film industry, these actors have never failed to mark their presence through their prolific acting skills. Legendary actors like Gemini Ganesan, Sivaji Ganesan, M. G. Ramachandran, Kamal Hassan etc with their power packed performances have carved a distinct niche for themselves. The contemporary actors are also no less in carrying forward the tradition and enriching the industry greatly.

Telugu Actors
A talented lot of actors have taken the Telugu film industry towards success. The likes of Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna and Mohan Babu are talented enough to shuffle successfully between both art and commercial films. Although initially the industry was more inclined towards mythological themes, it later on diversified its genre by taking up social and other issues. With their proficient portrayal of varied roles, Telugu actors have not only won the hearts of millions of viewers but have also received several prestigious honours at national level. Some other prominent Telugu actors who have steered the industry towards success include Chittoor V Nagaiah, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Shoban Babu, Ravi Kondala Rao, Siddharth and others.

Marathi Actors
Marathi actors have delivered some of the most memorable performances in the history of Indian cinema. From the very inception of films the Marathi actors have contributed towards this artistic medium. Most of the actors of this industry have hailed from theatres with polished acting skills. Marathi films have greatly enriched the Indian film industry and the contribution of Marathi actors in the same is unforgettable. Be it the protagonist, villain, comedian or any other character, Marathi film industry has seen some of the most talented actors of all times, excellently portraying diverse roles. Dr. Shreeram Lagoo, Vikram Gokhale, Nana Patekar and Amol Palekar are some of the prominent starts of Marathi cinema. Contemporary actors like Ankush Chaudhary, Raj Shekhar, Nirmal Pande, Ashok Saraf and others have continued the legacy in modern times. The works of these Marathi actors have also fetched them many esteemed awards.

Malayalam Actors
Malayalam actors like Mohanlal, Mammotty, Suresh Gopi and others performed consistently and entertained the audiences through Malayalam films. Some of the greatest accolades had been brought home by these actors. They have played a great role in the successful journey of the Malayalam film industry. Kamal Hassan and Rajnikanth are the two most renowned names in this category while other actors such as Dileep, Prithviraj, Asif Ali, Anoop Menon and Jayasurya have also maintained the rich heritage of the Malayalam film industry.

Kannada Actors
From mythological films to the hardcore commercial movies, every genre of Indian cinema has been explored by the Kannada actors. From time immemorial, they have continually entertained the audiences and have walked away with prestigious accolades time and again. Starting with Dr. Rajkumar who was one of the most renowned actors of all time, the Kannada cinema have witnessed the works of several talented actors such as Chaaru Haasan, Anant Nag, Raghavendra Rajkumar, Shivrajkumar, Upendra, Aravind and many others. Their versatility has been excellently established by the diverse roles they have portrayed over time.

Bengali Actors
Award winning actors hail from the land of Bengal. Chhabi Biswas, Ashok Kumar, Uttam Kumar, Anil Chatterjee, Soumitra Chatterjee, Prasenjit, Jeet and a host of other Bengali actors continually experimented with commercial and offbeat films. These actors are responsible to a large extent for making Bengali films known globally. Bengali film industry has produced some of the greatest films of all times and the talented actors of this industry have a major contribution in their success. Their works have not only sailed throughout the country but have also achieved international honours. These gifted Bengali actors have indisputably justified diverse roles since ages making the Bengali film industry one of the rich and phenomenal film industries of India.

Oriya Actors
With a passion for art and films the Oriya actors are popular for their histrionic skills. The efforts of such Indian actors have helped the Oriya film industry to figure in Indian cinema. The growth and popularity of Oriya film industry owes a great deal to these actors who have helped Oriya movies to reach the zenith of success. Some of the famed Oriya actors who have carved a special place for themselves in the silver screen include Bijay Mohanty, Arindam, Akash Das Nayak, Sabyasachi Mishra and others.

Assamese Actors
The actors in Assam mainly hail from stage. Assamese actors like Phani Sarma are still remembered for their contribution in establishing the Assamese film industry. Since ages the industry has witnessed the arrival and success stories of a number of Assamese actors who with their brilliant acting rendered a new dimension to the movies. Be it comedy, romantic films, action or any other genres, Assamese actors have entertained the viewers with their performances gaining recognition in the national arena. Atul Pachoni, Rajiv Goswami, Tapan Das, Biju Phukan and Ravi Sarma are some of the prominent actors of Assamese cinema who have heightened the stature of the industry greatly.

Other Indian Movie Actors
Apart from these, the country has also witnessed the talents of Bhojpuri actors, Chhattisgarhi actors, Gujarati actors, Konkani actors, Punjabi actors and Sindhi actors in diverse roles and films.

In India cinema is associated with passion. The passion for filmmaking is quite apparent in Indian movie actors. Their love for the medium does not allow them to suppress their talents to a single film industry. Overcoming the barrier of language they reach out to the audience and appear in films of different language.