My top 10 films - Amit Sarin

Rocky (films): What more can I say about the greatest sporting movie ever made? I don’t think there’s a person in the world who doesn’t like Rocky. He is the ultimate underdog we love to root for. The whole Rocky series is an absolute masterpiece and can be enjoyed time and time again. I’ve seen them countless times myself and hold the Sylvester Stallone classics close to my heart.

Aparajito: The relationship between a mother and her son is beautifully presented, with their differing values representative of passing generations in the Satyajit Ray classic. The circumstances may be specific, while the story is universal. The gritty realism melds expertly with the beautiful shot selection and cinematography. A simple tale of one particular family turns into an epic of emotions and the difficulties of growing up. It’s a first experience of cinematic brilliance in the most simplistic way.

Chandni: A remarkable film with the amazing Sridevi. Chandni showed her acting skills at its paramount. With this, she took film acting to a different level. She is brilliant as Chandni, as the role brings the best out of her. I loved the way Sridevi depicted the middle-class girl who falls in love deeply and then meets the challenges of life in the real world.

Agneepath: The masterpiece is easily the best film Amitabh Bachchan has acted in ever. One gets to watch his sterling performance as the angry young man of Bollywood. The background score adds to the intensity of the film. The best scene in the film would be the one where Amitabh goes to the slums to save his sister. The dialogues are just awesome. The best part is undoubtedly Amitabh, who is the best actor of the millennium.

Godfather 2: Words can’t describe how great this sequel was. The acting was amazing and the story kept me hooked. Everything in this movie was beautiful, including the amazing ending. There were so many great scenes, like Vito when he was younger, Fredo at the lake, and many more. This must-watch was just brilliant filmmaking and fantastic acting. I can’t believe Al Pacino lost the Oscar. Robert De Niro was truly amazing and interestingly, he fails to say a single word in English. Flawless.

Braveheart: The acting is amazing, and the ending was brilliant. For me, all my guesses were incorrect. Everything that happens in this movie is unpredictable. The ending did make me cry. The powerful message the movie sent kept me thinking for a while. The amount of courage and bravery was inconceivable. For a movie of 1995, they did a great job.

Gladiator: The classic film combines a simple, but moving story with beautiful scenery, filming, direction and score. It is truly a complete movie. The beautiful script in a way reminds me of poetry, though it is still everyday language. I love the acting portrayed by the late Oliver Reed and also Richard Harris. Russell Crowe, Djimon Housou and Joaquin Phoenix are also superb. The scenery used for Gladiator is brilliant and the opening battle scene is definitely one of my favourites. If you’re looking for insight into what the Roman Empire was like, this is a perfect depiction.

Pretty Woman: I was really moved by the blend of humour and romance. I thought that Edward (Richard Gere) and Vivian (Julia Roberts) looked good in the attire they wore to the opera in San Francisco. Oh boy, if you ask me, Julia Roberts did, indeed, look like a pretty woman in this movie. You’ll laugh, you might cry, you’ll be touched, and you’ll want to see this box-office smash over and over again.

Taxi Driver: You don’t get tired of watching this film and every time you see it you realise a little detail that you have not seen before. Excellent actors, a good director, an impressive soundtrack and a real story are the main appeals of this film. The story uses a taxi driver as a metaphor of loneliness and it has some kind of irony because we can see that a city, which is full of people, can be the most lonely place for a man. The essence and reality of this 1970s movie can be perfectly referred to current society. This is an authentic masterpiece.

The Dark Knight: This isn’t just the best Batman movies ever made, this is one of the best movie ever made. Everything in this film is excellent. Ledger has made The Joker into an iconic movie villain. His performance belongs there at the top. This is the true Joker every Batman fan knows, loves and fears.

Amit Sarin has starred in TV shows, including Kkusum, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Doli Saja Ke and Pavitra Rishta. Now based in USA, he will next be seen in the film Tiger Heart