Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

TOP 10 performances of Rajkummar Rao

Eastern Eye marks the award-winning star's new series and forthcoming film, along with his 39th birthday on August 31, by selecting his top 10 performances, listed in chronological order

TOP 10 performances of Rajkummar Rao

PROLIFIC actor Rajkummar Rao has racked up an impressive body of work since making his movie debut in 2010. The acclaimed Indian performer has shown off his versatility in diverse genres that range from comedy to hard-hitting drama.

He has added to his acclaimed work with newly released Netflix series Guns & Gulaabs, a 1990s-set crime drama blending violence, humour and romance. His new film Sri is due to be released later this year.


Eastern Eye marked the award-winning star’s new series and forthcoming film, along with his 39th birthday on August 31, by selecting his top 10 performances, listed in chronological order.

Shahid (2012): Rajkummar Rao won his first major acting honour for his title role in this acclaimed biographical drama and started a strong creative partnership with writer/director Hansal Mehta. He showed real intensity and great screen presence in his role as an incarcerated terror suspect turned human rights lawyer, who was assassinated for his work.

Top 10 inset Kai Po Che bo

Kai Po Che (2013): The multi-award-winning movie (above) adapted from Chetan Bhagat’s 2008 novel The 3 Mistakes of My Life saw the actor star alongside Sushant Singh Rajput and Amit Sadh in a powerful story of three friends torn apart by communal hatred. Rao injected raw emotion into the role and added realism in a special way, which has defined his career since then.

CityLights (2014): The actor teamed up with Hansal Mehta again for this remake of acclaimed international film Metro Manila (2013). He delivers a captivating performance as a poor farmer from Rajasthan, who comes to Mumbai to earn a livelihood, but soon finds himself getting crushed by an unforgiving city. The thought-provoking drama driven by his top-drawer performance won rave reviews right across the board.

Top 10 inset Aligarh Rajkummar Rao Manoj Bajpayee 70b

Aligarh (2015): The biographical drama (above) enabled Rao to star alongside his acting hero Manoj Bajpayee. The powerful story based on real events saw him play a sympathetic journalist, who follows the case of a gay professor sacked on grounds of morality from his university and fighting for his rights. Both actors were on top of their game in a taboobusting drama, which gained them multiple award nominations.

Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017): Although he has won acclaim as a serious performer, Rao is also one of the finest comic actors in Hindi cinema. A perfect example was this hit romantic comedy where he plays an innocent salesman, mistaken for an author and drawn into an unlikely love triangle. The pitch perfect performance as an everyday man caught in an unlikely situation illustrated his unique brand of understated comedy, where less is more.

Capture 5

Bose: Dead/Alive (2017): The actor transformed himself completely for his web series debut (above), based on historical events and portrayed Subhas Chandra Bose. He brings the iconic freedom fighter, who stood up to the British Raj to life in a compelling story trying to unravel the mystery of his death. One reviewer said the series is worth watching for Rao’s performance alone.

Top 10 inset NEWTON POSTER 2 2500px

Newton (2017): The movie (above) selected as India’s official entry for the Oscar’s Best International Film category saw him play the title role terrifically well. The story of a man who goes to a small town in an insurgency ridden jungle to conduct a free and fair election enabled him to deliver a multilayered performance. The hit film saw him play that everyman again, in an impossible situation trying to do the right thing, which he has done so well throughout his career.

Stree (2018): A lot of Bollywood horror comedies have been made in recent years, largely thanks to this blockbuster hit (above). He plays a ladies’ tailor, who unwittingly falls in love with a ghostly presence, who may be making the local men disappear. He is a delight in a movie that remains his biggest commercial hit as a leading man and spawned a whole comedyhorror universe.

Capture 6

Badhaai Do (2022): The fearless actor crossed another horizon with this taboo-busting comedy drama and delivered one of the most unique lead protagonists in Hindi cinema. He plays a gay police officer, who gets into a marriage of convenience with a lesbian, played brilliantly by Bhumi Pednekar. Rao adds a real sensitivity to the performance and counterbalances his co-star beautifully.

Monica, O My Darling (2022): One of Hindi cinema’s finest films of 2022 perfectly illustrates how the actor is able to bring realism into a commercial entertainer. The neo-noir crime comedy remake of the 2011 Japanese movie Burûtasu no shinzou saw him play a blackmailed worker, getting caught up in a murder investigation and seeing his life spiral out of control. Rao once again shows that he really is one of the finest actors working in India today.

More For You

Wireless Festival 2025

The 2025 event made headlines after it was announced that Canadian rapper Drake

Getty Images

Wireless Festival 2025 confirms new acts for Finsbury Park

Key points

 
     
  • Wireless Festival 2025 runs from 11–13 July in Finsbury Park, London
  •  
  • Drake to headline all three nights of the sold-out event
  •  
  • New acts include ODUMODUBLVCK, SahBabii, Darkoo and Uncle Waffles
  •  
  • Up to 150,000 attendees expected across the weekend
  •  
 

Final line-up revealed ahead of 20th anniversary festival

 

Further acts have been confirmed for the 2025 edition of Wireless Festival, as Finsbury Park prepares to host the three-day music event from Friday 11 July to Sunday 13 July. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the UK’s biggest urban music festival, which has evolved into a major platform for rap, R&B, afrobeats and grime.

The 2025 event made headlines after it was announced that Canadian rapper Drake would headline all three nights — a first for the festival — sparking record-breaking ticket sales. The festival sold out within minutes.

Keep ReadingShow less
Superman

This film marks the first cinematic release under the new unified DC Universe banner

X/ ErikDavis

Superman early reactions praise James Gunn’s reboot as “a terrific start”

Key points

  • First reactions to Superman (2025) praise its action, humour and emotional tone
  • Directed by James Gunn and starring David Corenswet as Superman
  • Premiered in Los Angeles ahead of 11 July theatrical release
  • Fans and critics call it a strong launch for the new DC Studios era

Superman early reviews call it “exciting” and “hopeful”

Following its premiere in Los Angeles on Monday night, the first social media reactions to Superman have begun to emerge — and they are largely positive. Though full reviews will be published closer to the 11 July release date, critics, journalists and early viewers have shared their first impressions online.

 

What fans and critics are saying

“A terrific start for the new DC Studios,” – Erik Davis, Fandango
Film journalist Erik Davis praised Superman as a promising launchpad for DC Studios under the leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran.

Keep ReadingShow less
Neena Gupta

The brand’s use of a traditional Indian design without acknowledgement

Getty Images

Neena Gupta joins Kareena Kapoor in calling out Prada over Kolhapuri chappals

Key points

  • Neena Gupta posts a video wearing Kolhapuri chappals gifted by late actor Laxmikant Berde
  • Joins Kareena Kapoor in highlighting resemblance to a Prada sandal design
  • Luxury brand showcased similar footwear at Milan Fashion Week without reference to Indian origins
  • Both actresses emphasised the value of original handmade designs

Neena Gupta backs Kolhapuri chappals after Prada controversy

Veteran Indian actress Neena Gupta has weighed in on the ongoing conversation around Prada’s recent footwear collection after actress Kareena Kapoor earlier pointed out the brand’s use of a traditional Indian design without acknowledgement.

In a video shared on Instagram, Gupta showcased a pair of handmade Kolhapuri chappals gifted to her by the late actor Laxmikant Berde. Sharing the story behind the slippers, she said, “So, these Kolhapur slippers are in great demand these days. Once I did something with Laxmikant Berde—I don't remember what it was—so I asked him, can you get me these slippers from Kolhapur? He said yes. So he got them for me. This is the most beautiful slippers I have ever had. Most beautiful and handmade. I love them. Thank you, Laxmikant. You are not there anymore, but love you.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Katy Perry seen in black bikini on Capri yacht after Orlando Bloom split
Katy Perry relaxes on deck in a black bikini as she chats with friends
Twitter/info katy perry

Katy Perry seen in black bikini on Capri yacht after Orlando Bloom split

Quick highlights:

  • Katy Perry seen for the first time since confirming split with Orlando Bloom.
  • The singer relaxed on a yacht in Capri with daughter Daisy and close friends.
  • Representatives say the couple has shifted focus to co-parenting after months of changes.
  • Bloom shared cryptic quotes on loneliness while Perry broke down on stage in Australia.

Katy Perry appears to be embracing single life with warmth and grace after confirming her split from actor Orlando Bloom. Just days after their breakup statement, the pop star was seen enjoying a yacht holiday in Capri with her daughter Daisy and longtime friends.

Perry looked composed and at ease as she spent time on the water, marking her first public appearance since the relationship announcement. Dressed in a black bikini, with her hair tied back in a sleek bun, the singer was photographed laughing, hugging friends, and sharing moments with her 4½-year-old daughter.

Keep ReadingShow less
The Beckham family

Mia Regan, Romeo Beckham, Cruz Beckham, Harper Beckham, David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, Brooklyn Peltz Beckham and Nicola Peltz Beckham attend the Netflix 'Beckham' UK Premiere

Getty Images

Brooklyn Beckham’s absence looms over Harper’s birthday as family rift deepens

Quick highlights:

  • Brooklyn Beckham is unlikely to attend Harper’s 14th birthday amid ongoing family tensions.
  • He recently skipped David Beckham’s 50th celebration to attend Nicola Peltz’s father’s birthday in the US.
  • Insiders say Harper is especially hurt as she shares a close bond with Brooklyn.
  • Brooklyn reportedly feels distant from the Beckham family and more connected to Nicola’s side.

The Beckham family is preparing to mark Harper’s 14th birthday this week, but the occasion is expected to be bittersweet. Brooklyn Beckham is not expected to join the celebrations, sparking concerns about a deepening rift between him and the rest of his family.

Once a close-knit unit, tensions reportedly began brewing after Brooklyn married American heiress and actress Nicola Peltz in 2022. Since then, his growing bond with Nicola’s family and increasing distance from his own has been a source of strain, insiders claim.

Keep ReadingShow less