Among the sea of faces, we witness every day in the Bollywood film fraternity few become memorable with their ground-breaking performances, and even fewer experience some semblance of longevity in our minds. In the industry, it is necessary for every actor to see a setback, in order to value the success. But the real test happens after these setbacks, while few actors scatter after flops, many shine brighter after them. So, it definitely speaks volumes of actors who have been able to overcome their setbacks and make a comeback into the film world. Here is a list of top 10 comeback kings and queens of Bollywood that gave blockbuster after a slew of flops:
1. Akshay Kumar: Akshay Kumar was a ubiquitous star of the 90s, who rose to fame after the success of Khiladi. However, the fame didn’t last long and saw a decline after Dil Toh Pagal Hai. But the actor stood high and come back even harder with Hera Pheri which changed the catalog of the industry.
2. Kajol: Kajol garnered command over a huge fandom with a series of blockbuster movies including Baazigar, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Ishq, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, and Fanaa. She vanished away from the industry for more than 5 years after My Name is Khan, but in 2015, she came back with Dilwale which received mostly positive reviews. And it wasn’t until Tanhaji - The Unsung Warrior, in 2020 that she finally recovered her Midas touch.
3. Amitabh Bachchan: In the dreamy career spanning 51 years, the actor witnessed many ups-down. From the dizzying heights of the mid to late 70s with hits like Sholay, Don and Amar Akbar Anthony, he underwent a dry patch that lasted for almost two decades. But the dry pitch failed to hold the megastar for long and he makes a marvelous comeback with Mohabattien.
4. Saif Ali Khan: While the other three khans took the big projects, Saif Ali Khan was left with experimental and small projects that took his career to decline. In the 2010s Saif became even more experimental with his choices, picking up Go Goa Gone, Kaalakandi, and Kurbaan, roles that seriously tested him. But now the actor is one of the most bankable stars of OTT platforms, who gave hits like Tandav and Sacred Games.
5. Sridevi: The late Bollywood actress ruled the limelight from the 80s to 90s and emerged as a versatile actress. But after marrying producer Boney Kapoor and welcoming two lovely daughters the actress took a break from her work-life. However, in 2012, she made a memorable comeback with English Vinglish, seemingly out of the blue.
6. Ayushmann Khurana: Ayushman Khurana made the reputation of a charmer with his very first movie. But this image soon started getting blurred when did some experimental projects like Nautanki Saala, Bewakoofiyaan, Hawaizaada, and Meri Pyaari Bindu. However, it didn’t take it long for the actor to clear his image with ground-breaking hits like Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, Andhadhun, Badhaai Ho, and Article 15.
7. Madhuri Dixit: The gorgeous and talented actress Madhuri Dixit ruled the hearts of many through the 90s, with films such as Hum Aapke Hain Koun and Dil To Pagal Hai. However, her marriage to her husband stalled her career, and she wasn’t able to quite revive it until Total Dhamaal in 2019.
8. Anil Kapoor: Anil Kapoor, the ever-green star of the industry has maintained her domination over the silver screen with super hits like Judai, Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain, Biwi No. 1, and Taal. His stars dimmed with the onset of the new millennium when even iconic films like Nayak flopped. And for a while, it seemed like he was on his way out of the industry. But the actor held his career strong and made a comeback with No Entry and never saw back.
9. Sanjay Dutt: Sanjay Dutt has the strangest comebacks in the industry he not just made a comeback in the industry but also in life. His career-best performance came right before he checked into jail, with PK garnering applause from everywhere.
10. Govinda: Govinda's camaraderie with Salman Khan in Partner impressed one and all. However, the actor later disappeared from the movie scene. Returning to face the camera with a completely different attitude, Govinda will be seen in multiple films soon. First off, Govinda returns with his rustic attitude in Kill Dil.
