Most of the time, popular actors get all the acclaim and those who play the supporting parts go relatively unnoticed. However, these supporting actors leave a strong impact on our mind all thanks to their wonderfully nuanced performances. We remember them by the name of their characters and long after the film is over, their performances stay with us. 

But for all the work they do, their name doesn’t get as much recognition as they deserve.

These 22 actors are popular faces in Hindi cinema but the audience doesn’t always know them by their own name:

1. Kumud Mishra

Just in 2016, the audience saw him in Airlift, Rustom, Sultan and M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story and in each of these films, Kumud Mishra had a part that was essential to the plot. 

But this wasn’t the first time that the audience saw this actor. He came into spotlight with his role as the canteen owner, Khatana, in Rockstar and has stayed relevant by portraying different characters in a variety of films.

2. Rajesh Sharma

He is an essential actor when it comes to casting a good ensemble in a film. 

With films like Tanu Weds Manu Returns, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story and Special 26 in the recent past, Sharma’s presence is sort of mandatory when a good actor is needed for a significant character. Apart from Hindi films, Rajesh is also a frequent face in Bengali cinema.

3. Vipin Sharma

You must still remember him as the man who plays Ishan Awasthi’s father in Taare Zameen Par.

That’s the kind of impact he has on a character that even 9 years since the film’s release, you can’t get over his stellar performance. Apart from that, Vipin has also appeared in films like Shahid, Paan Singh Tomar, Raghav Raman 2.0, Gangs of Wasseypur and many others.

4. Pawan Malhotra

The moment you see him in a film, it adds credibility to the project. He has been around for 32 years and his brilliant filmography is a true testament to this man’s talent. 

Be it his role in Black Friday or Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, his performances have been memorable in each and every movie. Over the years, many viewers have started identifying this talented actor but he deserves much more than what he has gotten.

5. Pankaj Tripathi

He played the understanding colleague in Masaan and was pretty dynamic as Sultan in Gangs of Wasseypur. 

His raw and gritty personality allows him to transform from a decent man to a gangster with quite an ease. No wonder then that we have seen him explore a wide range of characters in his career.

6. Ayesha Raza Mishra

Ayesha has featured in a few popular films like Befikre and Dil Dhadakne Do. 

She has also become a popular face thanks to her appearances on various web shows and has received much appreciation from fans all over.

7. Yashpal Sharma

Lakha from Lagaan will always be etched in our memory but there is more to Yashpal Sharma than that. 

Over the years, we have seen him in films like Gangaajal, Apaharan, Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi and many other films where Sharma has completely immersed himself into the character.

8. Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub

Remember that guy from Raanjhanaa who took the cake with his witty one liners? 

Yes, his name is Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub. And even his appearance in Tanu Weds Manu Returns left a strong impression on the audience!

9. Manoj Joshi

A prolific film and television actor, Manoj Joshi became popular with the masses after his roles in films like Hulchul, Bhool Bhulaiyaa and Devdas. 

Joshi is an established name in Marathi films and his theatre background reflects in his strong performances.

10. Anand Tiwari

His appearance in Udaan was small yet both significant and impactful. 

He was also one of the leads in Go Goa Gone and left quite an impression on the audience. But that’s not all. Tiwari has appeared in films like Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! and is the face of a tea brand’s Jaago Re campaign too.

11. Manish Chaudhary

Socha Na Tha, Band Baaja Baaraat, Bombay Velvet, we have seen this suave actor in various films. Even his appearance in TV shows like Powder and the ongoing POW: Bandi Yuddh Ke have made him a popular face amongst viewers.

12. Vikrant Massey

We’ve seen him in various ad commercials, TV shows and films and with every performance Vikrant Massey has gotten immense appreciation. 

He first got noticed for his part in the TV show, Balika Vadhu. But it was his role in Lootera and Dil Dhadakne Do that got Massey the attention he deserved. 

Next, he stars as the lead in Konkona Sen Sharma’s directorial debut, A Death in the Gunj.

13. Brijendra Kala

You know you’ve seen him and always referred to him as the guy who probably appears for just a couple of scenes but always leaves an impact. 

Brijendra Kala has been around in Bollywood films for more than a decade and has worked in films like Paan Singh Tomar, Mithya, Dasvidaniya and many others.

14. Arjun Mathur

We saw him in a small role in Luck By Chance and later, he also appeared in My Name Is Khan. 

Both his performances were appreciated and Arjun Mathur is an actor who can be frequently seen in TV commercials. The MTV series Bring On The Night made Arjun a popular face and with films like Barah Aana, I Am and Ankur Arora Murder Case, Arjun has proved that he is here to stay.

15. Shweta Tripathi

The girl from Masaan & Haraamkhor is an incredible actor and we surely want to see more of her. 

She has done a variety of commercials and currently features in the web series, The Trip. Her innocent face and likable personality is such that one simply cannot forget her after watching her performance.

16. Prakash Belawadi

Prakash is a popular theatre actor from Bengaluru and has appeared in many Kannada films. 

He started appearing in Hindi films just a few years ago but has left us in awe every single time. Bala in Madras Cafe, George in Airlift and Pillai in Talvar, Prakash’s performances in all of his films have been top notch.

17. Akhilendra Mishra

We still remember him as Mirchi Seth from the 1999 film Sarfarosh. 

In a strong ensemble cast film like Lagaan, Mishra stood out for his performance. He has been in the entertainment business since 1990 and his performances definitely reflect his experience.

18. Gajraj Rao

Gajraj Rao appears in various comedy sketches on popular social media channels which has made him a familiar face. 

While he might play the funny Dad on the web sketches, it was is role in Talvar that reflected his wide range of acting.

19. Mukesh Rishi

We know him as Bulla but that’s not all about him. 

90s kids have seen Mukesh Rishi playing the bad guy in films like Judwaa and Gunda but it was his role in Sarfarosh that showed that Mukesh can play the good cop just as well.

20. Alka Kaushal

The actress played Rani’s (Kangana Ranaut) mother in Queen and left us teary eyed with her performance. 

Her role in Bajrangi Bhaijaan was small but the few scenes she featured in were quite impactful. Alka is also known for her work in Marathi cinema and can be frequently seen in Hindi TV serials.

21. Adil Hussain

Adil Hussain came into the spotlight after he appeared in the 2012 film, English Vinglish. 

Since then, he has appeared in films like Lootera, Parched and many others.

22. Vrajesh Hirjee

A prominent Gujarati actor, Hirjee has been appearing in Hindi films for almost two decades. 

He has done films like RHTDM, Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, Fanaa, Golmaal and many others. He is a popular comedian as well and does a few television appearances too.

The actors who are remembered, their names must never go unnoticed.