Gandalf, the Grey/White in The Lord of the Rings trilogy

From the pipe-smoking, old-man wizard to a sword-wielding leader of the fellowship of the ring, through sparking conspiracy theories about the meaning of his “Fly, you fools!” statement, Sir Ian McKellen took Gandalf from a beloved character in the Tolkien legendarium and turned him into a screen icon in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Our heart still skips a beat every time we see him die in the first film despite knowing that he will return in the second.

Babu Bhaiya in Hera Pheri

Suniel Shetty and Akshay Kumar may have been the stars of the two films, but it was Paresh Rawal’s Babu bhaiya who stole the show. His eccentricities, punchlines, throw of dialogues, and love for all things alcoholic (especially in the first film) made the character much loved and firmly established Rawal as a comedy icon. And Babu bhaiya’s antics make both the films seem fresh even after the hundredth viewing.

Colonel Trautman in Rambo

John Rambo’s mentor and father-figure in the original Rambo trilogy, Colonel Trautman (Richard Crenna) knows what his protégé is capable of and is brought in when Rambo wreaks havoc in a small US town. He is the only one Rambo listens to and trusts and even puts his life on the line to save in the third film. Crenna died before the fourth Rambo film, but appears in archive footage with the film dedicated to his memory — that’s some tribute.

Circuit in Munna Bhai

Can you imagine a Munna Bhai sans a Circuit? Arshad Warsi, as Circuit, has not only carved a niche among Munna Bhai franchise lovers but also made a character that is loved for his comic timings and sheer loyalty towards Munna bhai. Many have imitated Circuit’s way of walk and talk, but few could get the timing right. In short, he is the ultimate bhai, with a shade of sweetness.

Lucky in Golmaal

Aaa aaa iii uuuu… Is something buzzing? Yes you are right. It’s Tusshar Kapoor in the Golmaal series. Tusshar has delivered comedy to the Indian household without uttering a single word through Golmaal. Though his phraseology has been limited to the aaa aaa iii uuuu, his humour has spoken volumes. Despite having so many characters, Lucky has been able to retain a considerable fan following who watch the film because of the character he plays (perhaps) the best.

Ali in Dhoom

Forget John Abraham, Hrithik Roshan, Aamir Khan and Abhishek Bachchan. It’s Uday Chopra’s Ali that makes Dhoom funnier when the situation gets tense. This heist series wouldn’t have been so charming had the sweet Ali not played a role. His best line (in all the sequels): “Main to hu hi joker. Main to hu hasane ke liye,” perhaps sums up the role assigned to him. Ali is a breather in this usually edge-of-the-seat drama where the leads pull off robberies without even a grin. 

Katappa in Bahubali

Katappa ne Bahubali ko kyun mara? A question every Indian asked soon after Bahubali — The Beginning released in 2015. Katappa is as important as Bahubali in the series as Krishna in Mahabharat. Loyal, obedient, to-the-point and comic — a character created by S.S. Rajamouli — that will perhaps stay on with the Indian audience like Gabbar lingers in our minds even after 42 years of Sholay’s release.

Master Gibbs in Pirates of the Caribbean

Kevin McNally’s Master Gibbs is everything a pirate would want in his first mate — wit, humour, loyalty, and wisdom, if the need arises. The Captain Jack Sparrow-Master Gibbs duo have gone through more trouble than success during and after commandeering the Black Pearl, but they’ve never let it weigh on their friendship. And despite initial rumblings in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, the duo remain tight as ever.

Jaybrota Das and Subham Mitra