PRITHVIRAJ SUKUMARAN
Also known as: Raju, Prithvi
Industry: Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu
Age: 33
Top films: Vaasthavam (2006), Puthiya Mukham (2009), Indian Rupee (2011), Celluloid (2012)
Bolly CV: Made his Bolly debut with the 2012 disaster called Aiyyaa, co-starring Rani Mukerji. Followed it up with the multistarrer Aurangzeb (2013). Both the films were box-office flops, but Prithviraj was singled out for praise.
Plus: Has sung in a few films.
Relationship status: Married to journalist Supriya Menon and is father to one-and-a-half-year-old Alankrita.
We love: We first spotted those chiselled abs in Aiyyaa (in picture)… and we couldn’t breathe for a few minutes! Rani Mukerji may have been all over him in Aga bai, but our eyes were only on this man. Besides being body beautiful, Prithviraj scores for his intensity, those killer eyes and his ability to slip into any role effortlessly.
Even off-screen, he gives us a lot to fall for: his daughter has both his and his wife’s surnames because Prithviraj believes that “using only the father’s name as the surname is a sign of male chauvinism”. What’s not to love?
Follow him on: @PrithviOfficial. His Twitter bio reads: Father, Husband, Brother, Son — Actor, Traveller, Petrolhead, Dreamer. Freedom (n.): To ask nothing. To expect nothing. To depend on nothing.
t2 hunk-o-meter: 9/10. One extra point for that disarming smile.
MAHESH BABU
Also known as: Prince
Industry: Telugu
Age: 40
Top films: Okkadu (2003), Pokiri (2006), Dookudu (2011), Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu (2013)
Plus: He hasn’t opened his Bolly account yet, but we did love him in the Thums Up commercial that aired a few summers ago.
Relationship status: Married to former beauty queen and Bolly actress Namrata Shirodkar for 11 years. They have a daughter and a son.
We love: He’s 40, but looks 30. His boyish looks are a girl magnet, with Mahesh boasting fans from six to 60. And while we lust after him, his family man image makes him... all the more irresistible!
Follow him on: @urstrulyMahesh. Boasts a whopping 2 million followers.
t2 hunk-o-meter: 9/10. We love that boyish charm.
ALLU ARJUN
Also known as: Bunny
Industry: Telugu
Age: 33
Top films: Gangotri (2003), Arya (2004), Race Gurram (2014), Sarainodu (2016)
Relationship status: Married with a two-year-old son.
We love: Chiranjeevi’s nephew has a body fit to unleash an ogle fest. Add to that his bad-boy intensity and charm and you have a hunk worth drooling over.
Follow him on: @alluarjun.
t2 hunk-o-meter: 8/10. We have a weakness for bad boys. Always.
SURIYA
Also known as: The Aamir Khan of the south
Industry: Tamil
Age: 40
Top films: Kaakha Kaakha (2003), Ghajini (2005), Vaaranam Aayiram (2008), Singam (2010)
Bolly CV: Starred in Ram Gopal Varma’s Rakht Charitra (2010), alongside Vivek Oberoi.
Plus: Is involved in many a humanitarian campaign, including ‘Save the Tigers’.
Relationship status: Married to former actress Jyothika.
We love: His versatility and his clean guy image. Two thumbs up for being a family man and yet managing to retain his popularity among his female fans.
Follow him on: @Suriya_offl
t2 hunk-o-meter: 9/10. We could get lost in those eyes.
PRABHAS
Also known as: Darling Prabhas. Yes, you read that right!
Industry: Telugu
Age: 36
Top films: Varsham (2004), Darling (2010), Rebel (2011), Bahubali (2015)
Bolly CV: Made a special appearance in the song Punjabi mast in Ajay Devgn’s Action Jackson. But became a household name across India with his turn as Bahubali/ Shivudu in the S.S. Rajamouli-directed blockbuster. Psst: There’s talk of the hunk being considered to play the villain in the next Dhoom film.
Relationship status: Single.
We love: ‘Who’s that guy?’ we asked after we had finished ogling at him in Bahubali. Tall (he stands at 6’2”), dark and handsome, Prabhas is the textbook hunk, his ripped abs complemented by that innocent face. His screen presence is effortless — be it beating adversaries to pulp or being the quintessential romantic.
t2 hunk-o-meter: 9/10. That body!
RAM CHARAN
Also known as: Cherry
Industry: Telugu
Age: 31
Top films: Chirutha (2007), Magadheera (2009), Orange (2010), Naayak (2013)
Bolly CV: South superstar Chiranjeevi’s son stepped into Bollywood with the remake of Zanjeer, co-starring Priyanka Chopra. The film was unwatchable.
Plus: Is an equestrian enthusiast and owns the polo team called Ram Charan Hyderabad Polo Riding Club. He also owns the Hyderabad-based regional airline TruJet.
Relationship status: Married to Upasana Kamineni.
We love: His intensity. That jawline. Those smouldering eyes.
t2 hunk-o-meter: 8/10. The shy guy image makes him even more irresistible.
DULQUER SALMAAN
Also known as: DQ, Chaalu
Industry: Malayalam, Tamil
Age: 29
Top films: Second Show (2012), Bangalore Days (2014), O Kadhal Kanmani (2015), Charlie (2015)
Plus: Is an entrepreneur with business interests in cars, a dental chain and a hospital. And yes, he’s movie legend Mammooty’s son.
Relationship status: Married to architect Amal Sufiya.
We love: Widely popular for his boy-next-door looks and boyish charm, Dulquer is today’s heart-throb who scores with the girls. And yes, he’s a good actor too.
Follow him on: @dulQuer. Film, Business, Auto Enthusiast. Has 380K followers on Twitter.
t2 hunk-o-meter: 8/10. He had us at that mischievous look in his eyes.
SUDEEP
Also known as: Kiccha
Industry: Kannada, Telugu
Age: 42
Top films: Huccha (2001), Kempe Gowda (2011), Vishnuvardhana (2011), Eega (2012)
Bolly CV: Made his Bolly debut with Ram Gopal Varma’s 2008 spookfest Phoonk, following it up with RGV films Phoonk 2, Rann and Rakht Charitra. He also made more than a mark in Makkhi, the Hindi dubbed version of Eega.
Plus: The state-level cricket player has directed a few films and has also shown his talent in playback singing.
Relationship status: Divorced.
We love: His intensity scores top marks and so does that baritone. Sudeep manages to bring a special something to everything he does on screen.
Follow him on: @KicchaSudeep
t2 hunk-o-meter: 8/10. That voice!
RANA DAGGUBATI
Industry: Telugu, Tamil
Age: 31
Top films: Leader (2010), Bahubali (2015), Rudramadevi (2015)
Bolly CV: Made his Bolly debut with Dum Maaro Dum with Abhishek Bachchan and Bipasha Basu, following it up with Department with Amitabh Bachchan and Baby with Akshay Kumar.
Plus: Is a trained visual effects coordinator, even winning a state award for Sainikudu, starring Mahesh Babu and Irrfan Khan.
Relationship status: Single. Was linked to Bipasha while filming Dum Maaro Dum.
We love: Despite that towering frame (he’s 6’3”), the beefy hunk has an easy swagger that is very attractive. And that voice!
Follow him on: @RanaDaggubati.
Follower count: 1.66 million... and counting.
t2 hunk-o-meter: 8/10. Yes, we have a thing for tall men.
SIDDHARTH
Industry: Tamil, Telugu
Age: 37
Top films: Boys (2003), Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana (2005), Bommarillu (2006), Jigarthanda (2014)
Bolly CV: Siddharth became a national crush with his turn as the intense and brooding Karan in his Bolly debut Rang De Basanti. He failed to build on his super success, following up with duds like Striker and Chashme Buddoor. He also played Shiva in Deepa Mehta’s Midnight’s Children.
Plus: Doubles or rather triples as screenplay writer, producer and playback singer. Siddharth was one of the heroes after the Chennai flood of 2015, lending a helping hand to hundreds ravaged by the killer deluge.
Relationship status: Divorced. Has been linked to co-stars Soha Ali Khan and Shruti Haasan.
We love: There’s an easy charm about him that draws one instantly. That smile speaks a thousand words. But what floors us every time? His flawless public-speaking skills.
Follow him on: @Actor_Siddharth. His Twitter bio: Indian. Actor. Producer. Musician. Believer. I am because i still hope. (And yes, he has 2.12 million followers.)
t2 hunk-o-meter: 8/10. There’s something about Sid.
NAGA CHAITANYA
Also known as: Chay
Industry: Telugu
Age: 29
Top films: Josh (2007), Ye Maaya Chesave (2010), Autonagar Surya (2014)
Relationship status: Single
We love: That gummy smile and hint of a stubble. Plus, he has the still-hot Nagarjuna as his dad. #Genes#Likefatherlikeson
t2 hunk-o-meter: 7/10. Shiva (Jr).
VIKRAM
Also known as: Chiyaan Vikram. Chiyaan is the name of Vikram’s character in his breakthrough film Sethu. Kenny to close friends.
Industry: Tamil
Age: 50
Top films: Sethu (1999), Pithamagan (2003), Anniyan (2005), I (2015)
Bolly CV: Won applause for his turn as Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s husband in Mani Ratnam’s Raavan (2010). The only other Bolly film on his resume? David (2013).
Relationship status: Married with a son and a daughter.
We love: His singleminded devotion to a role — from losing weight to shaving his head to isolating himself for weeks... all in the name of prep. Plus, we like a man who looks like he’s in control.
t2 hunk-o-meter: 7/10. That smouldering sexiness.
NIVIN PAULY
Also known as: “The next Mohanlal”
Industry: Malayalam
Age: 31
Top films: Malarvaadi Arts Club (2010), Thattathin Marayathu (2012), Neram (2013), 1983 (2014), Bangalore Days (2014), (2015) and Premam (2015)
Plus: Has a BTech degree in electronics and communication engineering; worked at Infosys before showbiz came calling.
Relationship status: Married with a three-year-old son.
We love: His ability to switch effortlessly from boy-next-door to man of the world. And those eyes!
Follow him on: @iamNivinPauly
t2 hunk-o-meter: 9/10. We love the way he rocks that beard.
