With the release of Russo Brothers’ The Gray Man on Netflix, it is safe to say that Dhanush’s status has been elevated from a Pan Indian to a Pan World actor. Actually, even for Dhanush, this was not a Hollywood debut as he had previously starred in Ken Scott’s The Extraordinary Journey Of A Fakir in 2018. We have listed here five other times Indian actors played prominent parts in famous Hollywood films:

1) Amitabh Bachchan in The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby, the Hollywood adaptation of the eponymous book, was famous for Leonardo Di Caprio’s memorable portrayal of the iconic Jay Gatsby character. Amitabh Bachchan too played a short but prominent role in the same film. Interestingly, he essayed the role of a Jewish gambler, a refreshing change from the typical Indian/pan Asian roles our actors are generally offered in Western films. 

2) Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in The Pink Panther 2

The Pink Panther series has had its ups and downs. But the second installment brought a cheer to the fans of Aishwarya Rai as she essayed the role of the suspenseful Sonia Solandres in the film. The film got mixed reviews but not everyday does an Indian actor get to share screen space with the famous Steve Martin. 

3) Anupam Kher in Silver Linings Playbook

David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook won critical acclaim for its fantastic handling of a theme such as mental illness. The film also boasted an expansive star cast including Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Di Nero. Anupam Kher, one of India’s finest actors, played the role of the eccentric doctor Cliff Patel and deservedly won many accolades for his fantastic performance. 

4) Irrfan Khan in Life Of Pi

Life Of Pi took cinemas by storm in 2012 and won four Oscars from eleven nominations. The Late Irrfan Khan essayed the role of the adult Pi Patel and left his mark in a film that will be remembered for generations to come.

5) Dimple Kapadia in Tenet

Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi magnum opus Tenet was probably the most analyzed film of the year when it released. Fans are in fact still debating over different plot points on online forums. Dimple Kapadia essayed the fantastic role of an unassuming arms trafficker and Nolan himself has stated in multiple interviews that he was awestruck with her powerful performance.