Indian actors are eventually gaining recognition in the eyes of a global audience through their Hollywood appearances. Some of the Indian actors also shifted towards more Hollywood projects than Bollywood for more reach and fame. Here is the list of Bollywood actors who went to Hollywood to pursue a parallel career in the international arena.
Irrfan Khan: One of the most successful actors of Indian cinema Irrfan Khan has received equal love from Hollywood movies. He passed away at the age of 53 on the 29th April 2020 of cancer related infections. Actors from around the world and cinema lovers across the globe mourned his death.
Irrfan Khan was already an established name in Bollywood, but the actor always looked for new challenges and reached Hollywood. The first break for Irrfan Khan was the role of a police officer in the film, Slumdog Millionaire under Danny Boyle’s direction. After Slumdog Millionaire won an Oscar, Irrfan Khan got international recognition overnight. Hollywood recognized a real gem in Irrfan Khan. Soon the actor got the chance to appear in one of the Marvels franchises, bagged another Hollywood epic, Inferno, along with Tom Hanks.
In 2015, Irrfan Khan played a lead role in the film Jurassic Park. He once said in an interview that when the original Jurassic Park came in theatres in 1993, he could not afford the ticket to watch the movie as the actor was going through his struggling days. After 22 years, he got the chance to play the owner of Jurassic Park in the film. This film earned $ 1.7 billion US dollars across the world, and the actor became one of the dominant stars in the international movie platform. Another all-time favourite movie of Irrfan Khan is Life of Pie under Ang Lee’s directorial, which was released in 2012. This untimely demise of the actor was a sad day for his many fans across the border and around the world.
Priyanka Chopra, left, and Nick Jonas
Priyanka Chopra: The incredible beauty of Bollywood is now a prominent star in the Hollywood industry as well. The actress set for the bigger arena to explore new avenues in her career, and this trial did not go on the vein.
PeeCee (her nickname) has received immense love and acceptance from the Hollywood audience. She was a debutant in the American detective series Quantico and also the first Indian actress who got the chance to play the lead in an American show for the first time. Priyanka Chopra received the People’s Choice Award for giving exceptional performances in Quantico. The Quantico girl is the first Indian actor who was signed up with the biggest sports and entertainment company, the Creative Artist Agency in Los Angeles. The Diva also played a vital role in the film Baywatch under Seth Gordon’s direction. The actress also appeared in the movie, Isn’t It Romantic besides Rebel Wilson and 
Liam Hemsworth. Priyanka Chopra has managed to appear in the films for both Bollywood and Hollywood. This beauty also appeared in several popular American late-night talk shows like Tonight with Jimmy Fallon and Ellen. After tying the knot with the renowned pop star Nick Jonas, Priyanka also took part in several music videos along with Jonas Brothers. Priyanka Chopra also graced the cover of international fashion magazines like Vogue, Elle, People, Cosmopolitan, and many others.
Anupam Kher: Anupam Kher has become famous worldwide through his acting in the films like Bend it like Beckham and Silver Linings Playbook. The veteran actor is a versatile performer in B-town. The actor also appeared in Hollywood movies like Speedy Singhs and Bride and Prejudice. Anupam Kher finished, “The Big Slick,” another Hollywood film which is his 500th movie.
Aishwarya Rai: The gorgeous beauty, Aishwarya Rai, is a well-known name in Hollywood who had acted in several Hollywood movies, including The Pink Panther 2, Mistress of Spices, Bride & Prejudice, Provoked and The Last Legion!
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is also a renowned name for endorsing several fashion brands. She was Miss India Runner Up and Miss World 2001 winner.
Anil Kapoor: Anil Kapoor earned global recognition after the movie, Slumdog Millionaire. The actor also appeared in Mission Impossible series & Ghost Protocol. Besides films, Anil Kapoor acquired 24 Television series in India and played the lead role.
He is the first Indian actor who has invited at the Toronto International Film Festival, especially on a specific segment kin 2013.
Amitabh Bachchan: Amitabh Bachchan has also set his mark in Hollywood movies. Though the screen presence of the actor was far lesser than the other actors in this list, Big B (as he is called) got to play a role in the film The Great Gatsby featuring Leonardo DiCaprio.
Dev Patel: Dev Patel’s journey started from the Hollywood movie Slumdog Millionaire which won the Oscar. The actor’s career went uphill after Slumdog Millionaire. He is known to select his roles carefully. He is engraving his place in the Hollywood race with flare.
Dev Patel appeared in several Hollywood movies after his debut that include The Last Airbender, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, About Cherry, The Road Withing, The Second-Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. He also appeared in movies like The Man Who Knew Infinity, Only Yesterday, Lion, Hotel Mumbai, The Wedding Guest, The Personal History of David Copperfield, I Lost My Body, and other films.
Freida Pinto – Freida Pinto also debuted in the film Slumdog Millionaire, and the dusky beauty got instant exposure in Hollywood overnight after releasing her first Oscar-winning film. Freida became the part of many blockbusters, she bagged a role in a Woody Allen movie, You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger, which is a dream for many actors.
After Slumdog Millionaire, the actress appeared in several Hollywood movies that include You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, Miral, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Day of the Falcon, Immortals, Girl Rising. She also played her role in Desert Dancer, Knight of Cups, Unity, Blunt Force Trauma, Love Sonia, Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle, Love, Wedding, Repeat, Only.
Deepika Padukone – Deepika Padukone’s Hollywood career has started with his debut in action-based film XXX: The Return of Xander Cage featuring Vin Diesel in it. She is one of the famous names in Indian cinema to foray into Hollywood when her careerwas on peak in Bollywood.
Naseeruddin Shah – Another veteran and one of the finest actors of Bollywood, Naseeruddin Shah, has also dignified a handful of Hollywood film projects. The actor has performed his role in films like The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, where Naseeruddin Shah played the role of Captain Nemo. He also appeared in The Great New Wonderful along with Monsoon Wedding under Indian-born American director Mira Nair’s directorial.
Om Puri – Om Puri is one of the finest actors of India and has had an incredible filmography record throughout his career. Few of his popular movies are Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi, Roland Joffé’s The City of Joy, Mike Nichols’s Charlie Wilson’s War, Michael Winterbottom’s Code 46, and Damien O’Donnell’s East is East.
All in all, one can say that the actors from India who got the opportunity to showcase their talent in Hollywood, may have not got the best screen time, and may had had limitations in regards to their roles, but they were still appreciated by the audiences worldwide.
