Saif Ali Khan, Arjun Rampal to Sanjay Dutt: 90s Romantic Heroes Who Are Now Bollywood’s Most Entertaining Villains

90s and the early 2000s saw an entirely different era in Bollywood wherein actors tapped into their subtle shades and defined the romantic genre with charm and a kind of softness that raised the bar of romantic heroes. Today, the same romantic heroes of the 90s have flipped the tables by entering their villainy era, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats with a compelling screen presence and a chilling on-screen personality. Take a look:

Sanjay Dutt – KGF Chapter 2
Having defined his range in his initial years with Khal Nayak, Saajan, Rocky and more, Sanjay Dutt stepped into the shoes of a raw and menacing antagonist Adheera in the blockbuster KGF Chapter 2. The actor, known for his versatility and a striking ability to exude terror with his expressive eyes, received praise for his imposing screen presence and also for bringing a real gangster feel with his Viking-inspired look.

Saif Ali Khan – Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior
Saif Ali Khan, who dominated the early era with his boyish charm and boy-next-door appeal, delivered a widely acclaimed performance as the deadly antagonist Udaybhan Singh Rathore in the hit release, Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior. Audience and critics praised his menacing and dark portrayal, noting it as one of the highlights of his career.

Arjun Rampal – Dhurandhar & Dhurandhar The Revenge
From oozing the ultimate romantic hero feels in Dil Ka Rishta, Dil Hai Tumhaara to reigning terror as ISI Major Iqbal in the latest phenomenon, Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar The Revenge, Arjun Rampal has touched corners of versatility. The audience strongly feels that the actor brings incredible believability to portraying negative characters on-screen, often becoming the natural pick to breathe life to grey-shaded characters.

R Madhavan – Shaitaan
Maddy ruled back then in Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein, and now R Madhavan rules as the chilling Shaitaan! Though the actor continues to carry the charm of the iconic Maddy, his off-beat outing in Shaitaan displayed a new shade of his versatility. At times when the audience hadn’t expected him to step into a grey shade, the actor dived headfirst!

Bobby Deol – Animal
You know him in Aashiq, Barsaat, Soldier and more, but it surely seemed like Bobby Deol hit a reboot by stepping into the shoes of the chilling villain named Abrar in Animal. He ignited a new wave, setting the standard of villains in today’s Bollywood. From the viral introduction scene to the gruesome climax, Bobby Deol earned all due praise and appreciation for the right reasons.

From romantic heroes of the 90s to the beloved villains of today, these actors have truly registered full-circle moments in their film careers!