Trivia: Bollywood leading man Akshay Kumar took his bow as a performer in the early '90s, then accumulated a series of roles that qualified him as one of the most prolific actors in contemporary Indian cinema. These included the 1997 Daava, the 2001 Ajnabee, and the 2003 Khakee -- to name merely a few among dozens of projects. Kumar achieved two international crossover successes in 2007, with his lead in the romance Namastey, London, as the arranged husband of an unwilling bride; and another lead in the supernaturally charged comic thriller Bhool Bhulaiyaa, as a psychiatrist attempting to determine if a Brahmin palace is haunted by spirits.

Trivia: Formed the theatre group Motley Productions in 1977 along with Tom Alter and Benjamin Giliani. A three-time winner of a National Film Award - twice for Best Actor. Winner of three Filmfare Best Actor Awards. Honoured with the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award, in 2003. Undertook his first directing venture with Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota (2006).

Trivia: Born in Mulki, India, Bollywood superstar Sunil Shetty debuted during the early '90s but only saw his career catch fire around a decade later. He amassed dozens upon dozens of acting credits, nearly all in productions in his native India, including roles in such films as Vinashak (1998), Main Hoon Na (2004), Paheli (2005), and Shaadi Se Pehle (2006). Thereafter, Shetty scored two international successes with the 2007 Om Shanti Om and the 2008 One Two Three.

Trivia: The name Raveena is an amalgamation of her parent's names Ravi and Veena. Won a Filmfare Best Female Debut Award for her first appearance on the big screen in Patthar Ke Phool (1991). Adopted two girls, Pooja and Chhaya, in 1995. She has since had two further children with her husband. In 2002 she won the National Film Best Actress Award for playing a troubled wife in Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence (2001). Chairperson of the Children's Film Society of India from 2003 until 2005. Acted as judge on the TV shows Chak De Bachche (2008) and Comedy Ka Maha Muqabala (2011).

Trivia: Bollywood actor Paresh Rawal remains one of the few film performers in India with an outspoken level of disdain for the craft of moviemaking -- one who has long publicly insisted that he only accepts movie roles for the fiscal gain and that his true undying love lies on the stage. A disciplined thespian known for the impressive versatility with which he can slip into roles, and the subtlety that enables him to avoid melodramatics and to naturalistically evoke characterizations onscreen, Rawal arrived in film by way of the theater. He commenced theatrical roles in 1973, when school instructors gently guided this born mischief-maker into drama as an outlet for his restless energy. Rawal moved into more serious and disciplined theater in university-level productions, and was in turn inspired to enter films by the impassioned work of Bollywood celebrity actor Naseeruddin Shah. Rawal's big career break then came at the hands of producer Karim Morani, who caught his performance in the Hindi-language play Arjun and saw, in this upstart, India's newest cinematic sensation. Role after role followed, with Rawal amassing over 200 screen assignments, in a wide spectrum of genres, by the late 2000s. Additional film projects included the 1993 Sir, the 1996 Bandish, Hera Pheri (2000), and Aitraaz (2004). In 2008, Rawal joined co-stars Sunil Shetty and Tusshar Kapoor for the lightweight crime comedy One Two Three, directed by Ashwani Dheer.

Trivia: Appeared in over 400 films in his career. Made his debut in Hum Paanch (1980). Established himself in Hollywood in the 1990s, thus paving the way for other Indian actors to work there. Turned down the role of the police inspector in the highly successful Slumdog Millionaire (2008). Nominated for the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in I Am Kalam (2010).

Trivia: Started his career playing mostly small supporting roles. Was nominated for the Filmfare Best Villain Award for his performance in Henna (1991). Has appeared in over 200 films. Publically hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi shortly before his election, claiming his stance was very anti-Muslim and unacceptable.

Trivia: Worked in theatre extensively before working in cinema, mostly in Delhi and Calcutta. Got his breakthrough role in Shyam Benegal's Nishaant (1974) Nominated for the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Ghulami (1985). Appeared in all three parts of Deepa Mehta's Elements trilogy. Returned to the stage after a two decade long absence in 2012 at the Padatik Theatre in the play Atmakatha.