Some characters are not only available on the screen; they resonate within your soul long after the credits have rolled. They cry, they fight, they love, and somehow you feel all they feel. Maybe it is the quiet power of their silence or the storm of their words, but they leave a fingerprint all over our feelings. On services like ZEE5, where stories unfold differently, the characters have stayed with us not just through the episodes, but in our heads. These truly are the unforgettable TV characters of all time.
Amitabh Bachchan
“Rishtey mein toh hum tumhare baap lagte hain, naam hai Shahenshah”- this epic dialogue from the “Shahenshah” of Indian Cinema has lived through generations. We are talking about none other than Mr. Amitabh Bachchan. He was born in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, on October 11, 1942. He came from a distinguished family. His mother, Teji Bachchan and father, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, were both distinguished poets and social workers, respectively.
Bachchan, who has later been affectionately referred to as Big B, has won numerous accolades through many performances in movies, altering a little of himself along the way. With Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo, he epitomises love for the nation, in Jhund gives voice to the ignored, Uunchai demonstrates emotional prowess, and in Teen Patti, he depicts some combination of geniuses and narcissists driven by greed. Indian Cinema now has an imperishable mark.
Ramya Krishnan
Certain actors act; others have. An example of the second type exists in Ramya Krishnan. Every flick of her eyebrow, every blinker, and every word she speaks brings unforgettable life into minor characters, narrating from fiery villains to royal matriarchs, she’s given multi-dimensional, brave performances that stay with us. Her unforgettable moments as Rajmata Sivagami in Baahubali have informed our culture. Whether on a television, on screen, or digital, experience with Ramya is not acting. It’s imprinted.
Akshay Kumar
We have all loved Akshay Kumar through hoot after hoot, prank after prank, and patriotic line after line. He created characters that linger beyond the movie’s final credits. The loony Khiladi, the earthy roles of Toilet: Ek Prem Katha and Airlift, he is a superstar, but above all, an enigma all his own. Whether he makes us laugh, cry or salute, Akshay leaves not just a film, but whole emotions behind.
Anil Kapoor
Anil Kapoor does not act, he lives. From the phantom hero of Mr. India to the volcanic Lakhan and the sultry Tezaab passion, his characters have occupied rent-free space in our hearts for decades now. With eternal charm and bottomless energy, Kapoor keeps redefining reinvention and asserting that style, soul, and “Jhakaas” never expire; they merely transform.
Shah Rukh Khan
When Shah Rukh Khan steps into the frame, he does not just act; he claims that moment. From Raj in DDLJ to the strong, brash Pathaan, SRK has left moments in people’s lives, rather than just on a screen. True to his reputation, he has brought a substantial amount of charm, emotional in layers, and, in a global way, Bollywood’s King continues to inhabit the soul of Indian cinema, one generational character at a time.
Ajay Devgn
With an intensity that fills the frame and eyes that say more than any words, Ajay Devgn’s being in that frame is not just action, but existence. From Zakhm depth to Singham roar, his characters linger on even after the credits. A whirlwind of action, emotion, and silence, Ajay’s journey is imprinted in Indian cinema’s very centre; fierce, unshaken, unforgettable. Whether Tanhaji or Drishyam, his legacy lingers with quiet thunder.
Kajol
Kajol is something eternal; she grabs you by the collar and just holds. Whether it is the plucky Simran or the effervescent Anjali, or the subtlety of her choices in Fanaa and My Name Is Khan, she has life in every frame. Her emotional, captivating eyes and energy poured into her embody Kajol with a sense of aliveness that feels real- she is not actively acting; she is becoming actual, one moment at a time.
Raveena Tandon
From the sultry allure of Mohra to the wrenching pain of Daman, Raveena Tandon is far greater than a 90s icon; she is an elemental force that a range of characters flowed through. Her glimmering examination of her inexorable spirit, her boundary extending roles in Chanda Mama Door Ke, Aranyak and Aks show that some stars do not dim; they expand, challenge, echo, and linger long after the credit roll hits square.
Sunny Deol
With a dhai kilo ka haath and fire in every finger, Sunny Deol barreled through the movies with a sonorous intensity. From the revolutionary rage of Ghayal to the patriotic eruption of Gadar, his characters were not just performances; they rattled theatres. Even now, years later, his voice, his stature, and his pauses are not waning. They resonate, telling us what real screen power is like.
These are not just actors, they’re impressions on our hearts, resonating long after the credits stop. From a rebel’s fury, a mother’s courage, or a patriot’s bellow, these performances endure beyond the screen. They colour how we feel, recall, and even dream. As Indian storytelling evolves further, platforms like ZEE5 keep these moments alive, allowing us to relive the emotions, the impact, and characters that left a lasting impression, which truly transcend time.
