It is very difficult to pick just ten from such a distinguished filmography of the actor who redefined acting in Indian cinema:Â
Nishant (1975):
He debuted in this Shyam Benegal film in the role of the youngest of a oppressive feudal family, whose attraction towards a schoolmaster’s wife, triggers a tragedy.
Sparsh (1980)
In perhaps his most sensitive performance, Shah researched and studied the mannerisms and body language of the blind to convincingly play a visually impaired school principal, who hates being pitied.
Aakrosh (1980)
Govind Nihalani’s searing indictment of social injustice saw Shah deliver one of his finest performances as an idealistic lawyer, who has to defend a tribal man who is accused of murdering his wife and refuses to speak.
Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai (1981)
The titular Catholic character of Saeed Mirza’s film captured the angst and anger of a working-class man in Mumbai.
Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983)
In one of India’s greatest satirical comedies by Kundan Shah, he played a photographer called Vinod Chopra, who runs into a conspiracy and finds himself over his head.
Paar (1984)
Widely regarded as one of the greatest performances by any Indian actor, in this Goutam Ghose film is played a desperately poor Dalit man struggling to survive.
Mirch Masala (1987)
Ketan Mehta’s indictment of feudalism had him play a vain and slightly ridiculous subedar, who covets a village woman, and is vicious when she rebuffs him.
Sarfarosh (1999)
His nuanced portrayal of Pakistani ghazal singer Gulfam Hassan remains one of Hindi cinema’s finest antagonists.
Ishqiya (2010)
His deliciously unpredictable petty crook Iftikhaar aka Khalujaan in Abhishek Chaubey’s film was both comic and dangerous.
 Main Vaapas Aaunga 2026:
Image Courtesy: mensxp
In Imtiaz Ali’s cross-border sage of love and longing, he played a 95-year man suffering from dementia, but with the memory of a youthful romance and separation caused by Partition.