10) Aishwarya Rai (Ponniyin Selvan II) – The actress gave her one of her finest performances in an otherwise imperfect film, bringing Nandhini’s rage and vulnerability to the fore
9) Vijay Varma (Dahaad) – Can any actor from the current generation play subdued menace as well as him? In Dahaad, Vijay was as good as he has ever been
8) Soori (Viduthalai Part 1) – Vijay Sethupathi walked away with praise but in a career-defining role, Soori showed that he is a fine actor across genres
7) Vikrant Massey (12th Fail) – The film that India needed to see in 2023 and the performance that deserved much more airtime than it, Vikrant was sublime in this coming-of-age drama
6) Suvinder Vicky (Kohrra) – In Kohrra, Suvinder Vicky shows us just what he is capable of, delivering a steady, emotional, and raw performance
5) Ranbir Kapoor (Animal) – Perhaps the best performance in a commercial film this year, Ranbir bled rage and toxicity in yet another splendid outing
4) Vincy Aloshius (Rekha) – A difficult watch made better by the brilliant performance from Vincy, who showcased a combination of ferocity and helplessness
3) Vicky Kaushal (Sam Bahadur) – I thought topping Sardar Udham would be impossible for Vicky but he proved me wrong here, showing just how a character based on reality is brought alive on screen
2) Mammootty (Kaathal The Core) – The only superstar using that tag to do some unique work, Mammootty gave the best film performance of the year in this riveting drama
1) Rajshri Deshpande (Trial by Fire) – Surrounded by fine actors and great writing, Rajshri gave a masterlcass in how to depict grief, when combined with indignity and rage. One for the ages!