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The fifth month of the year is here and we have already had Anushka Sharma celebrate her birthday on May 1 and legendary character artiste and one-time leading lady and producer Aruna Irani observe it on May 3.
However, most of the key birthdays of this month begin from mid-month.
Madhuri Dixit Nene / May 15
Iconic superstar who swept the biggest hits of 1998 (Tezaab), 1990-1992 (Dil, Saajan, Beta) and 1994 (Hum Aapke Hain Koun!…) and other super-hits like Ram Lakhan, Tridev, Devdas (internationally) as well as Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 as late as 2024, Dixit is also rightly considered the most musical star after the 1970s actresses. More important, come hit or flop, she never acted in flippant roles after she took over the Numero Uno mantle, but for trivial exceptions.
Vicky Kaushal / May 16
Raazi, URI—The Surgical Strike, Chhaava, not to forget his esoteric debut in Masaan or his role in Sanju as Sanjay Dutt’s best buddy. In his relatively few films, the son of internationally-known stunt coordinator Sham Kaushal seems to have specialized in essaying real-life characters quite often, and excelled in them. After his marriage to Katrina Kaif, he has had a hit-streak and he can be relied upon to shine even in drab scripts like Sardar Udham, Dunkee and Govinda Naam Mera.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui / May 19
Here is one of those self-styled ‘thinking’ actors who once told me that he has quite a distaste for commercial cinema, the form that has yielded him great fame through mega-hits like Kick and Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Badlapur, Manto, Serious Men and the OTT franchise Raat Akeli Hai are some of his other known work.
Aditya Chopra / May 21
He’s the architect of the current mega-stature of Yash Raj Films, and the director of four films, of which Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge remains the longest-running film in Indian cinema history (over 1100 weeks!). Having mentored countless new talent, including directors Ali Abbas Zafar, Kabir Khan and Siddharth Anand and stars that include Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma, he is now content spreading the banner’s name across (earlier) TV and now OTT. His unique point is that he is never seen, either by media or by the public, in real life, despite being Rani Mukerji’s husband and despite the quantum of his success.
Rajesh Roshan / May 24
He was groomed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal, and the former had termed him “The Last of the Originals” for his unique take on music. The son of the legendary composer Roshan, and the younger brother to Rakesh Roshan, he is the man who has introduced names like Alka Yagnik and Udit Narayan to playback and has delivered chartbusters all through, from the 1970s Julie to the 2000’s Koi…Mil Gaya.
Karan Johar / May 25
Writer-director, then film and TV producer, then live show host, TV anchor, actor and much more, Johar remains an extraordinary all-rounder. Karan Johar struck it huge with his debut, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, way back in 1998 and has now been termed the ‘Ambassador of Nepotism’ for having introduced Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Ananya Panday, Janhvi Kapoor and many more on and behind-the-screen.
His last directorial venture, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023) shows his skills are very much in place as filmmaker, and he has proved to be a Master, rather than Jack, of most of the trades.
Pankaj Kapur / May 29
The ingenious detective Karamchand of the 1980s, father to Shahid Kapoor, has metamorphosed into the mercurial husband of Jab Khuli Kitaab over four decades later.
His career track is strobe-lit with roles as variegated in genre and excellence as Ek Ruka Hua Faisla, Office Office, Zabaan Sambhal Ke, Dus, Maqbool and more.
Paresh Rawal / May 30
He’s the forever chameleon, excelling in comedy, villainy and emotions all through. His conquests stem across Hindi and Gujarati theatre and cinema as well as Telugu films.
Known best as the iconic Baburao of Hera Pheri, Rawal has shown his caliber in endless movies such as Awara Pagal Deewana, Sardar (as Sardar Patel), Aitraaz, OMG—Oh My God!, URI—The Surgical Strike and The Taj Story in almost 300 films, apart from theatre (like Maharathi and over 150 plays and 7000 worldwide performances).
