For a long time Bollywood had been suffering from a particular kind of colour blindness. Somehow, everywhere you’d look you’d only see fair, white skinned faces playing leading roles. Almost as if it was a prerequisite to becoming a star in this cutthroat industry. 

In recent years though, Bollywood seems to have slowly woken up to the diversity available in our vast country. The same diversity that had long been appreciated in Hollywood and other international film industries. 

Here are seven actors who’ve made their mark on an industry that’s still hesitant about dark skin representation:

Vicky Kaushal 

He’s come a long way from  playing the deeply grounded Deepak in Masaan. Vicky has experienced a stratospheric rise in the industry in recent years and has become a reliable name in the industry. His brooding good looks have also won him admiration from his fans and finds his name held at the same standard as the top brass of Bollywood. 

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Dhanush 

Tamil superstar Dhanush needs no introduction. He’s a force to be reckoned with and stands shoulder to shoulder with the giants of cinema. Dhanush is able to completely mould himself into the character he essays. His versatility has given us hits like Asuran and Vada Chennai. 

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Nawazuddin Siddiqui 

Few actors have experienced struggle and discrimination the way Nawazuddin has. However, his talent has shone through brightly. Whether it be as the maniacal Gaitonde in Sacred Games or as the famed author Manto, Nawazuddin Siddiqui is a bonafide tour de force in Bollywood now. 

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Ajay Devgn 

At a time when the fairer Khans were omnipresent in Bollywood films, Ajay Devgn was making a name for himself as the gritty action star with a sensitive side. Safe to say, today, he's put on the same pedestal by his fans as the Khans. You can spot him in action in his upcoming film, Bhuj. 

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Suniel Shetty 

Ageing like fine wine, Suniel Shetty looks better today than he ever did. Even though he might not be as visible on screen as he once was, he's still got fans swooning and crooning on social media over his age-defying good looks.  

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Kunal Nayyar 

The lad from The Big Bang Theory may have played the socially awkward Raj, but he’s a real lady killer in real life. He’s married to former Miss India Neha Kapur.

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Sendhil Ramamurthy 

He’s gorgeously played pivotal characters in several popular American TV series like Heroes, Grey’s Anatomy and the recent Netflix series Never Have I Ever. His devilishly handsome looks have earned him a devoted fan base across the globe. 

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Their journeys might not have been easy but we’re glad these handsome Indian actors have come out on top of their craft and are finally getting the admiration they deserve.

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