Naseerudin Shah in Sparsh and Om Puri in Ardh Satya
Naseeruddin Shah simply blows you away with such an authentic representation of a visually challenged man who is upright, dignified and a human with his shortcomings which makes him a great character because it doesn't fall into the trap of victimisation of such characters which is so common in our films. His mannerisms, body language and expressions are so on point that you marvel at his performance. Al Pacino took notes from this performance for his Oscar winning performance in The Scent of Woman, which tells us how iconic this performance is. Anyone who loves meaningful films should watch this film once.
Om Puri has given one of the greatest portrayal of a cop ever on cinema screen. His rage was raw and intense, his suprressed anger on the injustice meted out by the society, system and his own father, turns into uncontrolled rage which costs him more than anyone else. He feels humilaued and hurt when his girlfriend reads out a poem to him which makes him realise his own weakness in an indifferent system, and the same humiliation he faces in the climax when he is made to feel like a slave in front of the corrupt criminals who holds the justice in tansom for their personal needs. His performance is outstanding to say the least.