Sylvester Stallone to Clive Standen: Hollywood stars who appeared in Bollywood films

While several Indian actors have made their mark internationally, the exchange between Bollywood and Hollywood has always worked both ways. Over the years, stars like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, the late Irrfan, Anupam Kher, Anil Kapoor and Om Puri have showcased their talent in international projects. More recently, actors such as Pankaj Tripathi and Randeep Hooda have also featured in the action film ‘Extraction’.
Interestingly, many well-known Hollywood actors have also stepped into Bollywood and appeared in Hindi films. Here’s a look at some international names who made memorable appearances in Bollywood movies.

Hollywood action icon Sylvester Stallone, famous for blockbuster franchises like ‘Rocky’, ‘Creed’, ‘Rambo’, ‘Rocky Balboa’, ‘The Expendables’ and ‘Assassins’, surprised fans with a cameo in the Bollywood film ‘Kambakkht Ishq’. In the movie, he appeared alongside Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor Khan, playing a heroic role where he steps in to rescue Kareena’s character from troublemakers.

Global superstar Will Smith, known for films like ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’, ‘Hitch’, ‘Hancock’, ‘Men in Black’ and ‘Bad Boys’, made a fun appearance in ‘Student of the Year 2’. The film, starring Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria and Ananya Panday, featured Smith in a special dance sequence. The cameo came together after filmmaker Karan Johar revealed that performing to a Bollywood track had been on the actor’s bucket list.

Actress Denise Richards, known for Hollywood films such as ‘Wild Things’ and ‘The World Is Not Enough’, also appeared in ‘Kambakkht Ishq’. Directed by Sabbir Khan, the 2009 film brought together several international actors. Richards shared screen space with Akshay Kumar and played a character who sacrifices her love for his happiness. The story revolves around a stuntman and a medical student who begin their relationship on a rocky note before eventually falling in love. Actor Brandon Routh also appeared as himself in the film.

British actor Clive Standen, known for projects like ‘Vikings’, ‘Taken’, ‘Everest’, ‘Vault’, ‘Doctor Who’ and ‘Robin Hood’, featured in the Bollywood romantic drama ‘Namastey London’. Starring Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif, the film saw Standen playing Charlie Brown, Katrina’s fiancé, whom she leaves at the altar after realising her true feelings for Akshay’s character.

Actor Christopher B. Duncan, known for shows like ‘The First Family’, ‘American Soul’, ‘The Jamie Foxx Show’ and ‘Johnson Family Vacation’, appeared in the critically acclaimed film ‘My Name Is Khan’. In the movie, he portrayed former US President Barack Obama in a brief yet important scene opposite Shah Rukh Khan. The emotional exchange between their characters forms one of the film’s most memorable moments.

Director Gurinder Chadha’s cross-cultural romance ‘Bride and Prejudice’ featured actor Martin Henderson alongside Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The film revolves around a traditional Indian family in Amritsar hoping to find suitable matches for their daughters. Henderson portrayed the character of Will Darcy, who gradually falls in love with Aishwarya’s character. The actor is also recognised for his roles in shows like ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, ‘Virgin River’ and films such as ‘The Ring’ and ‘Miracles from Heaven’.

Australian actress Rebecca Breeds appeared in the biographical sports drama ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’, directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. She played the character Stella and shared screen space with Farhan Akhtar in the song ‘Slow Motion Angreza’. Apart from her Bollywood appearance, Breeds is known for television shows like ‘Pretty Little Liars’, ‘The Originals’, ‘Molly’ and ‘Blue Water High’.