Once upon a time, when the likes of paunchy Rishi Kapoor was gallivanting on screen, there was only Sunny Deol and Sanjay Dutt who strove to flex and flaunt their well-toned, chiselled bodies. And then Salman Khan hit the screen, propelling young actors and wannabe models to hit the gym.
Years later Shah Rukh Khan flashed his six-pack in the Dard-e-Disco track from Om Shanti Om, inspiring the older lot to sweat it out. Now everyone from Shekar Kapur to Govinda are puffing and panting to look fab.
Sure, women don`t like sweaty men but they definitely do like the taut abs and arms once out of a cold shower. Presenting the top bare-chested hunks—the ones that scream `come to me`.
Hrithik Roshan
Who cares about the extra thumb when you`ve got the rest of the gorgeous him to ogle over. With his launch pad Kaho Na Pyar Hai he gave a hint of his broad shoulders, muscular chest and strong arms in a see through black top in Ek pal ka jeena. And he didn`t disappoint when he discarded the shirt in Fiza, Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage and even in the box office dud Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon. His lean muscular bod was as talked about as Ash`s svelte look in Dhoom 2. He didn`t miss out on showing off his sculpted look even in the period drama Jodhaa Akbar in the stupendous fight sequence with a wild elephant. When even an elephant can succumb to his powers, it`s no surprise that women all over go weak in their knees on seeing him.
Salman Khan
The icon of six-packs in India. His poster is the one that adorns the walls of wannabe models and actors. His face tops every muscular body that has advertised local gyms. Seeing him shirtless is a fantasy that practically every girl to granny entertains.
Salman is the one who started the brawny look nearly two decades ago. The gawky look he sported in films like Baaghi, Suryavanshi and Nishchay, gave way to bulging muscles in Veergati and Judwaa.
He immortalised the look in the evergreen hit Oh Oh Jaane Jaana from Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya. When it first came on screen, it marked the arrival of Bollywood`s first bare-chested hunk and took the nation by storm.
And he continues with his signature trend even now—Sallu will be shedding his shirt in his upcoming film Hello.
Shah Rukh Khan
King Khan has to be in this list especially after having gone all out to acquire a six-pack at 40. Just the promos of Dard-e-Disco had the women squealing. Needless to say SRK`s six-pack played a key role in making Om Shanti Om a super hit.
Saif Ali Khan
Saif started out as a long-haired chocolate boy whose career was going nowhere till Dil Chahta Hai. The iconic film gave him a complete makeover, and now he`s one of Bollywood’s biggest stars.
However, he went from uber cool to HOT when he went bare-chested for the title track of Salaam Namaste. This pushed the Chote Nawab to work out harder and flaunt his chiselled body in the rest of his films as well. The saving grace of Race and a flop like Tashan seems to be Saif`s hot bod, which he bared recklessly. Mmmm!
John Abraham
John `yumm` Abraham has been flashing his sculpted torso ever since he hit the ramp. Thank god, we didn`t have to wait for Bollywood to unveil him. Nevertheless, this former Grasim Mr India made a sensational debut with Jism opposite girlfriend Bipasha Basu.
In his first film itself John displayed his torso with élan and had the girls drooling. John kept working on his acting and physique simultaneously and the results were there for all to see. Like Salman Khan, most of John`s films—like Paap, Elaan, Garam Masala and Zinda—featured him in a bare-chested shot.
His recent release No Smoking may not have found many takers but who can forget the scene in which John stands bare-chested in front of a mirror and lights up a cigarette.
He promises to surpass even this in his forthcoming film Dostana. The first promos show a beefed up, bare-chested John emerging out of the sea and you can’t help but notice the chiselled V-shaped torso and those picture-perfect abs. Sigh!
Akshay Kumar
Akshay Kumar`s always one to stand out. In the world of the beefcake, Akki chooses lean and mean. For him it`s not the gym or lifting weights, but running and martial arts. He unveiled the lean look in his first few films like Saugandh and Khiladi. By the time Main Khiladi Tu Anadi released, Akshay`s athletic frame improved and, ever since then, he`s had the girls hooked.
In recent times, his Dil Samandar song along with John in Garam Masala had the temperature soaring. His forthcoming film Blue promises to do the same with his bare-chested underwater stunts.
But we don`t have to wait for the film to be out. Instead, take a look at his bare-chested Levi’s Jeans ads. That should keep the women occupied till his next release.
Ranbir Kapoor
Yes, Saawariya flopped but we bet the women took back the shots of hot Ranbir twirling in a towel with a smile plastered on their face. Inhibitions? What`s that? Ranbir not only shed his shirt in his very first film but also the towel and are we glad! The latest pin-up boy in Bollywood didn`t disappoint in Bachna Ae Haseeno either, where he serenaded three ladies.
