Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub has mesmerised me with his acting skill in various movies, therefore, picking only one name would not do justice. Murari Gupta, Kundan's (played by Dhanush) best friend in Raanjhanaa, is one of his memorable roles. Murari supported Kundan throughout. The last scene where Zeeshan Ayyub is looking at his best friend through the glass door, taking his last breath, is still etched in my memory. Those eyes spoke a thousand words, and it's actually not believable that the same man played Advocate Chintu in Tanu Weds Manu Returns. His one-liners can make one rewatch the entire movie. (Which is your favourite Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub role... June 26)

Tanima Kundu

I have watched many of Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub's films where, though he had limited screen time, his impact was huge. Two such roles were Murari Gupta in Raanjhaana (2013) and Inder Mohan Singh in Chhalaang (2020). In Raanjhaana, he played the role of a good-humoured friend to Kundan. He was aware of the harsh reality of life and preferred to lead a simple, modest life contentedly. He knew that Kundan and Zoya weren't meant for each other but he never discouraged him from helping her out. His character reached its peak when he heard of Kundan's death. He was literally taken aback by this and cried his heart out remembering the good deeds of his friend. The agony was visible on his face expressing his inability to recover from this life-altering loss.

In Chhalaang, he played a skilled physical education teacher. He possessed better techniques and abilities than Montu, played by Rajkummar Rao, and is projected as a competitor. They create two teams who will compete in three different events and the team that wins would rightfully carry on their duties. As the film progresses, Montu is proven to be a better teacher, regaining his lost prestige and compelling Inder (Zeeshan) to concede defeat. However, he offers to work with Montu as his skills would greatly benefit the students.

Both these characters define the mettle in him which enables him to shine even in limited screen time. His characters are mostly sharp-witted and charming. Wishing to see him back with a bang on the silver screen and make us fall in love with his talent!

Aayman Anwar Ali

Winning over the audience with his versatile roles, Zeeshan Ayyub has given some memorable performances, like Murari in Raanjhanaa and Nishad in Article 15, which are my favourites. Murari from Raanjhanaa made him a recognised face as the perfect hero ka dost and won him many award nominations. He impressed the audience with his witty one-liners and stellar performance, despite having a small role. "Tumhara pyaar na hua, UPSC ka exam ho gaya. Dus saal se paas hi nahin ho raha", was an iconic line. Playing a 'Dalit rebel' in the thought-provoking crime-drama, Article 15, Zeeshan Ayyub proved that he's a powerhouse of talent and no matter what role you give him, he'll do justice to it. His performance in Article 15, alongside Ayushmann Khurrana, was noted by the audience and felt natural and relatable. Aware and intelligent, he represented a powerful force who dares to stand against the system. No matter what the role is, there are some actors who know how to win the audience with their performances and Zeeshan Ayyub is one such actor.

Roshni Ojha

In 2013, I noticed his performance in Aanand L Rai's Raanjhanaa as Kundan's best friend, Murari Gupta. With a pigtail on his head and a towel around his neck, he portrayed the role of a typical small-town man. His dialogue delivery was very convincing. Zeeshan's witty and intense screen presence was praiseworthy. His bonding with Dhanush seemed to be real and his chemistry with Swara Bhasker as a friend was impressive. His style of staring, sitting, his body language and every small detail made the movie more enjoyable. As a supporting actor, he actually supported the movie with his signature subtle acting.

I was also overwhelmed by his performance in the web series Scoop where he played the role of an idealistic journalist. Here he is a mature man who is strong enough to announce a battle against the system and society for the sake of his beliefs and relationships. His consistency and his vast range of acting skills made all his characters real, and believable. And the viewers repeatedly fell in love with his performances.

Sarbani Banerjee

Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub is a fantastic actor. I loved his performances in movies like Raanjhanaa, Tanu Weds Manu Returns, Article 15 and Shahid. I also liked his acting in shows like Tandav, Jogi, Rangbaaz and Scoop. But my favourite Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub role is the character of lawyer Arun aka Chintu Kumar Singh, which he portrayed in the 2015 romantic comedy Tanu Weds Manu Returns. Although Zeeshan's role in that movie was short, his acting prowess actually compelled me to end up loving Chintuji's very interesting character. Zeeshan shone in that entertainer with his wonderful performance.

Sourish Misra