Raaj Kumar

1920–1996

Raaj Kumar was a sub-inspector in the Bombay police before he was an actor, and he never entirely stopped sounding like one - the slow, deliberate delivery and the long pauses became the most imitated voice in Hindi cinema after Ajit's.

Mother India, Waqt, Pakeezah, Heer Raanjha and Tirangaa span his career. He was famously difficult, turned down parts that made other men stars, and delivered dialogue as though he were doing the writer a favour. Audiences loved it.

Dates and credits from Wikidata.