Best of 2022: From Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn to Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone; delightful cameos by stars in Bollywood films this year

There was a time when special appearances were the film's shockers—something you never expected to happen, and then, lo and behold, a star appeared on screen. I vividly remember rejoicing upon seeing Salman Khan make a grand entrance with the Sanjan Ji Ghar Aaye song in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) or Aishwarya Rai Bachchan come out of nowhere in Bunty Aur Babli (2005) and winning hearts with the Kajra Re song. Well, how can we forget that Shah Rukh Khan wore a Hrithik Roshan mask in Don 2, leaving the viewers puzzled?

In today's times, nothing is kept under wraps, and we already know which star is going to appear in the film, making a special appearance or an extended cameo. In 2022, around 10 stars made a special appearance in the films released this year. Some were unexpected, while others were well-known but still had a positive impact on people. Shah Rukh Khan has made the most special appearances this year, appearing in three films: Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, Laal Singh Chaddha, and Brahmastra: Part One: Shiva. Anushka Sharma's surprise appearance in Qala was the most surprising. Fans were thrilled to see her after four years.

Listed below are the 12 actors who made special appearances in Bollywood films this year.

It was known that Ajay Devgn would be seen in an extended cameo appearance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Gangubai Kathiawadi. The film, which stars Alia Bhatt in the titular role, has Devgn playing her sworn brother, Don Rahim Lala. The character is a fictionalised version of Karim Lala. The actor was well-appreciated for his role and made one of the best cameos of the year.

Shah Rukh Khan returned to the big screen after nearly four years. The superstar played himself in R Madhavan's Rocketry: The Nambi Effect. In the film, SRK is interviewing Dr. Nambi Narayanan, played by Madhavan, throughout the runtime.

Remember how Forrest Gump had an impact on Elvis Presley with his wiggly legs? Aamir Khan decided to adapt a similar situation with the country's leading superstar. Well, who else but Shah Rukh Khan?! The superstar was seen as the younger version of himself in the gully of Delhi, where he learned from a kid named Laal how to spread his arms, which became his iconic pose. Well, only a man like Shah Rukh will credit his iconic pose to someone else on the big screen.

Karan Johar had broken the news way back when that Shah Rukh Khan would be a part of Brahmastra, and the film starts with his sequence. When the trailer dropped, fans started figuring out which one was Shah Rukh Khan, and most of them guessed it right. Mohan Bhargav, a scientist and Brahmansh warrior who wielded the Vanarastra, is played by SRK. Fans were dissatisfied with the actor's brief appearance and hope to see more of Shah Rukh's character in future Brahmastra installments.

If it's an R. Balki film, it comes as no surprise that Amitabh Bachchan will be a part of it. The Bollywood megastar appears in Chup: Revenge of the Artist as himself, promoting his film. In the sequence, Big B also speaks about the importance of film critics and how they go hand in hand with the movies. 

Vasan Bala's neo-noir crime comedy thriller Monica, O My Darling, is hands down one of the best films that came out this year. The film marks his third directorial effort after Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota and the Spotlight segment in the Ray anthology. Thus, Abhimanyu Dassani and Radhika Madan made special appearances, reprising their roles from the 2018 action comedy film as Surya and Supri, respectively.

Shraddha Kapoor's cameo in the Bhediya song Thumkeshwari confirmed the existence of a Street sequel. Thus, it was a visual delight to see Rajkummar Rao and Aparkshakti Khurana making cameos during the mid-credit scene of Bhediya. The actors reprised their roles from the 2018 film as Vicky and Bittu. Both of them are in search of Stree and thus reach Ziro to meet their best friend Janna, played by Abhishek Banerjee, who has a supporting role in Bhediya.

After a hiatus of four years, Anushka Sharma made an appearance on screen in Qala, directed by Anvita Dutt. The film, which is produced by her former production company, Clean Slate Filmz, has the actor playing the role of a yesteryear actor named Devika Rani. She is seen lip-syncing the song, Ghode Pe Sawar which is crooned by Triptii Dimri's character Qala. Fans couldn't stop gushing over the actor in a black-and-white appearance and seeing her after a very long time.

Ayushmann Khurrana and Jaideep Ahlawat's action comedy thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat for all the right reasons. When all hell breaks loose, we suddenly see Akshay Kumar appear to bring the lighter and entertaining moment that was needed to boost the film further. In An Action Hero, the actor plays himself, who is the only one who knows the truth about what Ayushmann's character did to Jaideep's brother. For me, this was, hands down, Akshay's best performance of this year, and if you have watched the film, you know what I am saying.

When the trailer dropped for Salaam Venky, it ended with a glimpse of Aamir Khan. In the film, the actor plays a nameless character who seems to be an alter ego of Kajol's character. Whenever she is alone, Khan appears, and she rants at him and screams at him for making her son suffer. The star's silence and few words are some of the most touching and interesting parts of the movie.

Ranbir Kapoor returned to the big screen four years later, in 2022, with two films, Shamshera and Brahmastra. However, the talented actor ended the year with a bang by being a part of Govinda Naam Mera. In the Bijli song, we see RK playing himself and doing the hook step, while Vicky Kaushal and Kiara Advani are seen as background dancers. The banter between Ranbir and Vicky is definitely the highlight of the film.

Rohit Shetty spread the word about Deepika Padukone's special appearance as Meenamma, the famous role she played in Chennai Express. However, in Cirkus, the actor is seen as Vrindamma, a dancer who shakes her leg with Ranveer Singh's character Roy on the song Current Laga Re. All I can say is that was the most entertaining part of the comedy of errors.