Last year, Rajkummar Rao was in fine form delivering awesome performances in movies like Trapped, Behen Hogi Teri, Bareilly Ki Barfi, Newton and in the web-series, Bose Dead/Alive. Sure there was a Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana in between, but he was good in that forgettable movie too. Now Rao is all set to continue his badass form this year as well, if the power-packed trailer of Omerta is any hint at that.

Omerta, directed by Rao's favourite director Hansal Mehta, has him play the real-life terrorist mastermind Omar Saeed Sheikh. Sheikh, who is currently incarcerated in a jail in Pakistan for his crimes, is described by Wikipedia as a 'British terrorist of Pakistani descent with links to various Islamist militant organisations, including Jaish-e-Mohammed, Al-Qaeda, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and the Taliban'.  He was involved in some of the most infamous terrorist attacks, including the killing of Daniel Pearl and the Mumbai attacks of 2008.

Playing a terrorist is something popular mainstream stars rarely do, considering our country's understandable dislike for the concept. However, like Rao, some very popular stars in Bollywood have had the guts to don the garb of a militant in a movie and have done a fine job at that. Here are five such actors,

Aamir Khan in Fanaa

If it was not spoiled a couple of months before the release, Aamir Khan's sinister turn from being a poetic guide to a dangerous terrorist would have been the best twist ever. Even then, the movie was a huge hit during its release, with many appreciating Aamir's conflicted act.

Saif Ali Khan in Kurbaan

While a flop at the box office, Kurbaan is still remember for the steamy scenes between future spouses, Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan. Saif played a terrorist in the movie, who hid his identity from his lover, and later wife, played by Kareena Kapoor. As she unravels his truth and tries to convince him to change, his deep-rooted morals and circumstances lead him to an unfortunate demise.

Hrithik Roshan in Mission Kashmir/Fiza

In Mission Kashmir, Hrithik plays a Kashmiri orphan who becomes a  misguided terrorist to avenge the deaths of his parents by the hands of an Indian army commander, with Sanjay Dutt playing the target. In Fiza, that came before, he again played a misguided youth who was traumatised by the Bombay riots of 1992 and was brainwashed to become a militant by a radical group.

John Abraham in New York

There is a sense of irony in John Abraham's character in this Kabir Khan movie. At the start, he is just an innocent collegian in New York who is suspected to be involved in the 9/11 WTC attack thanks to his religious identity and is tortured by the police. This whole saga traumatises him to such an extent that he becomes the very thing the police suspected and feared about him. New York remains one of John's finest performances till date.

Ajay Devgn in Diljale

In this '90s potboiler, Ajay Devgn plays a terrorist who has a change of heart when he falls in love with a beautiful Sonali Bendre. Diljale is still remembered by fans for a couple of beautiful songs like Ho Nahin Sakta and Kuch Tum Beheko.

Can't wait to see how Rajkummar Rao will shine in Omerta. Going by the trailer, we look to be in for a menacing treat!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 14, 2018 07:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).