It would not be fair to start with any other actor except Salman Khan. After all, he is the one who started it nearly two decades ago.
Even in his first few films like Baaghi, Suryavanshi and Nishchay, this gawky looking teenager didn't mind flaunting his body( though he wasn't really muscular and beefed-up then).Post that films like Veergati and Judwaa saw the emergence of the new and muscular Salman.
However, the turning point in his chest-flaunting career was the 'Oh Oh Jaane Jaana' song in Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya, which took the nation by storm and marked the arrival of Bollywood's first bare-chested hunk.
Post that, it became usual for Sallu to drop his shirt in every other film. The trend has not stopped and even his upcoming release Hello features Salman going bare-chested and shouting 'Bang Bang Bang'.
Saif Ali Khan
When he started out with films like Aashiq Awara and Parampara, many slotted Saif Ali Khan as the chocolate boy romantic hero. In fact, not many would have even believed that within a matter of few years, he would go on to become one of the leading hunks of tinsel town.
After a string of flops, Saif's career was going nowhere till Dil Chahta Hai happened and the rest as they say is history. Soon, from being cute Saif was termed as uber cool. However Saif sprung yet another surprise when he went bare-chested in the title track of Salaam Namaste.
Suddenly from being cute to being cool, Saif was now considered HOT. The 'Chhote Nawab' worked out even harder and films like Race and Tashan have seen him flaunting his chiseled body even as the girls in the audience go gaga. This boy has surely grown into a Man or should we say Hunk.
Shah Rukh Khan
Shah Rukh is known to be a fighter; After all, how else do you explain someone who is above 40 years going all out and acquiring 6 pack abs at his son's behest.
While many thought it was quite a Herculean task, SRK proved them wrong and as soon as the first promos of the 'Dard-e-Disco' song were unveiled, Bollywood had found its middle-aged bare-chested hunk.
Girls couldn't get enough of seeing their favorite superstar in this new toned avatar and soon every actor worth his salt was seen flocking to the nearest gym. Om Shanti Om turned out to be one of the biggest blockbusters and 'Dard-e-Disco' & SRK's 6-pack abs surely had a major contribution in that.
Hrithik Roshan
The new millennium gave us a new star- Hrithik Roshan. With a launch pad like Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, Hrithik couldn't have asked for more. He was appreciated for his looks, his acting, his dancing, and even his amazing physique.
The next few films like Fiza, Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage saw a beefed up Hrithik flaunting his biceps and chest muscles to the maximum. He even went bare-chested in the Rajshri dud Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon but didn't find too many takers.
However with changing times, Duggu too went in for the well-toned and chiseled look and when the first look of Dhoom 2 was unveiled, all eyes were fixed only on Hrithik flaunting his picture perfect 6-pack abs. This actor had surely arrived as one of the hottest Bollywood hunks in a real big way.
Even recently in the period drama Jodhaa Akbar, Hrithik flaunted his physique in that stupendous fight sequence with a violent elephant. At the end of it, even the poor elephant fell for his charm.
John Abraham
People often say, "Models cant act" However one thing, which most models have, is a well-toned and chiseled body. John Abraham was no exception. This former Grasim Mr. India winner made a sensational debut with Jism opposite Bipasha Basu.
In his first film itself, John displayed his torso with élan and had the girls drooling over his physique. 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, Zinda featured him in a bare-chested shot. His recent release No Smoking may not have found many takers but who can forget that scene in which John coolly stands bare-chested in front of a mirror and lights up a ciggie.
However, the talk of the town is the physique that the hunk has acquired for his forthcoming film Dostana. The first promos showed a beefed up, bare-chested John emerging out of the beach and you cant help but notice the chiseled V-shaped torso and those picture-perfect abs.
This hunk surely has been an inspiration for many young guys to hit the gym.
Ranbir Kapoor
Many actors seem to have certain inhibitions about dropping their shirt and going bare-chested. However new kid on the block Ranbir Kapoor didn't have any hesitation in not just going bare-chested but even dropping his towel in his debut film Saawariya
. In spite of the famous towel dropping shot facing the brunt of the censors, Ranbir with his boy-next door looks, six-pack abs became the latest pin-up boy in Bollywood, What's more, the Kapoor dude even repeated his bare-chested act in his latest flick Bachna Ae Haseeno as he serenades lady love Deepika Padukone to the soulful tunes of 'Khuda Jaane'.
This young lad indeed has it all, good looks, amazing acting talent and of course a lean and chiseled physique.
Akshay Kumar
Akshay Kumar has always believed in sporting a lean and mean look rather than a muscular look. What's more, the actor himself has gone on record saying that its sports like running and martial arts that he follows to keep fit, rather than hitting the gym and lifting weights.
The fact that he doesn't have a really beefed up built like some of his contemporaries, has not deterred Akki from dropping his shirt. In fact, in his first few films like Saugandh and Khiladi, Akki has given bare-chested shots. He was quite thin then.
By the time Main Khiladi Tu Anadi released, Akshay had a decent athletic frame and girls immediately took a liking to this handsome looking hunk.
In recent times, his 'Dil Samandar' song along with John in Garam Masala surely sent the temperatures soaring and even in his forthcoming film Blue, we may get to see a bare-chested Akki doing some dare devil underwater stunts.
A few weeks back, Akki set the ramp on fire as he displayed his chiseled torso while modeling for Levi's 501 brand of jeans. Must say looking hot and sexy is surely in Akshay's genes.