/> Power-packed last names, glitzy launches, gushing PR-they have none of that. But you remember the characters they have played. In star-sodden Bollywood, they raise the bar for acting. Here's bringing you the new pack of actors the industry can't stop talking about.

Abhimanyu Singh

Instant Recall: Volatile student leader Ransa in Anurag Kashyap's Gulaal

Abhimanyu's Story So Far: It happened during the rehearsal of Makrand Deshpande's play 'Sar Sar Sarla'. Abhimanyu went overboard in a scene and got scolded by Deshpande but Anurag Kashyap, who was also acting in the play, told him, "I've found my Ransa."

That statement changed Abhimanyu's life. "It's like after 10 years of soul- wrenching struggle, one fine day everybody knows you, " says the 32-year-old.

If things had gone to plan, Abhimanyu would have been an IAS officer back home in Patna fulfilling his father's dream. But acting was his true calling and so in 1999 he came to Mumbai to try his luck. Theatre was his first stop and Abhimanyu acted in plays like Rawat, Yodha and Dev Vanar.

"Theatre allowed me to be myself. This was a medium where I could channel all my aggression and frustration. But after a while I started thinking: 500 log play dekh ke, taali bajaake chale jaate hain par aage kya?" He dabbled in television too with shows like Yeh Nazdeekiyan, Kkusum and Kahin Kissi Roz.There were bit roles in films like Aks, Lakshya, Dhol and Jannat. But that big break eluded him. Until Gulaal.

Abhimanyu's fiery interpretation of the student leader Ransa has made the industry sit up and take notice. Congratulatory calls have been pouring in from Pradeep Sarkar, Manoj Bajpai, Imtiaz Ali and Sonali Kulkarni. In hindsight, he feels that the wait was worth it.

"I've seen some tough days. There were many times when I wanted to quit and run. My relatives had lost faith in me and so had I. Nobody wants to be associated with a struggler but now hopefully those days are behind me, " he says.

In his days of struggle, it was the support of his then girlfriend-and-now wife Sargam that kept him afloat. "She always had faith in me and married me even though I just had Rs 500 in my bank account. No amount of success or critical appreciation can match up to the smile in her eyes when she saw Gulaal, " he says.

Life's looking good for Abhimanyu, who has signed on for Sagar Art's Allah-Udal and Dr Chandraprakash Dwivedi's television series Upanishad Ganga.

The latter is a dream project of sorts where Abhimanyu plays more than 20 characters like Vikramaditya, Emperor Ashok and Lord Krishna. The plan is to not to make plans.

"I've realized that somebody up there is making plans for you and you can just follow through. I'm open to every kind of role and just want to live a simple life, " he says.

Wish-list: V Shantaram in Do Aankhen Barah Haath, Raj Kapoor in Teesri Kasam and Guru Dutt in Kagaz Ke Phool.

Industry Verdict: "Abhimanyu has given his soul to the character of Ransa. I'm so proud of him, " says Manoj Bajpai.

Arjun Mathur

Instant Recall: Farhan Akhtar's 'theatre- type' friend Abhimanyu in Luck By Chance

Arjun's Story So Far: When he was nine, he wanted to become Anil Kapoor. The London born-Delhi bred Arjun was so sure of his ambition that he decided to nix college and study theatre instead.

In 2002, he started his Mumbai drill and assisted on films like Kyun...Ho Gaya Na?, Mangal Pandey - The Rising, Rang De Basanti and Bunty Aur Babli.

"I never hid the fact that I wanted to become an actor but at that point of time I used to only get indulgent pats on my back that said, 'Accha chalo iszko bhi hero banna hai, " reminisces the 27-year-old.

The wheel turned when he signed on for two shorts: Mira Nair's Migration and Farhan Akhtar's Positive, both of which dealt with AIDS. It was good friend Zoya Akhtar who convinced him for Abhimanyu's role in Luck By Chance.

"I was hesitant since it was just a 12-minute role but Zoya assured me that she wouldn't let me get lost in the sea of actors, " says Arjun.

After Luck By Chance and Barah Aana, Arjun's stock is rising. He has been signed up by Karan Johar for My Name Is Khan and he admits to getting "double-take glances on the road."

As to whether he is the golden boy of the Akhtars, he jokes, "I owe them a lot but I don't think I'm here because of anybody. But if the industry wants to think that I'm their child or something then let them."

Arjun's plan now is to pitch himself as a main lead, albeit not just a "buffed-up sing-song kind of a hero." Arjun knows he has what it takes to make a kill. "I'm not here to stand on the sidelines.

I'm here to give competition to Imran Khan and Ranbir Kapoor. I want to tell the industry that I've the same stuff to offer for anything you consider them for, " he declares.

Wish-list: Shah Rukh Khan in Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, Aamir Khan in Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikandar, Matt Damon in The Bourne Supremacy.

Industry Verdict: "Arjun carried off a complicated performance with perfect nuances in Luck By Chance. It was a very mature performance, " says Javed Akhtar.