A look at the dare-bare male hunks of Bollywood

Akshay Kumar-Suniel Shetty

While Shetty"s lone USP for long remained his Schwarzenegger like well endowed physique, long before Kumar made his mark also as a comic-cum-drama actor of substance, his martial arts background saw him through the successful 'Khiladi" series as a lean but toned fighter actor. Together (Mohra, 1994), or alone, they not only wore their machismo on their bare torsos but also flaunted it at every available opportunity be it in the soaking in the rain scenes with their heroines or tearing off the shirt at the hint of a challenge to fight. But while Shetty preferred to use his biceps to contain a villain"s minions, Kumar used it no less prolifically to boost his sex appeal be it in the mandatory rain song with co-actresses like Raveena Tandon (Tip tip barsa pani) or romping under the shower to 'no control" with Rekha in Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (1996).

Akshay"s Showstoppers: Mr Bond, Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi, International Khiladi, Garam Masala, Heyy Baby

Suneil"s Showstoppers: Balwaan, Gopi Kishen, Rakshak, Krishna, Rudraksh

Salman Khan

He perhaps hinted at his penchant for dropping cloths in those tight vest shots with a fully clad Bhagyashree tugging at his leg in the posters of Rajshri"s family film Maine Pyar Kiya (1989). The allusion to titillate was always there, it became a habit after the hit song-in-the-sarong outing with O o jane jaana (Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya, 1998). Ever since, there"s been no turning back for this Khan with the original six-pack, who has often made it to many globally voted best body lists. An inspiration for Gen X body worshippers he"s been unofficially sourced to the shaping of quite a few contemporary six-packs from Uday Chopra to Hrithik Roshan.

Showstoppers: Suryavanshi, Karan Arjun, Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya, No Entry, Partner

Hrithik Roshan

The Greek God-esque outline was evident as he swayed to Farah Khan"s inviting choreography in a figure revealing outfit in the song Ek pal ka jeena in his lead debut Kaho Naa Pyar Hai (2000) unleashing a female frenzy equaled only by the Rajesh Khanna wave. Making his mark in romantic characters, Roshan"s success as the 'fit" lover boy indirectly compelled the reigning, but aging Khans to beef up their physical act to if not match, at least not lag behind. The brawn moment however came six years later with Dhoom 2 (2006), where he bared his chiseled six-pack pandering to every audience"s fancy simultaneously emerging as the nation"s first superstar gay icon.

Showstoppers: Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, Yaadein, Lakshya, Krrish, Dhoom 2

John Abraham

His model background not only ensured that he entered the film industry with a body to lust for, but also had no qualms flaunting it to the bare minimum. No wonder, with baring the torso becoming a given for Hindi film heroes of late, he"s rumoured to have taken the plunge at heralding a new high (or low, literally) in onscreen male nudity by becoming the first leading Hindi film hero to bare his butt in Anurag Kashyap"s No Smoking (2007)… if only the Censor Board was as accommodating!

Showstoppers: Jism, Dhoom, Zinda, Salaam-e-Ishq, No Smoking