MUMBAI: Bollywood legends Guru Dutt, Nargis, Meena Kumari, Amitabh Bachchan and Pran have been named in the list of CNN’s top 25 Asian actors of all time. The list, prepared ahead of the Oscar night on March 7, has actors from India, China, Japan, Cambodia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Korea.

With five actors listed, India has highest number of entries. “In the history of the Academy Awards only two Asians have ever taken home Best Actor or Actress statue. Yet Asia has produced incredibly talented thespians that have changed the course of their nations cinematic history,” CNN said.

Comparing Guru Dutt to Orson Welles, the website said the actor-filmmaker ushered in the golden era in Hindi cinema with movies like Pyaasa and Kaagaz Ke Phool. Bachchan, 67, has been picked up for his role of brooding inspector in Zanjeer. Nargis has been described as one of the greatest actresses in the history of cinema with

her “versatility and natural expression”. Actress Meena Kumari, famous for playing grief-stricken parts that mirrored the sufferings in her private life, is the fifth Indian actor in the list.