With a striking black tilak marked on the forehead, bullet-loaded belt around the waist, a perennially furious gaze and a tone as threatening as that rifle in hand, the dacoits are, understandably, a dreaded community.And yet, their imposing histrionics and ferocity makes them a truly fascinating antagonist around a plot set against a rural backdrop. Only recently, our filmmakers have begun to portray this profession in a more realistic light.

As appears to be the case with the soon-to-release Paan Singh Tomar. Starring Irrfan Khan in the titular avatar, the Tigmanshu Dhulia film is a big screen adaptation of the real life athlete-turned-rebel and his reasons to unleash hell in Chambal Valley. Given Khan's capabilities, he will probably do a marvelous job of this role as well.

Meanwhile, here's a look at some of the best-remembered portrayals of Hindi cinema's big, bad daakus. Amjad Khan in Sholay He's the man mothers warned their kids about with the still quoted, 'Soja nahi to Gabbar Singh aa jaayega.' Amjad Khan's iconic Gabbar Singh is synonymous with terror that has been both -- revered and referenced to epic proportions. Gabbar's smooth but creepy baritone and morbid punishment in Ramesh Sippy's classic produced several chilling moments in and outside Ramgarh.

Image: Amjad Khan in Sholay