Published 10:11 IST, November 6th 2019
Top Bollywood actors whose first jobs will surely surprise you
Many actors in Bollywood have come from humble beginnings and have made it huge in the industry. Here are some of the most inspiring stories of such actors.
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Life is all about taking risks and living with no regrets. We should all follow this rule to live our lives to the fullest because you cannot know what is in store for you. This rule has worked very well for some leading actors. Here are some top actors’ first jobs that paved their way into films.
1. Rajinikanth
On completing his schooling, Rajinikanth reportedly took up odd jobs including those of a porter and carpenter. He then got a job as a bus conductor in the Bangalore Transport Service. He took part in various plays and also took up an acting course in the Madras Film Institute. It was then that he was noticed by director K. Balachander who offered him his first film, Apoorva Raagangal, in 1975. Rajinikanth has never looked back since and has now established himself as a megastar.
2. Akshay Kumar
Since he was reportedly not interested in studies, Akshay Kumar’s father urged him to learn martial arts. After obtaining a black belt in Taekwondo, Akshay is said to have gone to Bangkok to learn Muay Thai. There he worked as a chef and a waiter. On returning to India, he worked in a travel agency in Kolkata and even sold jewellery in Delhi. He returned to Mumbai and started teaching martial arts. One of his students’ father noticed him and recommended Akshay try modelling. One day, he visited a film studio with his portfolio and was then signed by Pramod Chakravarthy for Deedar.
3. Nawazuddin Siddiqui
The Sacred Games actor is one of the finest actors in Bollywood today. But briefly, before entering Bollywood, he worked as a chemist and a watchman to survive. He then left for Delhi in search of a job and then took up admission at the National School of Drama. He then landed his first Bollywood film in 1999, however, the audience first noticed him in his role of a journalist in Anusha Rizvi's Peepli Live.
4. Boman Irani
One look at the Filmfare award-winning actor and one would never be able to guess that he had lisp. After overcoming his speech problem, he undertook a diploma course in Mumbai. He then worked as a waiter at the famous Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai for almost two years. He also assisted his mother in running their ancestral bakery. He did everything from photography to theatre before landing his first role in Rahul Bose’s Everybody Says I'm Fine!.
5. Dilip Kumar
Dilip Kumar initially set up a sandwich stall at an army club. In a bid to help his father with household expenses, he used to work at the movie studio, Bombay Talkies. There he met actor Ashok Kumar, who influenced him immensely. The owner of Bombay Talkies then cast him in his debut film, Jwar Bhata in 1944.
Updated 15:00 IST, November 6th 2019