We all love watching movies, don’t we? But have we ever thought about the life of Bollywood actors being filled with numerous struggles. Gone are the days when becoming an actor was a cake walk. Either you have to be a star kid to get that fame or be prepared to struggle in the world of dreams, Bombay. Life has two different aspects when it comes to films, the on-screen story and the off-screen. What actors perform is what we see, but what we fail to look at is their off-screen life. So thought of sharing some inspiring stories filled with struggles of Bollywood actors who created a benchmark. We love them and there’s a lot to learn from them.
10 Johnny Walker
We all remember the veteran actor for his drunken roles in prominent films. Born with the name Badruddin Jamaluddin Kazi, who as a sole breadwinner for his family, did various jobs including a conductor’s job in Bombay. He often used to mimic on job and made people laugh throughout their journey. Eventually he became famous and started getting small roles in films. It was the famous director Guru Dutt who gave him the name Johnny Walker (the famous Scotch brand), after seeing his roles focusing much on being a drunkard.
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9 Manoj Bajpai
With two National Awards and three Filmfare Awards under his belt, Manoj Bajpai is yet another famous actor who overcame great barriers in life. Belonging to a farmer family, Manoj had keen interest in films since childhood. But poverty didn’t let him and he was even driven to suicide. Manoj had faced a lot to the extent of being rejected thrice by the National School Of Drama. It was his willpower and firm dedication that kept him going to become a prominent face in the industry.
8 Boman Irani
Well known for his comic and villain roles in movies like 3 Idiots, PK, Munna Bhai MBBS, Don, etc, Boman Irani has come a long way in achieving great success in life. The initial stages in Boman’s life began being a waiter and room service staff at the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, followed by looking after their ancestral bakery shop in Mumbai. It was only after he turned towards photography that he started to aim for the world of cinema.
7 Johnny Lever
Coming from the slums of Dharavi, Johnny had a tough childhood. In spite of talent, Johnny was not getting anywhere. He could only complete his schooling till class 7th. After which, he started doing small chores to earn a living for his family. We all have seen comedians, but in case of Johnny Lever his impression was totally different. He started selling pens with his creative styles of mimicking famous Bollywood actors. Later, he joined the Hindustan Lever Ltd. where he got the name Johnny Lever because of his excellent performances and participation. Thereafter, getting much motivation and support, Jonny started stand up comedy in orchestra and then getting roles in films.
6 Mithun Chakraborty
Who hasn’t danced to the beats of Disco Dancer! Whenever that track is played, what comes to our mind is the craziness of Mithun Da. Hailing from Bangladesh, Dada was a Naxalite before joining the film industry. It was only after the death of his brother that he turned to a positive angle and started earning for his family. There were days when Mithun Da had to borrow money for food. He also slept on footpaths many nights.
5 Akshay Kumar
The Khiladi of Bollywood has achieved great in life only because of his dedication towards his goals. Before entering Bollywood, the action hero was a dish washer and waiter at one of the restaurants in Bangkok. Later being chief also he earned very less. There were days in his life when he slept on the floor of the hotel. Understanding his vision to earn, he trained himself in martial arts and came to India to hunt for roles in films. Today, we all know that this actor has treated us with some exceptional movies and in a year he is said to have more movies than any other actor. Recently, he also managed to bag the much deserved National Award.
4 Amitabh Bachchan
He is one of the living legends in the Bollywood industry. The recipient of numerous accolades in his name, Amitabh Harivansh Rai Shrivastava Bachchan has also been honoured with the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan by Government of India. But the famous writer’s son did not have a safe walk to the industry. Being rejected by All India Radio and later on facing a struggling phase in Mumbai, Amitabh Bachchan has spent days sleeping at the Marine Drive. Just when he lost all hope is when movies started falling in his hands. But some of his initial movies went flop. Bachchan overcame that and proved his worth. Today, we all know his immense contribution to the industry is beyond words.
3 Rajinikanth
What’s not possible by anyone is possible by Shivaji Rao Gaekwad aka Rajinikanth. From being renowned worldwide, Rajini had a tough time in his young days. When he was just 5, his mother passed away. Being in severe poverty, Rajini couldn’t complete his schooling and soon joined as Railway coolie and doing labor works. It was with great difficulty that he got the post of a bus conductor. But as it is said, one who is talented will find his way to success. Rajini used to entertain people while cutting tickets and perform also. It was the motivation given to him by his co-workers and passengers that Rajini joined drama school and became one of the leading artists in Tamil industry. His contribution to many a Bollywood movies is known to all.
2 Shah Rukh Khan
What to call him! King of Bollywood, Baadshah of Bollywood or King Khan. Well choice is yours. Because this veteran actor has achieved so much that his fan following is beyond count. It was with commercial serials and ads that Shah Rukh Khan entered into television. Hailing from a middle class family in Delhi, Shah Rukh Khan moved to Mumbai with a nominal amount in pocket. His mission to work in films is what motivated him to keep going. There were darker days in Shah Rukh’s life, but he used his vision to overcome them. Today, he is one of the richest paid actors in Bollywood.
1 Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Growing among the joint farmers family with nine siblings, Siddiqui always loved acting. In one of his interviews he had mentioned, I am blessed to be doing what I always wanted to do – Acting. Indeed, he is a great inspiration for all the struggling actors, because his story is not less than a lesson. Before entering into acting he worked as a chemist and watchman. To have a strong foundation and polish his skills, he joined theatre and drama school. Later on, there were times when he thought of leaving everything and heading back to his village. But life had something special planned for him. Presently, he is one of the prominent faces of Bollywood and highly appreciated for his acting skills.
