1. Shah Rukh Khan
From the by-lanes of Delhi to the superhighways of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan has become a saga of dogged perseverance. Having lost his parents rather early in life, he came to Mumbai with nothing but dreams and determination in his kitty. A few TV roles later, Shah Rukh Khan made his film debut with Deewana in 1992. No film background, with sheer hard work, charming, and acting prowess, he attained the title of “King of Bollywood.”.
2. Akshay Kumar
Bollywood’s Khiladi, Akshay Kumar, used to wait at a table and also instruct karate in Bangkok. Born Rajiv Bhatia to an average Punjabi household, entry to films was not led by any sort of connection but only hard and continuous work. From action to comic roles, he has made a place with his own discipline and dedication.
3. Amitabh Bachchan
For the first few years, Amitabh Bachchan’s career in Bollywood was merely a string of rejections; he had the wrong voice and the wrong height. Flop followed flop until Zanjeer arrived in 1973, and he became the “Angry Young Man” of Indian cinema. Later in his life, when failures and financial troubles beset him too, the resilience was an inspiring story to be told.
4. Priyanka Chopra
She was born into a middle-class family, and had absolutely no film connection. Still, Priyanka Chopra won the title of Miss World in the year 2000. Even after facing her fair share of struggle to enter Bollywood, it definitely was her talent and dedication which made her one of the most sought-after actresses. Today, she happens to be an international sensation as she is making waves in Hollywood too.
5. Rajkummar Rao
Rajkummar Rao is another classic example of raw talent combined with hard work. Growing up in a small town in Haryana, features did little to hold him back from the rejection. Blowing minds with films like Shahid and Newton, he grew up to be among the finest in Bollywood who picks up roles with telling a story to them.
6. Nawazuddin Siddiqui
From being the son of a farmer in Uttar Pradesh to working as a security guard in Delhi, Nawazuddin Siddiqui struggled for over a decade before he made it in Bollywood. The break finally came with Gangs of Wasseypur. His journey speaks volumes about unmatched patience, grit, and belief in his craft.
7. Deepika Padukone
Being the daughter of badminton champion Prakash Padukone did not necessarily make things easy for Deepika. Moving from Bangalore to Mumbai, she started off as a model and then hauled up her big project opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Om Shanti Om, 2007. Since then, she has channelled her own personal demons, such as depression, into raising awareness on the issue, and has emerged as one of Bollywood’s leading lights.
8. Kangana Ranaut
Coming from a small town in Himachal Pradesh, Kangana Ranaut had to face many rejections for her accent and looks. However, bold choices in films such as Queen and Tanu Weds Manu have, in fact, made her a strong force to reckon with. While she speaks her mind, she has carved a niche for herself.
9. Anushka Sharma
The Bangalore girl Anushka Sharma, with no godfather in the industry, got her first film opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008). Slowly, one at a time, she started putting films into the hit list one after another and finally turned into a producer. Hard work and versatility make her a self-made star.
10. Sushant Singh Rajput
Born in Patna, Sushant Singh Rajput had made his presence felt on the small screen before he entered Bollywood with Kai Po Che! in 2013. His was a journey of passion and dreams that changed a small-town boy into one of Bollywood’s favourite stars. With his classic and determined performance in movies like MS Dhoni and Chhichhore, he inscribed an inerasable mark in this industry.
11. Irrfan Khan
Irrfan Khan was one of the greatest talents to emerge from India, hailing from a modest background in Rajasthan. Battling for years, he emerged as an internationally recognized actor, courtesy of his subdued yet powerhouse performances. The work that he did, right from Paan Singh Tomar to The Lunchbox, continues to inspire actors worldwide.
12. Vidya Balan
Vidya Balan was being body-shamed and criticised because she didn’t fit into the typical mould of Bollywood. She got her Parineeta in 2005, and then went on to prove her judgement wrong with films like The Dirty Picture and Kahaani. She certainly broke the stereotypes of a typical heroine of Bollywood with her choices.
13. Ayushmann Khurrana
From reality TV to his full-fledged Bollywood debut with Vicky Donor in 2012, Ayushmann Khurrana’s unconventional roles, breaking societal taboos, had won the audiences over. He never looked back and dished out one success after another.
14. Kriti Sanon
An engineering student with no background in films, Kriti Sanon made her jump to acting with Heropanti (2014). Since then, she has developed as one of the most promising stars and conducted her way through the industry very gracefully and ably.
15. Vicky Kaushal
But the son of a stunt director, Vicky Kaushal, took the road less travelled. Assisting in films and getting rejected umpteen number of times, he went on to get critical acclaim for his breakout performance in 2015’s Masaan. His range, be it in Uri or Raazi, establishes him as one of the most talented actors of his generation.
16. Bhumi Pednekar
Bhumi Pednekar was an assistant casting director when she got her big break with Dum Laga Ke Haisha in 2015. It was that performance, one where she played an overweight wife, which broke stereotypes. Those choices led to more challenging roles and hence she’s the celebrated actor today.
17. Pankaj Tripathi
Pankaj Tripathi hailed from some small village in Bihar; hence, his success graph was slow and gradual. Years of struggle later, he became a household name with films like Gangs of Wasseypur and web series like Mirzapur, as powerful performances sent the crowds into raptures.
18. Taapsee Pannu
This Bollywood actress, who happened to be a software engineer, does not have a godfather in the industry. She first started with South Indian cinema and later broke into Bollywood with Pink. Known for choosing strong, different women in films, Taapsee seems to be one such talented new actress of her generation.
19. Kartik Aaryan
Kartik Aaryan came to Mumbai to study engineering but with dreams of acting. The monologue from Pyaar Ka Punchnama brought him overnight stardom among his female following in 2011. Since then, through persistence and smart choices, he has emerged as one of Bollywood’s top young actors.
20. Radhika Apte
Bollywood has been quite an unconventional mode for unleashing her acting prowess for Radhika Apte. With avid respect for art and its forms, she carved a niche for herself with small independent films and web series. Her bold choices and unapologetic attitude have won her a great deal of respect within the industry.
