Top 10 Rags to Riches of Indian Cinema

"Impossible is Nothing."

Life is not always easy but it gets a little better if you believe in yourself. For those who dream, sky is the limit. Bollywood stars have time and again proved that your miseries and shortcomings mean nothing if you can dream big with undeterred determination. A humble beginning, a phase of bad struggle and in the end achieving their much-lived dream is the common story of these not-so-common super talented star. These inspiring stories make Bollywood proud and rich.
Here are the 10 Best Rags to Riches stories in Bollywood:

1. Nawazuddin Siddiqui

The new complete actor on the block ‘Nawazuddin’ grew up in a farmer’s family with eight siblings in Uttar Pradesh. The dark-skinned actor had to make his living working as a chemist and then as a watchman before he developed an interest in theater, and went to The National School of Drama – And then starting off his Bollywood career with a small role in ‘Sarfarosh’.

Then: Worked a s watchman in Delhi

Now:  Winner of National Film Awards

2. Rajinikanth

Superstar Rajinikanth was not always the god figure he is now for the people of South India. Before he was Thalaiva, he was a poor child who did really very small jobs to earn his living. He started off by playing bit roles in Kannada mythological moral plays – and before he knew it, his debut film ‘Apoorva Raagangal’ had won a National Film Award.

Then: Worked as a Coolie, Carpenter and Bus Conductor

Now:  One of the most populated and great actors of India

3. Akshay Kumar

Handsome hunk Akshay Kumar was born in Amritsar as Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia to a middle-class family. The Khiladi’s father was a government employee and was raised in Chandni Chowk, in Delhi. He got black-belt in Taekwondo in India before moving to Bangkok.He did odd jobs while he worked there. The actor then returned to Mumbai to give Martial arts lessons. One of his students who was a photographer suggested him to take up modeling. Within a couple of months, he was approached by producer Pramod Chakravarty, who offered him the leading role in ‘Deedar’. Now, the actor is one of the top actors of India with delivering hits every year.

Then: Worked as a waiter and dishwasher in Bangkok

Now:  Padma shri Award winner

4. Amitabh Bachchan

Amitabh Bachchan is one of the biggest icons in Bollywood. But the actor has fought his way to being one of the biggest superstars in the film industry for well over a couple of decades. He came from Allahabad to Mumbai, where he had to pass many nights on the benches of Marine Drive because he did not have a house or home. Big B struggled doing many odd jobs before getting a break in Bollywood. He was even rejected by the All India Radio after an audition test. Then in 1969, when Amitabh was on the verge of giving it all up, came his break as Khwaja Ahmed Abbas cast Amitabh in Saat Hindustani and Bachchan was one of the seven. The film didn’t do good at the box office, however, Amitabh Bachchan won his first National Award as the best newcomer and so took wings to an amazing acting career and becoming the one of the sought actors in Bollywood.

Then: Rejected by AIR for his voice, spent several nights on the benches of Marine Drive.

Now:  Biggest star of Bollywood, known for his deep, baritone voice.

5. Boman Irani

Boman Irani is a consummate performer – but before he cracked his away into the industry, he used to work as a waiter and a room service staff in the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. The Parsi actor also used to help his mother run their ancestral bakery shop. Only after that did he take to photography and theatre and shot to fame with ‘Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.'

Then: Waiter and a room service staff in Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.

Now:  winner of filmfare and IIFA awards.

6. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra

The famous and renowned director of movies like Rang De Basanti, Aks has not had it very easy in life. The SRCC alumnus was born and brought up in Delhi used to work as a tea boy in the sets and generally be yelled at by everyone. Before starting off as a director, he was also working as a vacuum cleaner salesman. He was a part of the selection camp as a swimmer in the 1982 Asian Games held at New Delhi but was not selected in the final round.It was in 1986 when he set up his own advertising firm that he stuck his foot through the doors of Bollywood.

Then: Worked as a tea boy on the film sets.

Now:  Well known Bollywood Director

7. Johny Walker

Actor-comedian Badruddin Jamaluddin Kazi,the son of a mill worker, started off his career under the stage-name Johnny Walker and he impressed Guru Dutt with his screen test where he acted as a drunk. Before being an actor, he used to be bus conductor in Mumbai where he used to entertain his passengers with antics and had caught the eye of Balraj Sahni who introduced him to the famous director/actor Dutt.

Then: Bus Conductor in Mumbai.

Now:  Became successful Actor afterwards.

8. Mehmood

Mehmood started off as a child actor on the celluloid and then went to became the famous face of Bollywood comedy films. Before becoming a huge star, he used to work as a driver, poultry seller and did other odd jobs like teaching Meena Kumari how to play table tennis!

Then: Worked as Driver & Poultry seller.

Now:  Winner of 4 Filmfares for 'Best Comedian'

9. Arshad Warsi 

An orphan at 14, Arshad Warsi is a self-made man. There was a time when Arshad Warsi's financial standing was dangerously hovering between imminent bankruptcy and absolute financial disaster. He was selling lipstick and nail polish in buses between Borivelli and Bandra, then. Later he made his debut in 1996 with Tere Mere Sapne which was a box office success. He is best known for his portrayal of Circuit in the comedy film Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.

Then: Used to sell lipsticks & nail polishes in Mumbai buses.

Now:  Awarded Filmfare for his Best Performance in a comic role.

10. Irrfan Khan

He started from zero, but he's the best India has today. This man has proved it to everyone that being a non-commercial actor can, too, fetch you fame. Irrfan is  known for his works in British cinema,and Hollywood. Film critics, contemporaries, and other experts consider him to be one of the finest actors in Indian cinema for his versatile and natural acting.

Then: Did not have the money to watch Jurassic park.

Now:  Starred in Jurrasic World.

"And they all went from Rags to Riches"

With the kind of respect and fame they have commanded in the industry –  these 10 celebrities are inspirational to those aspiring to take their life to the next level.

Let me know which ones I missed in the comment section below.