inspiring success stories of Bollywood stars

1. Boman Irani 

Boman Irani, 55, is emotional, loyal and cuddly, and still gets emotional on watching an episode of Tom and Jerry. He began his career as a waiter, went on to become a photographer, did theatre and finally made his debut in Bollywood at the age of 44 with Raju Hirani's Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. And there was no looking back since!

He has gained critical acclaims and recognition for roles in movies like- Lage Raho Munnai Bhai, Main Hoon Na, Veer-Zaara, Hey Babyy, Don, Well Done Abba, Ferrari Ki Sawaari, Cocktail, Student Of The Year, Jolly LLB, PK and others. No matter how big or small his role is in a film, his character will definitely become one that will stay with you for long! 

2. Naseeruddin Shah

When asked in an interview if it was a better time for him to be an actor now or in the past, he said, "It’s just getting better and better. And I am getting roles like I got in A Wednesday, Ishqiya, or The Dirty Picture, all three of which I like, and I enjoyed doing all those three roles. And the small movies at the same time."

In his journey with Hindi cinema for almost four decades, Naseeruddin Shah has worked with Dadasaheb Phalke Award-winning director Shyam Benegal and James Bond actor Sean Connery. He has not only won critical acclaim for his films but he is still a stunner when it comes to theatre. His most memorable films include Sparsh, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, Ijaazat, Masoom, Umraao Jaan, Chamatkar, 7 Khoon Maaf, A Wednesday, Ishqiya and Finding Fanny. 

3. Sanjay Mishra 

Mishra’s dream of becoming a Bollywood actor took off with recognition for his films like Bunty Aur Babli and Apna Sapna Money Money. Later, he got nationwide popularity for his role as RGV in All The Best and Phas Gaye Re Obama. His dialogue "Dhondu, just chill" gained him worldwide recognition. His latest mainstream releases include Ankhon Dekhi, Bhoothnath Returns and Dum Laga Ke Haisha, all of which garnered him magnificent praises of both critics and the public. 

4. Lillete Dubey 

She entered the movies rather late, but it’s been more than a decade and she has aged gracefully. She loves participating in the current new wave of sensible, independent Bollywood flicks. It was in 2001 when Shyam Benegal approached her to play a crucial role in Zubeidaa, and since then, her flight of dreams is still soaring high. She is best known for her roles in movies like Gadar-Ek Prem Katha, Monsoon Wedding, Pinjar, Chalte Chalte, Baghban, Kal Ho Na Ho and Ritesh Batra’s classic, Lunchbox. 

5. Piyush Mishra 

Piyush Mishra is one man who is known in the industry for outwardly graceful fusion of range and depth in his art - from the stinging music he composed for Anurag Kashyap’s Gulaal, to his depiction of the grave, self-persecuting Nasir in Gangs Of Wasseypur. His acknowledgement as an actor came late in life but he is thoroughly satisfied with the validation. 

6. Adil Hussain

We would rather like to describe him as a screen actor who's been seen in a few films, without being specially noticed for any particular role. Hussain rose to gradual fame after his roles in films like Ang Lee’s Life Of Pi and Gauri Shinde’s English Vinglish. He has pulled off almost every character he has played with a lot of grace and finesse.  

7. Kirron Kher 

Hardly anyone knows that Kirron Kher started her career in the 1980s but gave up on it to raise her kids. It was later in life that she made a comeback with Shyam Benegal’s Sardari Begum. After getting national awards for films like Bariwali and Sardari Begum, she entered the mainstream cinema with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas as Sumitra. She is best known for roles in Main Hoon Na, Veer Zaara, Hum Tum, Mangal Pandey, Rang De Basanti, KANK, and Dostaana. Her recent film Khoobsurat was a delight for her fans! 

8. Randeep Hooda 

After struggling for recognition in Bollywood for years in his late 20s, it was Ram Gopal Verma's D that won the hearts of critics, and they were sure that this man was here to make it big! After a series of flops, it was in 2010 that Milan Luthra's Once Upon A Time In Mumbai bought him to the limelight. His most memorable role till now has been Mahavir in Imtiaz Ali's Highway where he effortlessly won the hearts of many! 

9. Paresh Rawal

After making an official debut in 1984, it was in 2000, while playing the character of Baburao Ganpatrao Apte in Hera Pheri, that his comic timing made this movie a class-apart! His first lead role came in 2012 in Oh My God! along with Akshay Kumar. His highest grossing films have received a lot of accolades over the years and his contribution to Hindi cinema is remarkable!

10. Farhan Akhtar 

Multi-talented, multi-faceted, this man is the perfect example of a master of all trades! After establishing a production house called Excel Entertainment, his directorial debut Dil Chahta Hai already marked his breakthrough entry as a story-teller in Hindi cinema.

"Clearly designed by Farhan Akhar as his own acting debut and he doesn't let himself down. Lending voice to all his songs helps him to get into his character with effortless ease. One could certainly overlook the lisp in his dialogue delivery." said a film critic for a leading daily newspaper about Farhan's acting debut in Rock On!!. Whether it's Luck By Chance, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara or Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Farhan has always proved his mettle!

11. Ronit Roy 

TV’s Mr.Bajaj had his rocking small screen debut but his Bollywood ride began in 2010, when he starred in the critically acclaimed film Udaan. He went on to win various supporting actor awards. He has constantly been upgrading himself as an actor through films like Student Of The Year, Boss, 2 States and Anurag Kashyap's Ugly.

12. Pankaj Tripathi 

After doing cameos in movies like Run, Apaharan, Omkara and Raavan, it was Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur that finally brought critical acclaim to the actor. He managed to enter the mainstream commercial cinema with films like Dabangg 2, Fukrey, Gunday and Singham Returns. 

13. Chitrangada Singh 

Already married to an ace-golfer, Jyoti Randhawa, and with a son, Zorawar, Chitrangada Singh's Bollywood dreams were always set right. When people say that it is a marriage that declares the end of a Bollywood career for an actress, they were completely wrong! Chitrangada entered Bollywood with Sudhir Mishra’s Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi. Her Bollywood ambitions never took a back seat and this dusky damsel later went on to do some critically acclaimed films like Yeh Saali Zindagi and Inkaar.