The path to success is never easy and when it comes to the cinema industry it is like a really scary rollercoaster ride. Making a Bollywood debut is a dream for many but making it with a bang is the real trick. While many successfully managed to carve a niche for themselves with their very first movie, some failed miserably but they stood tall and came out even stronger. They become the creme de la creme of Bollywood and have billions riding on their backs at the box office. Here’s a list of the top 10 Bollywood actors who made it big after having a sloppy start with failed debuts:
1. Ranbir Kapoor: The debut movie of Ranbir Kapoor gave him the image of a sloppy star but he played his card pretty effortlessly and erased the memory of this movie from the minds of the audience. He is one of the most bankable actors today. We loved his Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani, Rockstar, Tamasha, and the super adorable, Barfi!
2. Salman Khan: At present, the stardom of Bollywood marvel Salman Khan has no limits. Despite being the son of a renowned actor, Salman had his own struggles. He debuted as a supporting actor in Biwi Ho To Aisi and that made us doubt his potential but he made a very strong comeback with his first solo blockbuster. They call it Maine Pyar Kiya and never looked back.
3. Kareena Kapoor: Kareena Kapoor is one of those Bollywood stars who made their debut as a lead actor at a very young age. She was barely 19 when she debuted with Refugee. But the film couldn't save the grace for her. But making us forgot the movie, she wowed us with her performance in Asoka, K3G and Chameli, and many more.
4. Amitabh Bachchan: It took the Big B, a total of 7 films to grab the audiences’ eyes. His forgettable debut happened among six other actors in Saath Hindustani. However, he kept signing movies and finally made his way to the Box-office breaking movie like Zanjeer and Deewar that made him the angry young man of Bollywood.
5. Rekha: Bollywood's eternal diva was once an unknown face. On paper, her debut was as a child artist in the 1966 Telugu film Rangula Ratnam, but it took her a long list of movies until she made her mark. Her looks in the initial films are shocking too. However, she revamped her career, had a make-over, and became what she is today!
6. Katrina Kaif: Imagine, if she hadn’t signed some classic Bollywood movies, she would still have remained stuck in the shadow of her flop debut. It took her 2 long years to overshadow that flop. Though for many, she still is a synonym of a beautiful face, and less on acting. But it's a fact she is one of the most successful actresses today.
7. Aditya Roy Kapoor: He left us drooling with his chiseled body and mysterious acting in Fitoor. He was also the perfect friend material in YJHD. And all this after a failed debut in London Dreams and even a bigger failure in his second film Action Replay. We wonder what if Aashiqui 2 didn't happen to him, where would he be today!
8. Sonam Kapoor: The case was no different to Ranbir Kapoor. She also made her big Bollywood debut with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya but failed to utilize it. There were some directors who managed to show confidence in her acting skills! Raanjhanaa and Khoobsurat gave her some footing. Then Neerja happened, and she successfully shut all her critics with a powerful performance.
9. Shraddha Kapoor: Today, Shraddha is one of the most fashionable and versatile actors in the Bollywood industry, who proved her mettle in not the field of acting but also in dancing and modeling. But the actress failed to exhibit her craft in her debut movie Luv Ka End.
10. Emraan Hashmi: He is one man who has grown in his acting to extremes. From being a serial kisser to delivering heartfelt performances in The Dirty Picture, Awarapan, and Azhar, Emraan has proved his mettle. But did you know Murder wasn't his debut? It was actually Footpath. He played a gangster who died.
