Since, the beginning of the Bollywood industry, it has always been known as the bastion for those who have more to showcase in terms of looks and body. But originally, the industry always prioritizes the craft of acting over the looks of actor. When it comes to the field of acting, nobody does it better than the actors who have proved their mettle on the stage of theatres. In front of the camera, one can take multiple retakes but when you are on stage, you have to make sure that you give your perfect shot at one go and this habit makes the difference between a star and an actor. Here is a list of Top 10 Bollywood actors who started their career with theatre:
1. Shahrukh Khan: The king of Bollywood and one of the richest actors in the world, Shahrukh Khan is the most precious gift theatre has ever given to Bollywood. During his college days, he was a member of the Theatre Action Group and studied under Barry John.
2. Paresh Rawal: Paresh Rawal is that one diamond of Bollywood, who was craved by the theatre acting. As a student of Narsee Monjee College, the actor exhibited his craft in many languages. Some of the more famous ones are Khelaiya, Dear Father, and Krishan vs Kanhaiya.
3. Prithvi Raj Kapoor: A visionary who started a career in acting during silent era films in India, the grand patriarch of the now-famous Kapoor film clan was truly a pioneer. He founded Prithvi Theatres and also acted in nine silent films before bagging a supporting role in India's first talkie Alam Ara in 1931.
4. Irfan Khan: Irfan Khan was that one actor, who not just proved his mettle in Hindi cinema but also in British and American cinema. He was counted among the finest actors of Indian cinema. He got a scholarship to study from NSD and made his debut with Salaam Bombay in 1987. After his graduation, he moved to Mumbai and worked on various, theatre and television roles.
5. Manoj Bajpayee: Becoming an actor was the biggest dream of Manoj Bajpayee since his childhood and he got the path to his destiny once he reached Delhi for college education. Despite of facing rejection from NSD, the actor stayed in Delhi and started doing theatre with Barry John.
6. Kangana Ranaut: When Kangana Ranaut moved to Delhi at the age of 16, apart from modeling assignments, she also immersed herself in the theatre scene under the tutelage of Arvind Gaur. She participated in Gaur's theatre workshop at the India Habitat Centre, acting in several of his plays, including the Girish Karnad-scripted Taledanda.
7. Rajkumar Rao: After doing career-changing roles in movies like Bareilly Ki Barfi and Newton, Rajkumar Rao finally got the fruit of the struggle that he was doing since his college days. During his time at Delhi University, Rao was actively working in theatre with Kshitij Repertory and Shri Ram Centre.
8. Sanjay Mishra: Thanks to movies like Aankhon Dekhi and Dum Laga Ke Haisha, Sanjay Mishra is finally getting the adulation he deserves. And yes, he too graduated from NSD in 1989.
9. Raj Kapoor: Being the son of Prithvi Raj Kapoor, acting was in the veins of Raj Kapoor that came out when he did his first stage show in his father’s own theatre. After being backhand in theatre, He'd later go on to be known as 'the Show Man' but all the nitty-gritties of acting, production, and everything that happens backstage, he picked up from his time in his dad's group.
10. Boman Irani: With his role in Munnabhai MBBS in 2003, Boman Irani hit the big leagues in cinema, but he was already active in theatre, which explains why this man seamlessly fits into any character he portrays. He trained under Hansraj Siddhia from 1981 to 1983. One of his most famous roles was that of one of the main leads in the play I am not Bajirao, which ran for over 17 years.
