20 Bollywood Stars Who Started Career as Junior Artists

Bollywood is a dreamland where only a few have managed to reach while most have failed. And although there are many people who think luck is what one requires to reach this dreamland, there are many celebrities who have toiled hard and done less significant work in order to reach their ultimate destination. Here is a list of some of the Bollywood Stars who started career as junior artists.

1. Shahid Kapoor

Long before grooving to the famous ‘Mauja hi Mauja’ in Jab we Met and portraying the role of  ‘Tommy Singh’ a.k.a Gabru in Udta Punjab, Shahid Kapoor had appeared as a dancer in Taal as well as in Dil To Pagal Hain. But after his debut in ‘Ishq Vishk’ in 2003 as a mainstream actor, his acting as well as his dancing skills were acknowledged and duly appreciated. His consistently strong performances thereafter are a reason why he is one of the leading actors in Bollywood today.

2. Zoya Akhtar

Zoya Akhtar is well-known for her spectacular films that have been able to taste commercial as well as critical success. But long before making her debut as a director for ‘Luck By Chance’, she appeared as a background dancer in Kama Sutra : A tale of love. This movie released in 1997 was written and directed by Mira Nair.

3. Nawazuddin Siddiqui

Nawazuddin Siddiqui is undeniably the finest Bollywood actor of this generation. His first big role was in Sujoy Ghosh’s ‘Kahaani’ that brought him into the limelight. But his actual acting debut happened way back in the Aamir Khan starrer Sarfarosh. And even though this movie was a huge hit, Nawazuddin’s small role went completely unnoticed.

4. Irrfan Khan

Another beautiful film by Mira Nair, Salaam Bombay, released in 1988 was India’s second film ever to be nominated for the Oscars. Not many know that Irrfan Khan was also a part of this film as he portrayed the character of a young letter writer. Although Maqbool was the turning point in his career that put him up on the map as a great actor, it was in Salaam Bombay where his acting brilliance was first showcased.

5. Rajpal Yadav

Rajpal Yadav is one of those very few actors who always manage to tickle your funnybones. Although first seen in Dil Kya Kare as a School watchman, it was his role in Ram Gopal Verma’s ‘Shool’ that really brought him into the limelight. Portraying the role of a coolie in this movie, he managed to grab the attention of a lot of directors and producers which eventually helped him get better and more significant roles.

6. Mithun Chakraborty

Mithun Chakraborty’s Bollywood debut happened in 1976 in Mrinal Sen’s National Award winning ‘Mrigayaa’. He also got a National Award for his performance in this film. But even after bagging the most prestigious award in the country, it was a very small role in ‘Do Anjaane’ starring Amitabh Bachchan that managed to grab the attention of a lot of people. It was after this that Mithun Chakraborty ruled the Bollywood for a good two decades.

7. Karan Johar

Delivering films primarily based on family, love, and emotions, Karan Johar has time and again proven that he is one of the best directors Bollywood has ever had. But before he made his debut even as a director, he played the role of Shahrukh Khan’s friend in the evergreen ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’. However, he appeared with a prominent role on screen again after many years when he played the antagonist in Anurag Kashyap’s ‘Bombay Velvet’.

8.Anaita Adajania

The fashion director for Vogue India magazine, Anaita Adajania is also known for her design work on Bollywood films such as Dhoom 2, Love Aaj Kal, Being Cyrus as well as Cocktail. But before making a place for herself in Bollywood as a costume designer, she also acted in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge where she played the role of Kajol’s friend Sheena whom Raj( Shahrukh Khan) flirts with.

9. Diya Mirza

Making her acting debut with ‘Rehne Hain tere dil mein’ alongside R.Madhavan, Diya Mirza is remembered for her beautiful performance in this film as well for her charming chemistry with Madhavan. But most of you don’t know that her actual debut onscreen was in a Tamil film, where she appeared as a background dancer in the song- Jumbalakka Jumbalakka. Although into modeling those days, this small appearance opened the gates of Bollywood for her.

10. Daisy Shah

Daisy Shah got the golden opportunity to make her debut with a film like ‘Jai Ho’ opposite Salman Khan. But she had already shared the screen with Salman Khan earlier, as she was a background dancer in the famous Lagan Lagi song in Tere Naam. And having been a part of a Salman Khan movie, it was not surprising that she was soon seen in many Bollywood movies.