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.

11. Sushant Singh Rajput

After a spectacular debut in ‘Kai Po Che’, Sushant Singh Rajput has over the years, been part of different genres of films and portrayed a diverse range of characters. Initially starting his career as a dancer, Rajput has made sure that he keeps on motivating and inspiring people through his acting as well as his social work. The title song of Dhoom 2 is loved by everyone for the excellent dancing skills showcased by Hrithik Roshan but did you know that also a part of this song, was Sushant Singh Rajput as he was a background dancer in this popular song.

12. Remo D’Souza

One of the best Choreographers in Bollywood currently, Remo D’Souza used to initially work as a background artist in the latter half of 1990’s. This talented choreographer and director first appeared on the big screen in the song ‘ Mere Mehbooba’ from the movie Pardes starring Shahrukh Khan. He was one of the background dancers in this song who got the glorious opportunity to share the screen with Shahrukh Khan.

13. Kajal Aggarwal

One of the most popular actresses in Tollywood, Kajal Aggarwal made her Bollywood debut opposite Ajay Devgn in Rohit Shetty’s ‘Singham’. But long before this amazing debut, she had already appeared on screen in a song from the movie ‘Kyun Ho Gaya Na’. She was seen sharing screen with Aishwarya Rai in the song ‘Pyar Mein Sau Uljhane Hai’ from this film starring Aishwarya Rai, Vivek Oberoi as well as Amitabh Bachchan.

14.Isha Sharvani

Apparently, it was not only Shahid Kapoor but also Isha Sharvani who made her first appearance on screen with the film ‘Taal’. She featured as a background dancer in the song ‘Kahin Aag Lage’ from the movie Taal. An Indian contemporary dancer, Isha Sharvani later made her debut as a mainstream actress with Subhash Ghai’s ‘ Kisna’ starring Vivek Oberoi.

15. Neetu Chandra

Neetu Chandra is a prominent actress and producer in Bollywood. Making her debut in 2005 with ‘Garam Masala’ starring Akshay Kumar and John Abraham, Neetu has gone on to play various roles in her Bollywood career. She also runs a production house that has won a National Award for the best film. But her first-ever appearance was as a dancer in the famous song ‘Mera Babu Chhail Chhabila’ that also featured Sophie Chaudhary.

16. Geeta Kapoor

A popular face in Indian households as a Dance reality show judge, Geeta Kapoor is currently one of the most talented Choreographers in Bollywood. But not many know that she had first appeared on screen way back in 1998 in the famous movie ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hain’. She played the role of a background dancer in the song ‘Tujhe Yaad Na Meri Aayee’ in this famous movie starring Shahrukh Khan and Kajol.

17. Anushka Sharma

Anushka Sharma has been one of those luckiest actresses to have started her career with YRF films, and that too, opposite Shahrukh Khan. After her debut in 2008 in ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’, Anushka Sharma has made her way to the top and become one of the leading actresses in Bollywood. But before making her glorious debut, she was seen on a poster in Lage Raho Munna Bhai starring Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi.

18. Ayan Mukherji

Ayan Mukherji is known for his beautiful films that are primarily based on the youth. But before directing ‘Wake Up Sid’ and ‘Yeh Jawaani Hain Deewani’, he had also appeared in a Karan Johar movie before. He was seen sharing screen with Rani Mukerji and Shahrukh Khan in the song ‘Tumhi Dekho Naa’ from the film ‘ Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna’.

19. Farah Khan

One of the most popular Choreographers and Directors in Bollywood, Farah Khan has been consistently showcasing her talent for many years now. But long before establishing her career as a successful choreographer-director, she had appeared as a background dancer in  ‘Hum Hain Naujawan’ song from the famous film ‘Sadaa Suhagan’. She shared the screen with Govinda in this song.

20. Saroj Khan

Saroj Khan is one of the most popular and successful choreographers in Bollywood. She began her career in the 1950’s as a background dancer way back in ‘Aaiye Meharbaan’ song where she dressed as a guy. This song also featured Madhubala. She has worked in a lot of movies as a background dancer before bagging the status of being one of the best choreographers in Bollywood.

Thus, these are the Bollywood Stars who have worked as junior artists before making it big in the Bollywood industry. Gone are those days when treating background dancers or junior artists as less significant was a common practice. Today, everyone is more professional and supportive making the Bollywood industry a happier place to work at. And these celebrities, with their inspiring stories, have proved that if you have skills, and the ability and determination to work really hard on those skills, there is nothing or no one that can stop you from achieving your goals. If you know any other Bollywood Stars who started career as junior artists, please share with in the comments section.

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