Then and Now: Superstars of Bollywood

The Baadshah of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan is a perfect example of a zero-to-hero story. SRK started his career appearing in various theater projects and television shows in the 1980s. His dream debut in Bollywood came in 1992 with Deewana, after which he gained popularity in portraying negative roles. It wasn't until the release of one of Bollywood's all time blockbuster movies, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, that he rose to stardom, earning him the tag of King of Romance. King Khan, as media and his fans call him, has starred in more than eighty films so far from which thirteen have accumulated a gross earning of Rs 1 billion worldwide, making him one of the most successful stars Bollywood has ever seen. Earlier this year he was named the second richest actor in the world with a net worth of $600 million. 

Aamir Khan is one of the most talented actors that the industry has ever come across. His sincerity towards his work and his methodical perfection towards his craft has become a sort of inspiration to the younger generation of actors. This superstar made his debut at a very young age. As a matter of fact, he was merely eight  years old when he appeared as a child artiste in his uncle Nasir Hussain's film Yaadon Ki Baraat. His first prominent film came later in 1984 at age of nineteen in the form of an experimental project name Holi. Some of his biggest commercial adventures include 3 Idiots, Ghajini and Dhoom 3, all of which hold the title of being the highest grossing Bollywood films of all times. Today, through his well established career, Khan has become one of most influential celebrities in Bollywood and India. 


When mentioning the superstars of Bollywood, how can one not mention the Shahenshah of Bollywood? Amitabh Bachchan, or Big B as he is more popularly known, gained popularity in the 1970s with movies such as Zanjeer and Deewar, which is when he was bestowed with the title of Angry Young Man. Bachchan has appeared in over 180 movies over his career spanning over four decades. His dominance in Bollywood is such that the French director Francois Truffaut called him "one-man industry". Along with winning countless awards from various different ceremonies, he has been honored with the National Film Awards for Best Actor thrice. Spreading his talent, Bachchan is one of the few handful of Bollywood actors to have appeared in a Hollywood film. His debut Hollywood appearance was in the critically acclaimed film, The Great Gatsby.