South cinema and its actors have all the time resonated with an aura of glitz, glamour, and opulence. These artists have excelled of their craft and reached the top of success, each metaphorically and objectively.
Nevertheless, do you know that many of those stars got here from humble beginnings and began as modest breadwinners? Take a look at the next actors who had modest begins and did odd jobs earlier than appearing.
South Indian celebs and their odd jobs
1. Rajinikanth
- Identified for: Jailer, Sivaji, Enthiran, Baashha, Coolie
- Earlier than fame job: Bus conductor
- Business: Tamil
- Present fame stage: Famous person
Thalaivar, aka Rajinikanth, wants no introduction. The actor has set a benchmark with a prolific profession spanning many years. Earlier than appearing, the senior celebrity labored as a bus conductor.
He served within the Bangalore Transport Service, conducting on bus route 10A. In the meantime, he continued collaborating in numerous performs, which fueled his ardour for appearing.
After reaching success, he as soon as made a shock go to to the bus depot the place he used to work earlier than changing into a legendary actor.
2. Ajith Kumar
- Identified for: Vidaamuyarchi, Good Unhealthy Ugly, Valimai, Vedalam, Billa
- Earlier than fame job: Apprentice mechanic
- Business: Tamil
- Present fame stage: Padma Bhushan awardee
Ajith Kumar has carved out a flexible identification for himself. In addition to his gifted appearing abilities, the senior star can also be an completed motorsports driver, balancing each passions equally.
Ajith dropped out of faculty after class 10 and commenced working as an apprentice mechanic for Enfield. Given his ardour for autos, he took to the work in good spirits.
After six months, his father inspired him to take up a white-collar job, which grew to become the primary stepping stone towards his appearing profession.
3. Vijay Sethupathi
- Identified for: Merry Christmas, Ace, Maharaj, Jawan, Naanum Rowdy Dhaan
- Earlier than fame job: Accountant
- Business: Tamil
- Present fame stage: Nationwide movie award recipient
Vijay Sethupathi is undeniably one of many main stars of Kollywood, persistently elevating the bar with each efficiency. He not too long ago gained a Nationwide Award for his excellent contributions to cinema.
Earlier than his profitable movie profession, Vijay labored as an accountant in Dubai earlier than returning to India. He then managed the accounts of the theatre group Koothu-P-Pattarai.
It was throughout this era that his ardour for appearing blossomed, and since then, he has turn out to be one of the sought-after actors in Tamil cinema.
4. Yash
- Identified for: KGF sequence, Poisonous, Mr and Mrs Ramachari, Rocky
- Earlier than fame job: Backstage employee
- Business: Kannada
- Present fame stage: Filmfare award recipient
Yash is widely known as a powerhouse of expertise in Kannada cinema. Earlier than his huge break in movies, he labored backstage in a theatre group, incomes a each day allowance of simply Rs. 50.
His ardour for appearing saved him dedicated to this work, and step by step he started auditioning for roles. He landed smaller initiatives in telefilms and tv serials, which laid a robust basis for his profitable profession forward.
5. Dulquer Salmaan
- Identified for: Fortunate Baskhar, Sita Ramam, King of Kotha, Kurup, Mahanati
- Earlier than fame job: IT employee
- Business: Malayalam
- Present fame stage: Kerala State Movie award recipient
Dulquer Salmaan’s modest beginnings embody a big interval working in an IT agency in Dubai. Regardless of holding a company administration diploma and having a full-time job, he discovered the routine boring and monotonous.
Following in his father Mammootty’s footsteps, he determined to pursue a profession in movies. Dulquer left his job and enrolled in an appearing college in Mumbai.
He made his appearing debut in 2012 with the movie Second Present.
6. Rishab Shetty
- Identified for: Kantara, Bell Backside, Mishan Unattainable, Hero, Jai Hanuman
- Earlier than fame job: Taxi driver
- Business: Kannada
- Present fame stage: Nationwide movie award recipient
Rishab Shetty is a pressure to reckon with within the Kannada movie business. The actor, who delivered an enormous hit with Kantara, has already gained three Nationwide Awards in a brief span.
However do you know that earlier than appearing, Rishab labored as a taxi driver and took on numerous odd jobs like promoting water cans, working in actual property, and even resort work?
These jobs helped him earn sufficient to assist himself whereas he pursued his ardour and looked for his huge break in movies.
7. Suriya
- Identified for: Retro, Kanguva, Jai Bhim, Soorarai Pottru, Ghajini
- Earlier than fame job: Garment manufacturing facility employee
- Business: Tamil
- Present fame stage: Highest paid Tamil actors
Suriya has been one of the sought-after Tamil actors over time, incomes a number of accolades and an enormous fan following throughout the nation.
Earlier than his movie profession took off, Suriya labored for a number of months in a garment export enterprise, finishing up his job discreetly with out revealing that he was the son of famend actor Sivakumar.
He later started auditioning and landed his first position within the 1997 movie Nerukku Ner, directed by Mani Ratnam.
8. Sivakarthikeyan
- Identified for: Amaran, Maaveeran, Physician, Remo, Parasakthi
- Earlier than fame job: Humorist
- Business: Tamil
- Present fame stage: Kalaimamani award (Highest civilian award in TN)
Sivakarthikeyan has firmly established himself as one of many main actors in Tamil cinema. He has additionally labored throughout a number of South Indian languages, changing into one of the sought-after stars.
Earlier than his rise to stardom, SK had humble beginnings, performing mimicry and stand-up comedy proper after faculty. Pushed by his ardour for movies, he typically took breaks from research to audition for actuality reveals.
At this time, the actor boasts a string of large field workplace hits value crores and has a powerful slate of upcoming initiatives.
9. Nani
- Identified for: HIT 3, Saripodhaa Sanivaaram, Hello Nanna, Dasara, Jersey
- Earlier than fame job: Radio jockey
- Business: Telugu
- Present fame stage: Highest paid and hottest Telugu actor
Nani has gained the hearts of tens of millions together with his versatility and expertise, showcasing true ability and fervour for cinema.
Earlier than rising as a mainstream actor, Nani labored briefly as a radio jockey for World Area Satellite tv for pc, a task he landed by way of a good friend.
He hosted the favored present Non-Cease with Nani for a couple of 12 months, shortly gaining a loyal viewers.
10. Kamal Haasan
- Identified for: Vikram, Indian 2, Vishwaroopam, Anbe Sivam, Thug Life
- Earlier than fame job: Barber at a salon
- Business: Tamil
- Present fame stage: Padma Bhushan recipient
Kamal Haasan’s affect on Tamil cinema has set a benchmark for a lot of to admire. The proficient senior actor continues to captivate audiences together with his work throughout a profession spanning many years.
Earlier than his movie success, Kamal Haasan as soon as labored as a barber at a salon—an odd job he took up partly to tease his mom.
Now, at 70, Kamal Haasan is gearing up for his subsequent huge launch, Thug Life, an upcoming motion thriller.
11. Mohanlal
- Identified for: Merry Christmas, Ace, Maharaj, Jawan, Naanum Rowdy Dhaan
- Earlier than fame job: Accountant
- Business: Tamil
- Present fame stage: Padma Bhushan recipient
Mohanlal is undoubtedly an iconic determine within the Malayalam movie business. With a profession spanning many years, the senior actor has delivered numerous unforgettable field workplace hits.
Nevertheless, do you know that earlier than coming into movies, he was a state-level wrestler? Sure, it’s true. He pursued wrestling professionally proper after faculty.
After profitable on the state stage, Mohanlal was set to compete in a nationwide wrestling championship in New Delhi however needed to withdraw on the final minute because of a movie audition scheduled the identical day.
12. Mammootty
- Identified for: Agent, Kannur Squad, Turbo, Ozler, Rorschach
- Earlier than fame job: Practising lawyer
- Business: Malayalam
- Present fame stage: Main celebrity of Malayalam cinema
Mammootty is one other iconic title in Malayalam cinema, recognized for a exceptional profession spanning many years. He enjoys an enormous fan following in Kerala and is among the most celebrated actors in South Indian cinema.
Earlier than coming into movies, Mammootty was a full-time working towards lawyer. He accomplished his LLB from Authorities Regulation Faculty in Ernakulam and practiced legislation within the Manjeri space for 2 years.
On the age of 20, he made his movie debut with a minor position in Vilkkanundu Swapnangal, launched in 1980.
13. Jr NTR
- Identified for: Devara, RRR, Janatha Storage, Yamadonga, Struggle 2
- Earlier than fame job: Skilled Kuchipudi dancer
- Business: Telugu
- Present fame stage: Greatest actors of Telugu cinema
Jr NTR is among the most sought-after Telugu actors at the moment, recognized for delivering globally acclaimed movies like RRR, directed by SS Rajamouli.
Earlier than coming into movies, Tarak was a skilled Kuchipudi dancer. He started coaching on this classical dance type on the age of 13 and perfected it over time, even performing internationally.
Nevertheless, his ardour for movies finally took over, and Jr NTR steadily carved a extremely profitable profession in Telugu cinema.
Conclusion
Agree or not, none of those notable South actors had fame and stardom served to them on a silver platter. They labored arduous, took on odd jobs, and infrequently prioritized survival over their ardour for movies.
ALSO READ: POLL: Kamal Haasan’s Thug Life or Rajinikanth’s Coolie—which Tamil celebrity’s motion thriller are you rooting for? VOTE