9 Actors Who Picked Bollywood Late Enough To Prove That Acting Is Timeless & Ageless
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While many people have claimed that actors and actresses have an ‘expiry date’, it couldn’t be further from the truth. Like every field, many actors realize that acting is their calling much later in life. Some even make the difficult decision to abandon well-paying jobs and successful careers to make the switch and pursue the job they love. To know which of your favorite Bollywood stars actually started their careers a little later in life, scroll on.
1. Adil Hussain
It wasn’t until Gauri Shinde’s English Vinglish that we saw Adil Hussain’s fresh face grace our screens. Considering that most directors stick to casting an already well-established actor for their movies, Shinde’s decision to cast Adil was noteworthy. The actor received the industry’s attention after getting cast in the 2010 film Ishqiya. Despite Adil being just a few films old, he has become a favorite among new-age film directors like Ang Lee and Mira Nair. He made his entry into Bollywood at the ripe age of 40.
2. Ronit Roy
Before making his big-screen breakthrough with Udaan, Ronit was already an established TV screen actor. People started viewing the actor in a different light after his powerful portrayal of an abusive father in the movie Udaan. Following the success of Udaan, Rohit went on to star in many hit Bollywood movies like 2 States, Kaabil and Student Of The Year. He was 27 years old when he made his debut.
3. Lillete Dubey
Picking her roles carefully has worked out well for Lillete Dubey. She gained critical acclaim after starring in a Shyam Benegal directed film Zubeidaa. From that point forward things have only been looking up for Lillete. She has been pushing forward films like Monsoon Wedding, Pinjar, Baghban, and The Lunchbox. She even went on to star in the movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel with the likes of Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, and Dev Patel.
4. Sanjay Mishra
Sanjay gained recognition with his roles in Bollywood films like Bunty Aur Babli and Apna Sapna Money Money. His comic timing and dramatic flair made him a fan favorite. The 55-year-old actor is known for taking on a large number of projects and refers to them as ‘practice’. The actor was last seen in the movie Kadwi Hawa which is a social parody on environmental change.
5. Kirron Kher
Kirron Kher was at the ripe age of 41 when she bagged a national award for her role in Sardari Begum. Until her role as Sumitra in Devdas, she did not pursue many mainstream roles. She went on to star in humorous roles like in the movie Dostana. From that point forward she is seen playing the quintessential Bollywood mother in most of her movie roles.
6. Amrish Puri
Forever etched into our memories in the role of Mogambo in the film Mr India, the yesteryear actor got his big break into Bollywood at the age of 38. Known for his villainous baritone voice and scary expressions, he went on to star in projects like Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom and many more.
7. Pankaj Tripathi
Before bagging his widely praised roles in Omkara and Gangs Of Wasseypur, Pankaj Tripathi had blink and miss appearances in movies like Raavan, Apaharan and Run. The actor clearly brings a lot to the tale judging by his powerful performances on his previous projects that include movies like Fukrey, Anaarkali of Aarah and Masaan.
8. Boman Irani
The 55-year-old actor didn’t begin his acting profession until he was 44 years old! With Raju Hirani’s Munnabhai M.B.B.S, he made a name for himself with his humorous role and has not looked back ever since. The actor has had many professions in his life before his big break in Bollywood. He worked as a waiter at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai and even found success as a small-time photographer before foraying into the world of cinema.
9. Piyush Mishra
Besides being a fluid performer the actor also has an uncanny ability of creating beautiful verses. Be it in his music composed for Gulal or the impeccable way he delivers dialogues in movies like Gangs of Wasseypur, Pink or Traffic. Mishra has truly done everything to defy the impossible standards set by Bollywood. His first appearance on the big screen was in the Shah Rukh Khan starrer Dil Se in 1998 at the age of 35.
All in all, it’s safe to say that in terms of Bollywood and acting, age is just a number. With so many talented artists remaining underexposed and behind the scenes, it’s no wonder fans get angry due to nepotism. Many directors even choose to keep hiring the same big budget name for their movies as that’s what seems to rake in big money. Tell us your thoughts on this list. Did any of these names come as a surprise to you?
