It’s true what they say about how first impressions stick with you. Nonetheless, every human being makes mistakes. Some learn from their failures and come back rebuild themselves and win. Here are 8 actors, who struggled with their debut performances but gave impressive performances after:
8 Bollywood Actors Who Had Disappointing Debuts But Later Won Audience Hearts
1. Akshay Kumar
Though Akshay Kumar is considered one of the superstars of recent times, do you know he failed to impress the audience in his debut movie- Saungandh? The movie was a huge disaster and the actor gave as many as 16 back-to-back flops at that time. But, with time, he outgrew his first impression. As per reports, Akshay Kumar is the only actor in Bollywood to have 5 blockbuster hits within a single year.
2. Deepika Padukone
Deepika Padukone’s debut film “Om Shanti Om” was a huge success, but she was initially criticized for her acting skills and accent. Talking about the criticism that came her way, Deepika said in an interview, “There was also a section of people who scathingly criticized my work. Oh, she is a model. she cannot act: My accent was made fun of. A lot was said and written about me and my craft, and, the truth is, all of it was extremely hurtful. When you are all of 21, this kind of brickbats most certainly affects you.” But clearly, these things didn’t drag the actress down. Deepika worked harder and went on to deliver powerful performances in films like “Piku” and “Padmaavat,” and became one of the leading actresses of Bollywood.
3. Madhuri Dixit
Madhuri Dixit’s grace and dancing abilities have always been her charm to amaze everyone, but she’s been fighting to fit in. Her first film, Abodh, was a disappointment, and for the next three years, there were no hits.
But, with “Ek Doo Teen” turning into a blockbuster, Madhuri Dixit started to change the story. With every movie, she became better. And, with movies like Devdas, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Dil To Pagal Hai, Madhuri managed to outgrow her first impression.
4. Alia Bhatt
Alia made her debut in Karan Johar’s Movie “Student of the Year” which was a big hit. But, she was heavily criticized for her horrible acting skills. Rather than being bogged down by the negative comments, she worked hard and finally conquered the audience by giving back-to-back hit movies. With movies like Raazi, Dear Zindagi, and Gangubai Kathiawadi, she proved her mettle.
5. Aditya Roy Kapur
Much before his superhit movie Aashiqui 2, Aditya Roy Kapur delivered many flop movies including Guzaarish, Action Replay, and London Dreams. And, what makes it even worse is the fact that he didn’t receive any positive feedback for his performance. But, then he delivered Aashiqui 2 and it became a blockbuster. He received immense love from fans and critics for his hard-hitting performance.
6. Saif Ali Khan
Saif Ali Khan made a debut with Yash Chopra’s Parampara in 1993 which was a box office disaster. Though Saif did movies like Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Yeh Dillagi, and many more, it was Dil Chahta Hai that turned out to be a game changer. With roles like Sartaj Singh in Sacred Games, he earned audience love and critics praise.
7. John Abraham
John Abraham made his debut with the movie Jism. And, unfortunately, he was heavily criticized for being expressionless. He was even mocked by many Bollywood insiders. He was told by many that he doesn’t even deserve to be in the industry.”I don’t deserve to be in this industry – is the worst piece of criticism I’ve ever received. I got that from Day One. It’s been about 17 years since then. Most people who said that are now married with children, half of them have retired, and some have left their jobs. I am still here,” John said in an interview.
But, with hard-hitting performances in movies like Dhoom, New York, and Pathaan, John Abraham has definitely managed to change his first impression.
8. Amitabh Bachchan
Are you surprised to see Amitabh Bachchan on this list? Amitabh Bachchan had some unsuccessful movies before he found success with the film “Zanjeer” in 1973, which marked a turning point in his career. Some of his earlier movies that left audience unimpressed before “Zanjeer” include “Saat Hindustani” (1969), “Anand” (1971), “Bombay to Goa” (1972), and “Bansi Birju” (1972). While Amitabh’s performances in these films were appreciated, they did not help establish him as a leading actor in Bollywood.
However, “Zanjeer,” directed by Prakash Mehra, was a blockbuster hit and helped Amitabh become a superstar in the industry. His portrayal of the tough cop Vijay Khanna in the film was widely acclaimed and earned him the nickname “Angry Young Man.”After “Zanjeer,” Amitabh went on to deliver several critically acclaimed performances in films like “Deewar,” “Sholay,” and “Amar Akbar Anthony,” among others, cementing his position as one of the biggest stars in Bollywood.
Which other actors do you think managed to change their first impressions? Tell us in the comments below.
