The Indian film industry, also known as Hindi cinema or Bollywood, is based in Mumbai and is one of the largest film-producing industries in the world.
While the first film ever made in India dates back centuries, many names are associated with this industry and are still very popular.
Whether it is today or years ago, there have always been Bollywood fans in India and across the world who root for their favorite Bollywood actors or stars.
While they go on to make popular films for which they are remembered throughout and after their careers end in the movie industry, their debut films as actors remain special.
In the 1930s and 1940s, during the period of India's independence and partition, most movies primarily offered escapism, while a few directors focused on films addressing social issues. You might have heard about "Mother India" as a popular movie.
In 1947, along with complete independence for India, there also came the partition of the country. This partition also brought many professionals, including actors, filmmakers, and musicians, from the Lahore film industry to Mumbai, along with professionals based in Calcutta, which caused Bombay to become the center of Indian Cinema.
Being a Bollywood enthusiast, we are sure you might know many of these, but there will be few surprises as well, so check out the list of these renowned names and the movies that they debuted with:
Raj Kapoor
An actor, producer, and director, Raj Kapoor, the son of the very popular actor of his times, Prithviraj Kapoor, debuted at the young age of ten in 1935's "Inquilab." As an adult, he had his big break with the lead role in "Neel Kamal" (1947) opposite Madhubala in her first role as a leading lady.
Dilip Kumar
Debuting in 1944, the actor with a career spanning five decades, Dilip Kumar's first movie was "Jwaar Bhata" ('High and Low Tides'), an Indian black and white film directed by Amiya Chakravarty.
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Dharmendra
Dharmendra, originally named Dharam Singh Deol, entered the film industry after sending his pictures for a Filmfare magazine feature. "Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere" was Dharmendra's debut film as an actor.
Rajesh Khanna
Rajesh Khanna, another celebrity from the 90s, joined the film industry after winning an All India Talent Contest through a nationwide selection procedure. He made his film debut in the 1966 film "Aakhri Khat," which was not a major success. However, he went on to deliver a lot of hits between the years 1969 and 1971.
Amitabh Bachchan
An actor who is still making popular hits, Amitabh Bachchan made his acting debut in 1969 with "Saat Hindustani" (Seven Indians), a film that also gained him fame, although he is popularly known for his movie with Dharmendra called "Sholay."
Shahrukh Khan
Although given the name Shahrukh Khan, the actor prefers to be called Shah Rukh Khan or SRK. He has starred in more than 100 films and performed in hundreds of songs. He made his debut with "Deewana" in 1992.
Salman Khan
Salman Khan, the son of Salim Khan, made his acting debut with the 1988 film "Biwi Ho To Aisi," in which he played a supporting role. He then went on to star in the leading role in Sooraj R. Barjatya's romantic family drama "Maine Pyar Kiya" (1989), which became one of the highest-grossing Indian films at the time.
Akshay Kumar
Akshay Kumar, known for his ability to achieve commercial success with movies based on social issues, is one of the fittest Indian actors. He debuted with a minor role in the 1987 Indian film "Aaj," directed by Mahesh Bhatt.
Aamir Khan
The 59-year-old actor, Aamir Khan, first appeared on screen as a child actor in his uncle Nasir Hussain's film "Yaadon Ki Baaraat" (1973). As an adult, his first feature film role was in the experimental film "Holi" (1984).
Hrithik Roshan
Son of Rakesh Roshan, a famous director of his time, Hritik Roshan made his big Bollywood debut with his father's directorial, 'Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai.'
Rishi Kapoor
Raj Kapoor directed the film that provided Rishi Kapoor with his debut role, the 1970 film "Mera Naam Joker," in which the actor portrayed the young version of the lead character played by Raj Kapoor.
Ranbir Kapoor
Rishi Kapoor's son, Ranbir Kapoor, began his career as an assistant director on the films "Aa Ab Laut Chalen" (1999) and "Black" (2005) before making his acting debut opposite Sonam Kapoor in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's romantic drama "Saawariya" (2007).
Ranveer Singh
Ranveer Singh Bhavnani, an actor listed among the highest-paid actors in the country and featured in Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list since 2012, was launched by Yash Raj Films in the movie "Band Baaja Baaraat."
Sushant Singh Rajput
Sushant Singh Rajput, who tragically passed away on June 14, 2020, at his residence in Bandra West, Mumbai, was a television actor who, like Shah Rukh Khan, served as a role model for many fellow actors in the industry. The actor, who debuted with "Kai Po Che!" in 2013, a buddy drama, went on to deliver many hits thereafter.
Ajay Devgn
Vishal Devgan, born on 2 April 1969, known professionally as Ajay Devgn, is an Indian film actor, director, and producer. Ajay Devgn is widely considered one of the most intense and influential actors of Hindi cinema.
He made his debut with "Phool Aur Kaante" in 1991.
Irrfan Khan
Sahabzade Irfan Ali Khan, who passed away recently on April 29, 2020, after battling a rare cancer, was known professionally as Irrfan Khan, or simply Irrfan. The critically acclaimed Indian actor made his Bollywood debut in 1998 with 'Salaam Bombay' and worked in Hindi cinema as well as British films and Hollywood.
Shahid Kapoor
Initially recognized for portraying romantic roles, Shahid Kapoor is the son of actors Pankaj Kapur and Neelima Azeem. He made his debut with a leading role in the romantic comedy "Ishq Vishk" and has since taken on roles in action films and thrillers.
Saif Ali Khan
Born as Sajid Ali Khan, Saif Ali Khan made his debut in Yash Chopra's drama "Parampara" (1993). The son of actress Sharmila Tagore and cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi he achieved success with his roles in the romantic drama "Yeh Dillagi" and the action film "Main Khiladi Tu Anari" (both 1994).
Anil Kapoor
Someone who has appeared in over a hundred Hindi-language films, as well as international films and television series, Anil Kapoor made his debut with a small role in Umesh Mehra's romance "Hamare Tumhare" (1979).
Sidharth Malhotra
Sidharth Malhotra, the Indian actor, began his career at the age of 18 as a model and later worked as a trainee assistant director to Karan Johar for the 2010 film "My Name Is Khan." He made his acting debut with a leading role in Johar's teen drama "Student of the Year" in 2012.
Rajkumar Rao
The national film award winner, Rajkumar Rao, graduated from the University of Delhi and went on to study acting at the Film and Television Institute of India. He made his film debut with the experimental anthology film "Love Sex Aur Dhokha" in 2010.
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