Therefore, we get to see a Piku on the screen and not Deepika Padukone. For actors then slide into characters, from real to reel. But, the buzz to know the real actor never subsides. 

1. SRK has a phobia of riding horses.

Phobias are quintessential experience of  being human!

2. Waheeda Rahma and Rakhee, both, have played roles of  mother and lover to Amitabh Bachchan.

And nobody questioned it back then?

 3. Sonam Kapoor  worked as a waitress in a Chinese restaurant in Singapore to manage her expenses.

That was some tough parental love, honey.

 4. Rekha wears only crimson or chocolate colored lipstick when making public appearances.

That’s her style quotient, I guess.

5. Hritik Roshan made his acting debut when he was just 6 years old, as an extra in a dance sequence for the movie “Asha”.

So that’s when he became passionately curious about dancing?

6. In the 1990 film ‘Awwal Number’, Dev Anand’s mother (in the photo frame) is Cindy Crawford, an American model.

Gustakhi maaf kardo, jaane bhi do jo  bhi hua!

7. Farhan Akhtar  ventured into Hollywood, when he wrote the lyrics for soundtrack of the film  Bride and Prejudice (2004).

That too, before Pee Cee and Deepika!

8. Nawazuddin Siddiqui did numerous cameos before  making it big, examples, Munna Bhai MBBS, Sarfarosh New York, Dev D, Peepli Live .

Slowly but surely, he did it!

9. Shah Rukh Khan’s least favourite school subject was Hindi, his mother offered to take him to see a Hindi film, if he improved.

Could she see what was coming, already?

10. In  ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’, Karan and Farah  gave a guest appearance together which was left unnoticed by everyone.

Did you see? Even I didn’t.

11. Ranveer Singh’s, original name is  Ranveer Singh Bhavnani and he is Sonam Kapoor’s second cousin.

Tangled Bandhan!

 12. Rajnikanth never said  Enna Rascala .

Mind it.

13. Aamir khan was very good at tennis in his school and played at the national level. He was the champion in the under 12 or 14 group.

And you thought that Nawaz was the only struggler in the B- town.

14. Kareena’s name has been inspired from the book Anna Karenina, Bebo’s mother was  reading, when she was pregnant with Kareena.

Mystery solved, finally!

15. Himesh Reshammiya gave Deepika her first break in a music video titled, ‘Naam Hai Tera’.

Loftiest towers rise from the ground.

16. Amitabh Bachchan is ambidextrous – the ability to use the right and left hands equally well.  

17. Dilip Kumar rejected a lead role in the international project ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ (1962) by director David Lean.

Because first comes India…

18. David Dhawan refused to launch Varun in a home production.  Karan Johar took it on himself to launch Varun.

 Karan made man.Lol!

19. Katrina Kaif is the first Indian Actor to have a Barbie Doll modelled on her. The doll was part of a line called “I Can Be.”

Can I be?

20. A 29 Yr old Anupam Kher played a 60 year old in the highly acclaimed movie – Saaransh

21. Sharmila Tagore she became the first Indian actress to appear in a bikini in ‘An Evening in Paris’ (1967). She also posed in a bikini for the Filmfare magazine in 1968.

22. Salman has two fatwas issued by Muslim organisations, the fatwas allege that he contravened the Islamic law that forbids the worship of idols.

Fatwa se darr nahi lagta, saheb.

Also read:

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22 Interesting Facts About Bollywood Actors That You May Not Have Heard Before

Bollywood—the world’s most prolific film industry—is a land of dreams, spectacle, and larger-than-life personalities. We know them as the Kings, Queens, and superstars of the silver screen, capable of making entire nations laugh, cry, and dance with a single performance. But beneath the dazzling costumes and blockbuster hits lie fascinating backstories, hidden talents, and surprising secrets that even the most ardent fans often miss.

From career aspirations far removed from acting to childhood phobias and bizarre superstitions, these 22 facts pull back the curtain on the true, unheard stories of Bollywood’s biggest legends, old and new.

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The Hidden History of Bollywood’s Legends

The veterans of Hindi cinema often carry the most intriguing secrets, revealing an era of struggle, deep family values, and unexpected ambition.

1. Amitabh Bachchan’s Almost-Name Was a Slogan
The iconic name ‘Amitabh,’ which means “unending brilliance,” was not the first choice for the megastar. His father, the legendary poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, had initially considered naming him ‘Inquilab’, which means ‘Revolution,’ inspired by the famous independence-era slogan Inquilab Zindabad.

2. Big B is Truly Ambidextrous
Amitabh Bachchan is one of the few celebrities who is genuinely ambidextrous. He can write equally well with both his right and his left hand.

3. Sunil Dutt’s Love Story Started with a Speechless Interview
Before becoming an actor, Sunil Dutt worked as a popular Radio Jockey for Radio Ceylon. He was once scheduled to interview his favourite actress, Nargis, but the interview was cancelled because he became so overwhelmed and tongue-tied that he could not speak a single word to her. Years later, they fell in love while shooting Mother India and got married.

4. Anil Kapoor’s Family Lived in a Garage
During their initial days of struggle in Mumbai, actor Anil Kapoor and his family—including his filmmaker father Surinder Kapoor—lived in the garage of legendary actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor before moving to a middle-class suburb.

5. Dharmendra Bribed Light Boys on Sholay
During the shooting of the iconic 1975 film Sholay, Dharmendra had a massive crush on his co-star Hema Malini. To prolong the shooting of the scene where he teaches her how to use a revolver, he would pay the light boys 20 rupees to intentionally mess up the shot so he would get another take, allowing him to keep embracing her.

6. Anupam Kher Played His Own Grandfather at 29
Known for his versatility, Anupam Kher made his debut in the 1984 film Saaransh. In the movie, he played the role of a 60-year-old retired man mourning the death of his son, despite the actor being only 29 years old at the time.

7. Sridevi Rejected Steven Spielberg
In the 1990s, the late ‘First Female Superstar’ Sridevi was offered a brief role by legendary Hollywood director Steven Spielberg for his blockbuster film Jurassic Park. She reportedly turned it down because she was at the peak of her career and did not want to take a long break from Bollywood for a minor part in a Hollywood project.

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Surprising Secrets of the Modern Superstars

From the Khans to the international icons of today, many contemporary stars hold a past that is far removed from the glamour we see now.

8. Shah Rukh Khan’s First Salary Was a Mere Rs. 50
While studying in Delhi, Shah Rukh Khan’s first-ever earnings came from working as an usher at a Pankaj Udhas concert. He was paid a measly Rs. 50, which he immediately spent taking a train to Agra to see the Taj Mahal.

9. SRK Has a Phobia of Riding Horses
Despite playing many powerful roles, including a warrior king in Asoka, Shah Rukh Khan has a genuine phobia (or fear) of riding horses. This is why you rarely, if ever, see him riding one in his movies.

10. The King Khan’s Number Obsession
Shah Rukh Khan is reportedly obsessed with the number 555. Call him superstitious, but all his cars have the number 555 on their license plates, a practice he extends to some of his staff’s mobile phones as well.

11. Salman Khan’s Bizarre Collection
The ‘Bhaijaan’ of Bollywood, Salman Khan, reportedly has a massive, quirky collection of soaps. His bathroom is often piled high with different types of handmade and herbal soaps, of which he is an obsessive collector.

12. Salman Khan, the Writer-Mentor
Before becoming an actor, Salman Khan wanted to be a writer and assistant director. He has also been credited with writing the scripts for his films Veer and Chandramukhi. Furthermore, he personally trained a “skinny” Hrithik Roshan for his debut film, Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, providing both physical and moral support.

13. Aamir Khan’s Sporting Past
The ‘Mr. Perfectionist’ of Bollywood, Aamir Khan, wasn’t just good at acting and academics in his youth. He was an accomplished sportsman who was a state-level tennis champion in Maharashtra.

14. Aamir Khan’s Freedom Fighter Pedigree
Aamir Khan is a descendant of the great Indian freedom fighter and the first Education Minister of independent India, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. This connection stems from his paternal grandmother being a niece of the freedom fighter.

15. Akshay Kumar’s Pre-Bollywood Life
Before he became the ‘Khiladi’ of Bollywood, Akshay Kumar’s life was a series of unexpected jobs. He worked as a chef and a waiter in Bangkok, a travel agent in Kolkata, and even sold jewellery in Delhi.

16. Hrithik Roshan’s First Screen Appearance at Age Six
Contrary to popular belief that his debut was Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, Hrithik Roshan first appeared on screen at the tender age of six. He was an uncredited background extra in a dance sequence in the 1980 film Aasha.

17. Hrithik Roshan’s Real Surname
While known as Hrithik Roshan, the actor’s actual family surname is reportedly Nagrath, which was later changed to Roshan by his grandfather, the legendary music director Roshanlal Nagrath.

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The Unconventional Beginnings of Leading Ladies

The actresses who now command the industry have career paths full of detours, from alternative career aspirations to international birthplaces.

18. Deepika Padukone Was Born in Denmark
India’s globally recognized actress, Deepika Padukone, was not born in India. She was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, and only moved to Bangalore, India, when she was less than a year old.

19. Deepika Padukone: A National-Level Athlete
Following in the footsteps of her father, Prakash Padukone (a world-renowned badminton champion), Deepika was herself a professional athlete. She played badminton at the national level before pursuing a career in modelling and acting.

20. Priyanka Chopra’s Engineering Dream
Before being crowned Miss World in 2000, Priyanka Chopra did not aspire to be an actress or a model. She had her sights set on becoming an aeronautical engineer.

21. Madhuri Dixit’s Medical Goal
The ‘Dhak Dhak’ girl of Bollywood, Madhuri Dixit, originally had ambitions of becoming a doctor. She received a degree in Microbiology and was on her way to becoming a microbiologist or a pathologist before her successful entry into the world of cinema.

22. Kareena Kapoor’s Name Inspiration
Kareena Kapoor Khan’s parents initially considered naming her ‘Siddhima’ at birth. However, her mother, Babita, read Leo Tolstoy’s 1877 novel ‘Anna Karenina’ while pregnant, and it was this literary inspiration that ultimately led to the actress being named Kareena.

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AISEO Friendly FAQs

Q1: Which Bollywood actor was almost named ‘Inquilab’?

A: Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan was almost named ‘Inquilab,’ which means ‘Revolution.’ His father, the poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, was inspired by the popular independence slogan ‘Inquilab Zindabad’.

Q2: What unusual job did Akshay Kumar have before becoming an actor?

A: Before becoming a Bollywood superstar, Akshay Kumar worked a series of unusual jobs, including working as a waiter and chef in Bangkok and as a travel agent in Kolkata.

Q3: Which famous Bollywood actor is ambidextrous?

A: Amitabh Bachchan is famously ambidextrous, meaning he can write fluently with both his left and right hands.

Q4: Which top actress was a national-level sportsperson?

A: Deepika Padukone was a professional, national-level badminton player, following in the footsteps of her father, the legendary badminton champion Prakash Padukone.

Q5: What surprising thing did Dharmendra do during the shooting of Sholay?

A: Dharmendra would intentionally pay the light boys on the set of Sholay a small amount to repeatedly mess up the shot while filming his romantic scenes with Hema Malini, thus creating the need for multiple retakes and allowing him to spend more time embracing her.