Bollywood industry is one of the biggest film industries in the world today. Some of the actors in Bollywood entered the industry due to family influence and some made it through theatre. Actors from a theatre background have been known for their skills and methods of becoming great film actors. The fact that in theatre an actor stands bare, performing live in front of an audience, makes it the toughest form of acting as it comes without retakes and almost no-frills of enhancing your stardom. Here are a few Bollywood stars who started their acting career with theatre and later moved to Bollywood to woo us with their striking acting.

Shah Rukh Khan: The King of Bollywood had a humble beginning and was a theatre actor before making his entry into Bollywood. He studied theatre under Barry John and was a part of a theatre group before being signed as a solider in the TV show Fauji.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui: A graduate in chemistry, this star found his calling into the acting field after watching a play in Delhi. Nawazuddin acted in over ten plays with a group of friends to complete the criteria to get admitted to the National School of Drama, New Delhi. The reason behind his flawless acting is his theatre experience.

Naseeruddin Shah: One of the most revered actors in the country, Naseeruddin Shah got his acting lessons from theatre. In 1977, he formed Motley Productions, a theatre group with fellow actors, Tom Alter and Benjamin Gilani. Their first play was Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot.

Anupam Kher: An actor who has had many acclaimed roles, both in India and abroad, Anupam Kher is surprisingly humble as an actor. Every time the NSD alumnus feels the need to test his skills as an actor, he turns to the stage. His play Kuch BhiHo Sakta Hai, which is based on his own life, has seen countless screenings over the last decade.

Ratna Pathak: Known as the theatre icon’s of India, Ratna Pathak enjoyed the world of theatre since the beginning. She has been a part of numerous plays and is active in theatre industry even now. She went on to play some of the best roles in Bollywood.

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