From rags to riches all the way to royalty – a Bollywood success story that could be yours!

To be a star in Bollywood, you need:

a) high profile parents whose money or reputations can open doors
b) political backing
c) to win a major international beauty pageant [no talent needed]


Not too many people today know or remember that merely a decade or so ago, none of the above three options were required in order to make it into the largest film industry in the world. Starry-eyed young women and earnest young men stepping off onto the platform of Victoria Terminus in Bombay and dreaming dreams of stardom…well, those days are long gone –or are they? Though too many people will tell you that the world is a much less innocent place than it used to be back then, there is still hope for budding celebrities out there.

Think ‘Bollywood success story’ and what comes into your mind? Abhishek Bacchan, Saif Ali Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Hrithik Roshan? That list is enough to dishearten any ordinary Joe, or Jaiveer, as the case may be. Each of these bright young actors is either very-well connected, has a family with roots in the film industry or is too beautiful to be a mere citizen. They’ve got celebrity stamped on them, but where’s the glory in being a celebrity by association?

Commonly called the King Khan of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan has been a major player in Bollywood for so long that people have forgotten his once humble status. Son of middle class parents in Delhi, Khan literally tumbled out of nowhere. In an age when film stars were treated like gods and a few families controlled a film industry that was (and still is) heavily influenced by the underworld, his unconventional image and steady climb to the top are proof that talent and perseverance are still valuable commodities in Bollywood.

From middle-class Muslim boy with no connections, no money but lots of talent to the so-called Tom Cruise of Indian cinema is certainly no mean achievement! Khan’s phenomenal success story just goes to show that being a star isn’t impossible – it’s just something that requires you to be smart, talented and willing to be different.

If you can sing, dance or act, this is the perfect platform for you – upload your video and perhaps yours will be the next success story that everyone’s talking about!