Dear sethinhawaii,
I went through the old transcripts of coversation with actors at
Hindustan Times ( http://www.hindustantimes.com ). This is the opinion
of some of the stars for getting a break in Bollywood. I have those
who have struggled hard to be where they are and not those that are
not star sons/daughters in order to have to similar to your
requirements. I have included those who have recently become
successful and have not been in industry for many years. The industry
of today is quite different from what it was before and the parameters
of breaking in Bollywood have also changed.
The best policy is to keep working on education and regular career.
Side by side, one should get a good portfolio done and keep trying to
get acting and modeling assignments. For example, John Abraham (now a
very highly paid Bollywood actor) is an MBA and he was working in an
advertising firm. Perizaad Zorabian is also an MBA and now a
professional actress.
I have visited offices of many producers and directors in Mumbai. They
receive profiles of prospects and file them properly. When they are
working on a film and they need fresh faces, they refer to the file.
Your portfolio should contain details about you, professional
pictures, acting skills and experience. Preferably, you should have
local contact information. Its not easy, but its worth trying!
--*--
Jugal Hansraj: "It is very difficult because there are a lot of
newcomers coming in. You should have a quality that sets you apart
from others. But it is very difficult."
--*--
Amar Upadhyay: "(My first break was the serial) Dekh by Dekh. Jaya
(the Director) had seen pictures of me in Star Dust. I auditioned for
it and got the role.
--*--
Sanjay Suri: "Its a long story but to cut it short. I tried and tried
and tried. (I) started with modelling to TV to finally movies. (I) was
very focused and determined to do it."
--*--
"Who could in his wildest dream think that the one who cooked
Chinese in the streets of Bangkok would one day become a superstar of
the Hindi film industry? No wonder it is said that truth is stranger
than fiction. And apna khiladi Kumar more than believes in it. You
must have guessed by now who are we talking about! Yes, it is none
other than the Kumar called Akshay! When Akshay first came to Mumbai
from Bangkok, he found life to be difficult here. He tried to make
ends by being teacher in martial arts. But the meager amount that he
made was not enough to survive in this competitive city. In fact he
was all set to return back to Bangkok had not one of friends to
convince him to try his hand at modeling here. Charagh Din shirts and
Red & White cigarettes were some of the earlier ads that he did. It
did not take long for filmmakers to notice this model who was a
perfect combo of physique and looks.
Akshay's first break when director Raj Sippy approached him to play
the lead in Saugandh. The film was to also launch Shanti Priya,
southern actress Bhanu Priya's sister. Though Saugandh was his first
release, it was director Pramod Chakravarthy who had first signed him
as a hero for Deedar opposite Karisma Kapoor. As a token appreciation
for the filmmaker Akshay said that he no matter what he would always
do a film for Chakravarthy for free. And had kept his word till date.
But before Saugandh and Deedar, it was Dancer with newcomer Keerti
Singh that was released first. Akshay first brush with limelight came
with Abbas Mustan's Khiladi. The film not only fetched him
recognition as an actor but also popularly tagged him as a Khiladi.
Followed innumerable forgettable films; he lit the spotlight once
again with Main Khiladi Tu Anari. Films like Mohra and international
Khiladi further compounded his status as an actor."
"Akshay Kumar Star Page". B4U TV.
http://www.b4utv.com/starfiles/akshayk.asp?reviewid=akshay01
--*--
"His face to reckon with! John Abraham hogged all attention as a pin
up model when he did the Provogue ad. Girls lusted for him. Guys
envied him. But John Abraham had arrived. Like all model, John too
aspired to become an actor. Director Rahul Rawail agreed to launch him
in films. A grand mahurat was held. The unit took off to London for
the first schedule of the film. Meanwhile John bagged other offers
too. Producer Pooja Bhatt signed him to play the lead for her film.
Jism would have Bipasha Basu as his heroine. The film was to be made
on a tight budget and was to be completed on time. Thankfully Rawail
did not bind John by a rigid contract."
"John Abraham Star Page". B4U TV.
http://www.b4utv.com/starfiles/john.asp?reviewid=john01
--*--
"It was in a five-star hotel pub in Delhi where designer Rohit Bal
first spotted Arjun Rampal. He asked him if he had tried his hand at
modelling. "You certainly have the looks to make it," Bal said. Plans
to be an engineer were put aside and Arjun got a professional
portfolio made for himself. Small time offers to model for products
began to pour in. But nothing of that sort that would make Arjun
noticeable. He knew that if he wanted to hit the modelling world big
time he would have to move to Bombay.
Renting an apartment, Arjun began his struggle, knocking on the doors
of ad agencies for assignments. He would invariably leave their
photographs with them asking them to get in touch with him if they
felt they had something for him. It was during this time that one of
the agencies called him. They screen-tested him. "You don't call us we
will call you," they clearly told him. Arjun had practically given up
hopes, but was surprised when one day he actually received their call.
"You have been selected to model for Vimal. Would you be interested in
doing it?" The receiver nearly fell off Arjun's hand. "Can beggars be
choosers," he mumbled. And need we say, Arjun was the next hot model
in town. Followed a series of ramp shows and print and television ad
campaigns.
Like any other model who looks out for lucrative opportunities in
films, Arjun too was looking out for a chance in films. When cameraman
turned director Ashok Mehta offered him Moksh with Manisha Koirala, he
grabbed it instantly. But it was Rajiv Rai's Pyar Ishq Aur Mohhbat
with Keerti Reddy that happened to be his launch vehicle. Arjun played
a flirtatious who uses girls and then dumps them. The film failed to
create ripples at the box-office. But somehow Arjun managed to make
his presence felt in the film. He even bagged him an award for the
best debut beating Tushar Kapoor. Arjun Rampal dedicated his award to
his new born daughter and wife Mehr Jessia saying it was they who had
brought luck into his life."
"Arjun Rampal Star Page". B4U TV.
http://www.b4utv.com/starfiles/arjun.asp?reviewid=arjun01
--*--
Karan Johar can be reached at:
29 Jain Arcade, 14th Road, Khar Danda, Khar, Mumbai 400 052
Phone: 2881 0159
Some other good directors include:
(Kindly prefix 2 before all phone numbers. The country code for India
is 91 and city code for Mumbai is 22)
ADITYA CHOPRA
Bungalow # 17, Jalpanktri Soc, Vikas Park, Juhu Tara Rd, Mumbai 400049
Phone: 6117875, 6148269, 6143735
AGARWAL K C
# A/12, Siddarth Ngr, Goregaon (W), Mumbai 400062
Phone: 8722806
AMOL PALEKAR
Chirebande, 10th Rd, J V P D Scheme, Mumbai 400049
Phone: 6204778
ANAND C DASSANI
# 103, Manish Kunj, Ramachandra Ln, Mumbai 400064
Phone: 8820490
ANAND GHAI
# 10/102C, Unique Enclave, 1st Flr, Shanthi Park, Mumbai
Phone: 8410142
ANAND SAGAR
Sagar Villa, 12th Rd, Juhu, Mumbai 400056
Phone: 6140569, 6144021
ARUN DUTT
# 302, Supriya Model Town, 7 Bungalows, Mumbai 400058
ARUN KAUL
# A-6/66, Avillion, Green Fields, Mahakali Caves Rd, Mumbai 400093
ASHA DUTTA
# W-6, Avdoot, Datta Mandir Rd, Kandivali (W), Mumbai 400067
ASHWANI KUMAR
# A-14, Dattani Park-2, Nr Highway, Mumbai 400066
Phone: 8081398
ASRANI
# 3B, Beach Soc, Gandhigram Rd, Mumbai 400049
Phone: 6204991, 6201456
AZIZ MIRZA
# 501, Georgina, Rizvi Cmplx, Off Carter Rd, Mumbai 400050
BOKADIA K C
# 12-A, `Neha', Juhu Tara Rd, Near Sea Princess Hotel, Mumbai 400049
Phone: 6123836, 6131059, 6108505
CHANDRA N
Ankush, # 1, Belscot Towers, Lokhandwala, Andheri (W), Mumbai 400053
CHETAN ANAND
# 2, Ruia Park, Juhu, Mumbai 400049
Phone: 6202481, 6426298 (R)
CHOPRA B R
B R House, Juhu Tara Rd, Mumbai 400049
Phone: 6462327, 6461733
DAVID DHAWAN
# 18D, New Rising Sun Apts, Juhu Tara Rd, Opp Hotel Palmgrove, Mumbai 400049
DEV ANAND
Anand, # 42, Pali Hill, Bandra (W), Mumbai 400050
Phone: 6494778, 6497550
DUTTA J P
# 6/B, Hira Baug Mansion, Sitladevi Temple Rd, Mahim, Mumbai 400016
Phone: 4377948, 6204469 (R)
FEROZ KHAN
Jussawala Wadi, Juhu, Mumbai 400049
Phone: 6105266, 6142135
GAUTAM ADHIKARI (He owns SAB TV alongwith his brother)
# 3/4, Sukh Shanti, Nutan Laxmi Soc, 8th Rd, Mumbai 400049
Phone: 6246701, 6246790
GOPAL RAMSAY
# 168, Lamington Rd, Nr Minerva Grant Rd, Mumbai 400007
Phone: 3073279, 3617351 (R)
GOVIND NIHALANI
# 5/139, Aradhana, Bandra (E), Mumbai 400051
Phone: 6428320, 4946248
GULZAR
Boskiyana, Pali Hill, Bandra, Mumbai 400050
Phone: 6461957, 6498351 (R)
HEMA MALINI
# 17, Jai Hind Soc, 12th Rd, Mumbai 400049
Phone: 6207619, 6205950
KAILASH ADWANI
Bhavani Estate, 2nd Flr, S V Rd, Bandra (W), Mumbai 400050
Phone: 6426304, 6424123
KETAN ANAND
# 2, Ruja Park, Juhu, Mumbai 400049
Phone: 6202481, 6426298
KETAN MEHTA
Laxmi Bhavan, 1st Flr, S V P Rd, Girgaum, Mumbai 400004
Phone: 3825564, 3857568
KUKU KOHLI
# 54/C, Rulia Park, Juhu, Mumbai 400049
Phone: 6200588, 6201319
KUNDAN SHAH
# 301, Sherly Queen, Rizvi Cmplx, College Compound, Mumbai 400050
Phone: 6486005, 6483713
LAWRENCE D'SOUZA
# 401/C, Skypan, Oberoi Cmplx, New Link Rd, Mumbai 400053
Phone: 6263212
MAHESH BHATT
# 205, Silver Beach Apts, A B Nair Rd, Juhu, Mumbai 400049
Phone: 6153519, 6231196, 6208331
MANIRATHNAM
# 3, Veenas Clny, 1st St, Alwarpet, Chennai 600018
MANOJ KUMAR
Laxmi Villa, # 45, Tagore Rd, Santacruz (W), Mumbai 400054
Phone: 6497846, 6498920, 6482853
MEHRA F C
Minerva Cinema, Lamington Rd, Mumbai 400004
Phone: 3087967
MUKUL ANAND
Lavista, 6th Flr, Juhu Tara Rd, Mumbai 400049
Phone: 4949389
NIRAJA GULERI
# 165G, Tarapore Garden, New Link Rd, Oshiwara, Mumbai 400053
Phone: 6271836, 6320221
PRAKASH MEHRA
Sumeet, 11th Rd, J V P D Scheme, Mumbai 400049
Phone: 6207281, 6207802
RAJ KUMAR SANTOSHI
Conqueror Apts, 4th Flr, RTO Ln, 4 Bungalows, Mumbai 400053
Phone: 6336134
RAJ SIPPY
# 101, Jal Tarang, Kishore Kumar Ganguly Marg, Juhu Tara Rd, Mumbai 400049
Phone: 6146768, 6428683
RAJIV RAI
# 11B, Commerce Centre, Tardeo, Mumbai 400034
Phone: 4948397, 4948396, 3678065 (R)
RAKESH ROSHAN
Kavitha, 10th Rd, Juhu St, Mumbai 400049
Phone: 6206453, 6206257
RAMANAND SAGAR
Sagar Villa, 12th Rd, Juhu, Mumbai 400049
Phone: 8340881, 8340215, 6140569 (R)
SANJAY BHANSALI
# 407, Raj Kiran `A', Raheja Cmplx, Yari Rd, Versova, Mumbai 400061
SANJAY KHAN
# 11, Silver Beach, A B Nair Rd, Mumbai 400049
Phone: 6205619, 6204990
SATISH KAUSHIK
# 34, Tranquil Treat, Yari Rd, Andheri (W), Mumbai 400061
Phone: 6261637, 6332681
SUBHASH GHAI
# 12, Cliff Tower, Mount Mary Church Rd, Bandra (W), Mumbai 400050
Phone: 6407449, 6400518
VIKRAM BHATT
# 32, Saket, Dadabhai Rd, Vile Parle, Mumbai 400056
Phone: 6713122
VINOD CHOPRA
# B-301, Kalpana Apts, Shirley Ranjan Rd, Mumbai 400050
Phone: 6484736, 8370729
Hope that helps! Please feel free to send in a clarification request
if you have any more questions.
About your choice of an acting school in Mumbai, you have posted it as
another question and other researchers might be working on it. I will
add my inputs to it as a comment to that question. |
