10 Bollywood Actors Who Debuted Late And Proved That Art Is Ageless

It is often said that it is always better to start young. However, sometimes, its better to begin late and come prepared. This adage suits some of our Bollywood actors who redefined acting paradigms in Bollywood. While most of the star kids begin acting at the tender age of 17 or 18, these artistic gems forayed into the industry pretty late, but in a way that they left their marks forever.

In this article, we have summed up all the iconic Bollywood actors who don’t need any introduction for themselves. They have carved their names in gold in the history of Indian cinema and some of them even continue doing so.

1. Boman Irani

Anyone who has watched Khosla Ka Ghosla or 3 Idiots knows how brilliant Boman Irani is at his craft. However, not many of you know that the Parsi actor started off pretty late in his life. He was 44 when he debut in Bollywood with a horror film Darna Mana Hai. Irani became a household name only after his stint in Rajkumar Hirani’s Munna Bhai M.B.B.S..

2. Sanjay Mishra

Sanjay Mishra is one of those actors who don’t need to be in the lead roles to leave imprints on our mind. No matter who’s playing the lead, Mishra’s comic timing and acting brilliance is what we take home from theatres. The actor certainly has the brilliance to overshadow any A-lister in Bollywood. It can be partly because he began very late in the industry. He did his first film Oh Darling! Yeh Hai India at the age of 33.

3. Lillete Dubey

Lillete Dubey is like a fine wine. She gets only better with each passing day. She is popular for her impactful roles in Zubeidaa, Kal Ho Na Ho, Pinjar, Monsoon Wedding, etc. She forayed into mainstream cinema and television at the age of 44 with TV series Kabhie Kabhie.

4. Adil Hussain

Adil Hussain did many noteworthy films but it was after Sridevi starrer English Vinglish that his works started to get noticed. He did a prominent role in Abhishek Chaubey’s Ishqiya which starred Vidya Balan and Naseeruddin Shah. Hussain began a go-to choice for new age directors like Mira Nair and Ang Lee due to his artistic finesse.

5. Ronit Roy

Kasautii Zindagii Kay’s popular face Ronit Roy who played Mr. Bajaj int he cult TV series, is one of the most sought after actors in the industry. The actor may not have played many lead roles but his performance makes a film worth watching. His role in Udaan was a bit of grey shade, but his acting had put him under the list of as one of the finest actors in Bollywood. But you will be surprised to know that even having such killer looks and great acting skills, Roy debuted in the industry at the age of 27.

6. Kirron Kher

The actor-turned-politician has bagged many accolades in Bollywood for her phenomenal performances. But did you know that she forayed into mainstream cinema with Shah Rukh Khan starrer Devdas? She was 41 when she signed the Sanjay Leela Bhansali film. Though her role wasn’t an elaborate one in the romantic saga, it was one of the most impactful ones in the film. Soon after this, she became a household name in the industry. Kher went on judging talent show India’s Got Talent and even did comic roles in films like Hum Tum, Dostana, Om Shanti Om.

7. Amrish Puri

Amrish Puri’s name will be etched in our hearts forever. He is fondly known as the Mogambo of Bollywood for his iconic role in Mr. India. Despite having such acting skills, he was 38 years old when he began his career as an actor.

8. Pankaj Tripathi

Before Gangs of Wasseypur and Omkara, Pankaj Tripathi just did small cameos in films. Though his exact age at the time of debut is unknwon, Tripathi went from projects to projects to find that perfect role for himself. He became an overnight success with 2017 film Gurgaon in which he played a grey shade character.

9. Chitrangada Singh

Chitrangada, who is popularly known for her film Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi was 27 when she debuted in Bollywood. Soon after this film, she made some bold choices like Hate Story 3 and Inkaar.

10. Piyush Mishra

The writer, singer and actor Piyush Mishra is unforgettable in Gangs of Wasseypur. However, he is a multi-talented personality. He can write, act and even compose music. He made a debut in Bollywood with Shah Rukh Khan’s Dil Se when he was 35 years old.