10 Famous Celebrities Who Were Background Dancers Prior To Stardom
Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2018 3:46 pm
10 Kajal Aggarwal
Kajal Aggarwal is a popular name in Indian film industry. Apart from acting in Hindi movies, she has also established herself as one of the leading heroines in Tamil and Telugu film industries. Aggarwal, who has been nominated for four Filmfare Awards (South) over the years, has been part of many successful films across various film producing industries and languages. But not many people know that before rising to fame, she worked as a background dancer. Kajal took a plunge in showbiz with Samir Karnik directed 2004 Bollywood flick ‘Kyun! Ho Gaya Na…’ The actress is seen in the popular song “Pyar Mein Sau Uljhanne Hai”, featuring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Vivek Oberoi. At that time, no one had thought that the girl dancing behind stars like Aishwarya and Vivek would go on to become a force to reckon with in Indian cinema.
After her brief appearance in Samir Karnik’s not so successful film, Kajal had to wait for 3 years before bagging her first film as a lead. She made her debut with Telugu film ‘Lakshmi Kalyanam’ in 2007. Though the movie was not a great success commercially, people noticed and applauded her performance in it. In the same year, she featured in Krishna Vamsi’s ‘Chandamama’ which emerged as a box office hit and helped her bag more film offers from leading Tamil and Telugu film producers. Kajal’s breakout film was distinguished filmmaker SS Rajamouli’s fantasy drama ‘Magadheera’. The Telugu film, which starred Ram Charan as the leading man, hit screens in 2009 and turned out to be one of the biggest blockbusters of the year. She subsequently starred in a number of financially and critically successful movies such as ‘Darling’ (2010), ‘Mr. Perfect’ (2011), ‘Businessman’ (2012), ‘Naayak’ (2013), ‘Baadshah’ (2013), ‘Govindudu Andarivadele’ (2014), ‘Temper’ (2015) and ‘Khaidi No. 150’ (2017).
Besides cementing her position in Telugu cinema, the actress strengthened her foothold in Tamil films as well by starring in a number of successful movies like ‘Naan Mahaan Alla’ (2010), ‘Maattrraan’ (2012), ‘Thuppakki’ (2012), ‘Jilla’ (2014) and ‘Mersal’ (2017). Her successful Bollywood projects include ‘Singham’ (2011), and ‘Special 26’ (2013). Currently, Kajal is busy with the shooting of her upcoming Tamil film ‘Paris Paris’, which is a remake of Kangana Ranaut’s Bollywood blockbuster film ‘Queen’ (2014).
TRIVIA: Kajal graduated from K.C. College, Mumbai with a degree in Mass Media.
9 Dia Mirza
Before dazzling the world of modelling and beauty pageants, the gorgeous Dia Mirza tried her hands at many things, including working as a background dancer in films. Yes, Dia started her career in showbiz as a background dancer and was first seen in a song from the Tamil film ‘En Swasa Kaatre’ (1999). The song was received so well by listeners that it was remade in Hindi as Jumbalika. She subsequently appeared in Femina Miss India 2000 and was declared the second runner-up at the glitzy event. She was then sent to Miss Asia Pacific 2000 where she clinched the title.
The very next year, Dia decided to venture into films and made her acting debut with Gautham Menon’s ‘Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein’ (2001) which also starred R. Madhavan and Saif Ali Khan in the lead roles. The film was not a successful affair at the box office, but it launched Dia’s career in Bollywood and helped her get more work in the industry. After ‘Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein’, she appeared in a number of films such as ‘Deewaanapan’ (2001), ‘Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge’ (2002), ‘Dum’ (2003), ‘Naam Gum Jaayega’ (2004), ‘Koi Mere Dil Mein Hai’ (2005) and ‘Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.’ (2006). However, barring ‘Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.’ none of her films performed well at the box office. After having a not so successful career as an actress, Dia decided to set up her own production house, Born Free Entertainment, with her husband Sahil Sangha and turned producer. Her next film as an actress is Rajkumar Hirani’s upcoming Sanjay Dutt biopic.
TRIVIA: Dia Mirza is of mixed parentage, born to a German father and a Bengali mother.
Kajal Aggarwal is a popular name in Indian film industry. Apart from acting in Hindi movies, she has also established herself as one of the leading heroines in Tamil and Telugu film industries. Aggarwal, who has been nominated for four Filmfare Awards (South) over the years, has been part of many successful films across various film producing industries and languages. But not many people know that before rising to fame, she worked as a background dancer. Kajal took a plunge in showbiz with Samir Karnik directed 2004 Bollywood flick ‘Kyun! Ho Gaya Na…’ The actress is seen in the popular song “Pyar Mein Sau Uljhanne Hai”, featuring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Vivek Oberoi. At that time, no one had thought that the girl dancing behind stars like Aishwarya and Vivek would go on to become a force to reckon with in Indian cinema.
After her brief appearance in Samir Karnik’s not so successful film, Kajal had to wait for 3 years before bagging her first film as a lead. She made her debut with Telugu film ‘Lakshmi Kalyanam’ in 2007. Though the movie was not a great success commercially, people noticed and applauded her performance in it. In the same year, she featured in Krishna Vamsi’s ‘Chandamama’ which emerged as a box office hit and helped her bag more film offers from leading Tamil and Telugu film producers. Kajal’s breakout film was distinguished filmmaker SS Rajamouli’s fantasy drama ‘Magadheera’. The Telugu film, which starred Ram Charan as the leading man, hit screens in 2009 and turned out to be one of the biggest blockbusters of the year. She subsequently starred in a number of financially and critically successful movies such as ‘Darling’ (2010), ‘Mr. Perfect’ (2011), ‘Businessman’ (2012), ‘Naayak’ (2013), ‘Baadshah’ (2013), ‘Govindudu Andarivadele’ (2014), ‘Temper’ (2015) and ‘Khaidi No. 150’ (2017).
Besides cementing her position in Telugu cinema, the actress strengthened her foothold in Tamil films as well by starring in a number of successful movies like ‘Naan Mahaan Alla’ (2010), ‘Maattrraan’ (2012), ‘Thuppakki’ (2012), ‘Jilla’ (2014) and ‘Mersal’ (2017). Her successful Bollywood projects include ‘Singham’ (2011), and ‘Special 26’ (2013). Currently, Kajal is busy with the shooting of her upcoming Tamil film ‘Paris Paris’, which is a remake of Kangana Ranaut’s Bollywood blockbuster film ‘Queen’ (2014).
TRIVIA: Kajal graduated from K.C. College, Mumbai with a degree in Mass Media.
9 Dia Mirza
Before dazzling the world of modelling and beauty pageants, the gorgeous Dia Mirza tried her hands at many things, including working as a background dancer in films. Yes, Dia started her career in showbiz as a background dancer and was first seen in a song from the Tamil film ‘En Swasa Kaatre’ (1999). The song was received so well by listeners that it was remade in Hindi as Jumbalika. She subsequently appeared in Femina Miss India 2000 and was declared the second runner-up at the glitzy event. She was then sent to Miss Asia Pacific 2000 where she clinched the title.
The very next year, Dia decided to venture into films and made her acting debut with Gautham Menon’s ‘Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein’ (2001) which also starred R. Madhavan and Saif Ali Khan in the lead roles. The film was not a successful affair at the box office, but it launched Dia’s career in Bollywood and helped her get more work in the industry. After ‘Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein’, she appeared in a number of films such as ‘Deewaanapan’ (2001), ‘Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge’ (2002), ‘Dum’ (2003), ‘Naam Gum Jaayega’ (2004), ‘Koi Mere Dil Mein Hai’ (2005) and ‘Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.’ (2006). However, barring ‘Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.’ none of her films performed well at the box office. After having a not so successful career as an actress, Dia decided to set up her own production house, Born Free Entertainment, with her husband Sahil Sangha and turned producer. Her next film as an actress is Rajkumar Hirani’s upcoming Sanjay Dutt biopic.
TRIVIA: Dia Mirza is of mixed parentage, born to a German father and a Bengali mother.