The journey to stardom is rarely smooth. Many legendary actors faced struggles before achieving success.

One such actor whose path wasn’t always paved with success was a Bollywood superstar, whose hard work, dedication and commitment left an unforgettable mark as an actor, producer and director in over 100 movies.

He began his journey by cycling to the studio every day. Through sheer perseverance and talent, he transformed his fate and became a household name. His family now rules Hindi cinema, and you won’t be surprised at all.

The actor made his debut in 1929 with the film Be Dhari Talwar, long before India’s independence. At that time, he was one of the few actors known for his powerful performances on the big screen.

Still not able to guess? We are talking about the legendary filmmaker and actor, Prithviraj Kapoor. He was one of the few pioneers of Hindi cinema and theatre who opened the gate of opportunities in motion pictures for the next generations to come.

Born to Basheshwarnath Kapoor, Prithviraj Kapoor first showcased his acting skills in the silent era of Hindi films and then changed the course of cinema in our country with his brilliant ideas and work.

From Alam Ara to Mughal-e-Azam, his works are still remembered as milestones of Indian film history. He even founded a travelling company in the 1940s that brought quality theatre to audiences across India.

But before winning audiences, the actor struggled a lot to achieve success. As revealed in Kidar Sharma’s autobiography, ‘The One and Lonely: Kidar Sharma,’ his friend Kidar Sharma revealed that the superstar used to commute to the studio by bicycle.

From humble beginnings to stardom, the man who once rode a bicycle became a legend, earning global fame and owning luxury cars.

The Kapoor family has now become a dominant force in the Hindi film industry, earning the title of ‘Bollywood’s First Family’ for their contributions spanning multiple generations.

From Prithviraj to his sons, grandsons/granddaughters and great-grandsons/great-granddaughters, five generations of the Kapoor clan have now acted in Bollywood films.

Led by the vision of Prithviraj Kapoor, Raj Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, and then Karisma Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, and finally Kareena Kapoor took Indian cinema to new heights.