They came, we saw, they conquered. The stardust may have rubbed off for some, but these are Bollywood's most memorable first performances.
Act One: They came, we saw, they conquered. The stardust may have rubbed off for some, but these are Bollywood's most memorable first performances
Aamir Khan, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak: Today, Aamir is a many splendoured actor and producer but in 1988 he was the boy every girl's dreams in tragic love story, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak.
Salman Khan, Maine Pyar Kiya: The Chulbul Pandey effect was felt as far back as 1989 with Sallu's Filmfare award winning debut in teen love story Maine Pyar Kiya
Aishwarya Rai, Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya: All eyes were on the most beautiful woman in the world when she hit Bollywood opposite Bobby Deol in Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya. The movie did not endure but it's heroine did.
Sonakshi Sinha, Dabangg: Starring opposite a Khan in your very first film practically guarantees a shortcut to filmi fame – and if it comes with the added advantages of box office success and rave reviews, so much the better
Imran Khan, Jaane Tu….Ya Jaane Na: And if your last name actually happens to be Khan, the box office Richter scale registers a debut of tsunami-like proportions
Deepika Padukone, Om Shanti Om: ‘Former model' are bad words for some, but certainly not for Deepika who got to be the object of the King Khan's affections in her very first movie, also scoring the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award along the way
– Vidya Balan, Parineeta: Vidya's combination of talent and old world beauty was the promise of great things to come – and come they did, beginning with a Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut and a nomination for Best Actress.
Govinda, Ilzaam: Backstreet boy Govinda's debut in the face of adversity made him red hot Bollywood property, especially as a dancing star with chartbusting number I Am A Street Dancer.
Asin, Ghajini: Southern fame doesn't always mean sure fire Bollywood success - unless you play opposite Mr Perfectionist Aamir Khan, always a safe bet for a PYT looking to break into the Bollywood big league .
Freida Pinto, Slumdog Millionaire: Two words for a young actress looking for a way out of oblivion into Oscar and fashion fame – Danny Boyle.
Amitabh Bachchan, Saat Hindustani: It took him a while to take his place among the divinities of Hindi cinema but it was impossible to deny that Amitabh Bachchan was made for movie fame with his National Award winning debut in critically acclaimed Saat Hindustani.
Lara Dutta, Andaaz: Bollywood came calling after Lara won Miss Universe and she won the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award for her emotionally charged role in Andaaz opposite Akshay Kumar and fellow beauty queen Priyanka Chopra
Kangana Ranaut, Gangster: She looked unconventional and she chose roles with a refreshing disregard for conformity, beginning with her very first one as the alcoholic and emotionally damaged girlfriend of a gangster
Mallika Sherawat, Khwahish: So effectively did Mallika's bikini-clad body and 17 kisses take over her debut movie that scarcely anyone remembers what the film was about or the male lead, Himanshu Malik.
Abhishek Bachchan, Refugee: Bachchan Junior's pedigree made his one of the most anticipated debuts in Bollywood. Success was a latecomer but Abhishek had already grabbed his place in the sun.
– Kareena Kapoor, Refugee: JP Dutta's movie sank without a trace but a star was born in his female lead with Randhir's littlest girl taking home the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award, a sure fire measure of screen success.
Sunny Deol, Betaab: Dharam's Garam legacy was continued with aplomb by Sunny in Rahul Rawail's tale of explosive young love.
Rekha, Sawan Bhadon: The future contained critical praise and a fabled tryst with the Angry Young Man but Rekha's first step to stardom came opposite fellow debutant Navin Nischol in Sawan Bhadon.
Dimple Kapadia, Bobby: At only 16, Dimple took Bollywood by storm in a red bikini, winning the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – a feat she repeated with her second film, Sagar, 10 years later.
Hrithik Roshan, Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai: Hrithik's lean good looks, jitterbugging talent and apparent acting chops were a formula for instant stardom in his debut movie directed by papa Rakesh Roshan.
Sanjay Dutt, Rocky: From the gene pool created by Sunil Dutt and Nargis sprang Sanjay, fully formed as the intense young man seeking revenge in Rocky.
Ranbir Kapoor, Saawariya: A towel and lots of star quality helped the newest Kapoor on the block on his way to fame in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's less than successful Saawariya.
Sonam Kapoor, Saawariya: They didn't end up with each other, but Sonam's chemistry with Ranbir proved she was here to stay and her screen look gave us a hint of the style star she was to become.
Kajol, Bekhudi: Kajol played opposite mum Tanuja in her first movie Bekhudi, taking a small step towards the fame and adulation that would be hers in the years to come.
Anushka Sharma, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi: When your hero #1 is the Badshah of Bollywood you can be certain that the spotlight will not pass you by.
Vivek Oberoi, Company: Ram Gopal Verma and Vivek Oberoi could once make magic together, as they did in Company, garnering Filmfare Awards for Best Male Debut and Best Supporting Actor for the newbie actor.
Zeenat Aman, Hare Rama Hare Krishna: Zeenat was the last minute choice for the role of the disenchanted, drug addled hippie in Hare Rama Krishna but the movie was an instant hit and so was she.
Bobby Deol, Barsaat: His long locked good looks made Dharmendra's younger boy the heartthrob of millions of female teens in his Filmfare award winning debut role.
Twinkle Khanna, Barsaat: And Bobby's debut came giftwrapped with that of Twinkle – a Filmfare award followed and so did fame.
