Bollywood celebs and the career they never had

While they may be top-notch stars today, a host of Bollywood celebrities had tried their luck at various other places before they got their big break. Here's a list of stars and the career they never had. Read on to find out...

Amitabh Bachchan: It is common knowledge that Amitabh Bachchan had set out to be a radio jockey with All India Radio. However, the actor was rejected outright. Apparently Amitabh was rejected for his deep baritone, which is celebrated today. Big B then moved on to acting and the rest, as they say, is history. While AIR might have repented having rejected Amitabh when he established himself as a megastar, Bollywood was happy with their decision. AIR's loss was Bollywood's gain!

Ameesha Patel: Thanks to her long fluttering eyelashes and beautiful smile, Ameesha Patel can easily be dismissed as just another pretty face. But, the beautiful actress, who made a remarkable debut with Kaho Na Pyaar Hai opposite Hrithik Roshan, is actually a gold medalist. Ameesha had reportedly won a gold medal for her paper on economics that she had presented at the Tufts university in Boston. The actress had obtained a Bio-genetic Engineering degree in the United States. Post her education in the US, Ameesha started working as an economic analyst for Khandwala Securities Limited. However, life had different plans for Ameesha when her father's friend, Rakesh Roshan, reportedly spotted her at a wedding and offered her the lead role in his film opposite his son, Hrithik Roshan. It is rumoured that Ameesha had turned down a job offer from Morgan Stanley to pursue a career in Bollywood.

Akshay Kumar: Akshay Kumar aka Khiladi Kumar has impressed everyone with his action chops. But, if his acting career hadn't taken off, Akshay Kumar would have probably been behind the kitchen counter, rustling up a storm. He could have also made a living as a martial arts trainer. Before his big Bollywood break, Akshay reportedly worked as a chef and waiter in Bangkok. Apparently, he was in Thailand to train in martial arts. The actor also has a black belt in Taekwondo. However, to survive in Bangkok, Akshay had to do odd jobs and one of them was working in a restaurant. On his return to India, Akshay reportedly started teaching martial arts and that was when a student noticed him and asked him to try his hands at modelling. And once Akshay took up modelling, it didn't take him long to find his way into Bollywood.

Deepika Padukone: Deepika Padukone, one of Bollywood's hottest actress, is a national level badminton player and if she hadn't decided to take up a career in modelling, followed by acting, Dippy would have probably represented India at badminton tournaments. Deepika's father, Prakash Padukone, is a celebrated badminton player and understandably, his daughter, too, took to the sport. While we would have loved to see Deepika play for the national team, we also enjoy watching her on the silver screen.

Tusshar Kapoor: Tusshar could have been a top manager in one of the leading financial companies of the country. While Tusshar has now made a name for himself in the industry, he was once struggling to make his mark. Talking about his education, in an interview, Tusshar was quoted as saying that he was good in academics and had done his BBA from Stephen M. Ross School of Business. He completed his MBA from the University of Michigan. However, Tusshar decided to opt for a career in Bollywood and made his debut opposite Kareena Kapoor in Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai. So, if not in films, Tusshar could have been a corporate professional.

Parineeti Chopra: Priyanka Chopra's cousin sister, Parineeti Chopra, has made her mark in the film industry. But for pursuing a career in films, she had to quit her job. She was working at the marketing department of Yash Raj Films. According to reports, Parineeti initially wanted to pursue a career in investment banking and holds a triple degree in business, finance and economics from Manchester Business School. However, the world was reeling under recession and hence she came back to India and took up a job at YRF to support herself. But then she landed a three-film deal with YRF and the rest is for all to see.