Famous Indians with Humble beginnings

Narendra Modi
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a walking talking beacon of hope and aspiration for every Indian. From a chaiwala at a railway station to a man leading a country, the PM has come a long way. With all the goals he has set up for himself and his ruling party, we can be sure he has miles and miles to go.

Smriti Irani
Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday, emphasized on 'dignity of labour' and used her past experiences as a point of reference. The actor turned politician said that she was proud to have washed utensils 15 years ago at a hotel in Mumbai. She even called India 'a country of aspirations', and rightly so. Here is a list of Indians who made it big despite their humble beginnings.

Mamata Banerjee
The first woman Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee worked her way up to become one of the most powerful leaders in the country. With a passion for politics, Mamata started her journey by handing out posters for political parties. The Congress party took notice of her hard work and dedication and appointed her as their Youth General Secretary. In 1997, she broke away and started the Trinamool Congress.

Dhirubhai Ambani
The late Dhirubhai Ambani didn't let harsh circumstances dictate his destiny. It is hard to believe that the billionaire who has left behind a huge legacy and made a mark in every public and private sector, be it transport, communication and even the power and energy industry, started out as a gas station attendant.

Rajinikanth
Another 'rags to riches' story is that of South superstar Rajinikanth. Little did the young Rajini, who worked as a bus conductor think that he would grow up to be a legend in the film industry with over a hundred films to his name. All thanks to a friend, the actor dropped out of college and enrolled in acting classes, from where his film career kicked off.

Dilip Kumar
Another legend form the film industry Dilip Kumar, tasked the fruits of his labour years after he started out as a fruit vendor with a small cart by the side of the road. The then young lad held on to his dreams of becoming a Bollywood star and faced all odds to accomplish it.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Not too long before Nawazuddin Siddiqui starred in the critically acclaimed film 'Gangs of Wasseypur' and earned a national award for his role in' Talaash',he worked as a watchman to sustain himself. Born to a farmer in Uttar Pradesh, he helped his father in the field before going to school. After graduating with a degree in science and unsatisfied with his monotonous life, he moved to Delhi where he took interest in.

Comic actor Mehmood
Success doesn't come to you, you go to it, and that is what India's most iconic comic actor Mehmood did. The road to his dreams wasn't easy, he started out as a driver and then settled for a job at a local poultry before finally getting his break in the film industry.

Akshay Kumar
Akshay Kumar has come a long, long way from waiting tables, cleaning dishes and later cooking in small hotel kitchens to becoming one of Bollywood's most bankable actors, Aki has done it all. Unashamed of his past, the actor publicly spoke of his days in the kitchen and went on to play host for a popular TV show. He is also one of the few stars who played themselves in a film.

Boman Irani
Another star who started out in Mumbai's kitchens, was actor Boman Irani. The funny man worked in the hospitality sector, of waiting tables, room service and even assisting his mother in her bakery. Boman started his film career late, but got by just fine.

Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, who envisioned and created some of the most hard-hitting films in Bollywood, didn't see himself as a salesman, tapping on people's doors selling vacuum cleaners. With a passion for films, he then took up ad film-making before hitting the big screen.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni
India's World Cup winning Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, worked as a railway ticket collector in West Bengal's Kharagpur. His love for the game not only got him the job of a TC through the 'Sports Quota', but also gave him enough reasons to quit the job and pursue professional cricket.