Guess what? Some of your favorite Bollywood stars weren’t born with the names you know them by!
That’s right, many famous actors changed their real names before stepping into the spotlight. Whether it was for better luck, easier recall, or pure star power, these name swaps have fascinating stories behind them. From numerology to advice from filmmakers, the reasons might surprise you. Let’s take a look at 8 Bollywood celebrities who made the switch and became household names!
1. Salman Khan – Abdul Rashid Salim Salman Khan
Salman Khan’s full name shows his family background. “Abdul Rashid” was his grandfather’s name, and “Salim” is his father’s name.
2. Rekha – Bhanurekha Ganesan
Rekha, known for her beauty, was born as Bhanurekha Ganesan. She made her name shorter to make it easier to remember.
3. Ajay Devgn – Vishal Devgan
Ajay Devgn’s real name is Vishal Devgan. He changed it to Ajay to avoid confusion with other actors who had the same name.
4. Katrina Kaif – Katrina Turquotte
Katrina first used her mother’s last name, Turquotte. After coming to India, she took her father’s surname, Kaif, so her name would sound more familiar to Indian audiences.
5. Saif Ali Khan – Sajid Ali Khan
Saif’s real name is Sajid Ali Khan. He changed it to Saif to give his name a more unique and catchy feel.
6. Kiara Advani – Alia Advani
Kiara Advani was born as Alia Advani. She changed her name to Kiara after Salman Khan suggested it, so people wouldn’t mix her up with Alia Bhatt.
7. Amitabh Bachchan – Inquilaab Srivastava
Amitabh was born with the name Inquilaab, inspired by the freedom slogan “Inquilaab Zindabad.” His father later gave him the name Amitabh, which means “endless light.”
8. Shilpa Shetty – Ashwini Shetty
Shilpa’s birth name was Ashwini Shetty. An astrologer advised her to change it to Shilpa for better luck. The name change worked, and she became a big star.
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