If you thought that having a pretty face and remarkable acting skills is enough for aspiring artists to get a direct ticket into the entertainment industry, you’re in for a surprise. It takes more than just skills. From Lady Gaga to Miley Cyrus in the West to Madhubala and Sridevi back home, they all have one thing in common – their stage name. Dozens of actors and actresses opt to change their real names or birth names before finding their way to the spotlight. Usually, they moniker themselves with names that are unique but at the same time easy to remember. Think about it, would you remember the name Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta? I’d say pass. (That’s Lady Gaga’s real name, by the way).
1. Kat Turquotte
Katrina Kaif, one of the highest paid actresses of Bollywood, was actually monikered Kat Turquotte by her parents. She decided to change her name before stepping into Bollywood. However, her former name, Kat, remains her nickname in the industry. Well, aren’t we glad that we didn’t have to memorize that tongue-twister of a name? If you ask us, it doesn’t matter what the name is when you’ve got looks like that.
2. Ashwini Shetty
Yeah, you read that right! Ashwini Shetty is the real name of this beauty. Her journey from Ashwini to Shilpa was written in the stars, quite literally. Owing to her strong belief in astrology, Shilpa Shetty changed her name early on in her career. Before she stepped into the world of modeling, she decided to turn the stars in her favor and adopt her current moniker. Ever since, there’s been no looking back for her. As they say, the rest is history!
3. Preetam Singh
Remember this bubbly, chirpy, and vivacious actress who filled up our screens with energy? Before she took a break from the screen, her screen presence was considered synonymous with a breath of fresh air. Preity Zinta believed that the name her parents gave her was too masculine to be associated with a pretty face. So, she decided to change it to Preity Zinta. Now, don’t you think that’s good enough? (wink-wink)
4. Ritu Chaudhary
If you didn’t know this already, she was gifted the moniker Mahima Chaudhary by the director Subash Ghai. Now, there’s an interesting fact here. From Madhuri Dixit to Manisha Koirala, Ghai believed that the actresses whose name started with the letter M brought him good luck. And hence, he advised Ritu Chaudhary to change her name to Mahima.
5. Reema Lamba
Reema Lamba stuck to her original name until her first debut film. Soon after, she opted for the screen name Mallika, as she believed that her personality was no less than that of a queen’s. Also, there was another actress with the same name (Reema), so Mallika decided to change her name to avoid any confusion. Her second name, Sherawat, was actually her mother’s maiden name, and she decided to keep that as a tribute to her mother for her love, support, and care.
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