Finding a career that provides both peace and a paycheck is a long feat, and almost everyone has faced some really difficult choices regarding their careers. The feeling of being stuck is as real as it gets, and sleepless nights follow that feeling. Having career confusion can be really tough! Career decisions are not so much a straight line walk.

As humans, we look for relatability when we feel a lack of motivation. We look for stories where people like ourselves have made tough choices and capitalized on seemingly impossible opportunities. Especially in India and our cultural context, stories have always had a deep impact on how we conduct our lives. So if you are also struggling with a decision of “finding the perfect career match” or “making a career shift into something really exciting”, the stories you’re about to read might just help you feel…“NOT ALONE”.

 

5 People. 5 Stories. 5 Turning Points. One Message: It’s Never Too Late

 

1. Boman Irani: Waiter →  Hotelier → Photographer → Bollywood Star

We probably don’t notice it, but Boman Irani was not anywhere on screens before Munna Bhai MBBS. Have we thought about where this class actor just came into our lives? 

Before acting, Boman really gained some real-life experience. After graduating from college, he worked for two years as a waiter and room service staff at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.

He had to leave the hotel job and spent the next 14 years managing their family’s bakery and wafer shop in Mumbai’s Byculla. In his early 30s (around age 32), with encouragement from his wife, he decided to pursue his passion for photography. He even became the official photographer for the Indian Boxing Association and covered international events.

Photography in Mumbai led him to theatre. He started with cameo roles and eventually performed in notable plays like “I am not Bajirao,”.

His entry into films happened when he was in his 40s. Boman became a household name at the age of 44 with his meticulously written character Dr. J. C. Asthana in the 2003 Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. What a massive career switch!

His characters have been relatable to the audience throughout his body of work. We can’t forget him from films like 3 Idiots, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Don, Khosla Ka Ghosla, and many others. He recently directed his first film, “The Mehta Boys,” in which he is also playing a superb character. The man seems unstoppable even at 65!

 

2. Falguni Nayar: Investment Banker → Second-Wealthiest Self-Made Woman of India

You don’t really have to be a beauty and wellness enthusiast to know what Nykaa is. We’ve seen these products ruling the market so much that now copies are being made with Nykaa’s branding. Who built this brand? The name is Falguni Nayar, and she is the second-wealthiest self-made woman of India! The wealthiest businesses are supposed to be finance and technology…right? Well, not quite! There’s more to Nayar’s story.

Falguni wasn’t anywhere in the environment of becoming a founder in her initial career days. She had a distinguished career in investment banking, and she spent over two decades at Kotak Mahindra Capital as its Managing Director. Nayar took a bold leap of faith and made a career change at the age of 50. 

She founded Nykaa in 2012. The idea was simple – an online beauty and wellness retail platform that is accessible, relatable, and personal. Her vision and business acumen transformed Nykaa into a highly successful, publicly listed company.

 

3. Sudha Murty: Engineer → Storyteller 

Sudha Murty was one of India’s first women engineers, and she is widely known for breaking barriers in male-dominated fields. She started at TELCO (now Tata Motors) and then later worked with her husband, Narayana Murthy, in founding Infosys.

But for years, her own identity took a backseat. She raised her children, managed her home, and stayed away from the spotlight. She did everything a wife is expected to do when her husband is hustling hard – she supported him with all she had. And when things got better, she had the time and energy to invest in her own dreams. In her late 40s and 50s, she started acknowledging her love for writing and public service. That’s when Murty truly began her career as an author.

Her first English book, Wise and Otherwise, was published in 2002. She was 52 years old. She then went on to write over 40 books, including novels, non-fiction, travelogues, technical books, and numerous beloved children’s books (like Grandma’s Bag of Stories, How I Taught My Grandmother to Read).

Today, she’s not just any woman – she is a chairperson of a foundation and India’s favourite grandmother storyteller, a Padma Bhushan awardee, and a cultural icon.

 

4. Jaideep Ahlawat: From Army Aspirant to Critically Acclaimed Actor

Jaideep Ahlawat is agreeably the new face of versatile acting and brilliant character portrayals. But did that come easily to him? Becoming a cinema actor was a far-fetched thought for someone coming from a remote area of Haryana.

He initially had dreams of joining the Indian Army and attempted the Service Selection Board (SSB) exams multiple times. He was screened out each time. He was doing amateur theatre in his college days, but making a living out of it was nowhere near a possibility.

Ahlawat started taking it seriously when he got to perform more complex characters, which led to him going for formal training at the Film and Television Institute of India. He had small roles in films like Aakrosh, Khatta Meetha, and Rockstar. His true breakthrough came with Anurag Kashyap’s “Gangs of Wasseypur,” where he played Shahid Khan. At this point, he was 32 years old.

Now we all know him for his outstanding performances, body transformations, getting the psyche of characters, and nuanced technique.

 

5. Varun Grover: From Writer/Lyricist/Comedian to Film Director

Indian Cinema is blessed with films like “Masaan” and “Superboys of Malegaon” because a writer named Varun Grover gave us those stories. But what he’s doing now is a dream buried deep within.

He studied Civil Engineering from IIT-BHU and started his career working as a software consultant for a multinational company in Pune. He explicitly chose to leave his software job around in his mid-20s to pursue his passion for writing and entertainment in Mumbai. 

Varun began by writing for television comedy shows and entertainment magazines. He did some out-of-the-box work as a lyricist with films like “Gangs of Wasseypur” and songs like “Moh Moh Ke Dhaage”. “Moh Moh” got him a National Film Award.

His lifelong dream of directing a feature film started with his first short film, “Kiss”. Varun knew he didn’t just want to try his hand at filmmaking with this short. He wanted to make an impactful short film, and the impact was such that the film premiered at the New York Film Festival. This experience led to his first feature film as a director, “All India Rank,” which premiered as the closing film at the 52nd International Film Festival Rotterdam.

Safe to say, Varun Grover’s continuous drive to be a filmmaker in his 40s does have an impact on a lot of young aspiring filmmakers who think getting there is impossible. Now they know there isn’t only one path to get to a destination.

 

Also Read: Navigating Career Transitions: How to Switch Careers Successfully

 

Summing Up

What do we see is common to all these stories? The decision! 

Career choice is a major decision, but don’t let that worry you. Ask yourself, “Why do I want to change my career?” and take your time to answer. At any point in time, if the situation is not working out, you can always consider a switch. Many people have successfully made a career switch at 30 or even a midlife career change.

The key is to remain confident and well-informed. All you need to do is assess yourself properly, understand your interests, personality, and skills. 

Don’t feel alone! Consider taking the advice from trusted people, possible mentors, and professional career guidance to help you make a suitable career choice!