7 Indian Celebrities Who Changed Their Real Names

Ever wondered about the real names of your favorite Bollywood stars and the stories behind their stage names? Here’s a fascinating look at some of the most iconic names in Indian cinema and why they chose their stage names.

Feb 25, 2025, 19:25 PM IST

Ever wondered about the real names of your favorite Bollywood stars and the stories behind their stage names? Here’s a fascinating look at some of the most iconic names in Indian cinema and why they chose their stage names.

1/7

Akshay Kumar

 Akshay Kumar

 Originally named Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia, Akshay Kumar adopted his stage name on the suggestion of director Pramod Chakravorty for his first film and liked it so much that he decided to keep it.

2/7

Rajinikanth

 Rajinikanth

 Born as Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, Rajinikanth was given his stage name by director K. Balachander to avoid confusion with another actor, Sivaji Ganesan.

3/7

Katrina Kaif

Katrina Kaif

Katrina Kaif, whose real name is Katrina Turquotte, changed her surname to Kaif because it was easier for Indians to pronounce.

4/7

Dilip Kumar

Dilip Kumar

Originally Muhammad Yusuf Khan, Dilip Kumar was suggested his stage name by Devika Rani, the owner of Bombay Talkies, as his real name might not be suitable for a film career.

5/7

Shilpa Shetty

Shilpa Shetty

Born Ashwini Shetty, Shilpa Shetty changed her name on an astrologer's suggestion before starting her modeling career.

6/7

Ajay Devgn

 Ajay Devgn

 Originally named Vishal Veeru Devgan, Ajay Devgn shortened his first name to Ajay, believing it was lucky for him.

7/7

Sunny Leone

Sunny Leone

Born Karenjit Kaur Vohra, Sunny Leone felt her real name wasn't catchy enough for the audience, so she adopted the stage name Sunny Leone.

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