Are there any successful Bollywood films where lesser-known regional actors were chosen over stars, and how did they perform?

 In 1974, a documentary filmmaker Shyam Benegal made his debut as a movie director with the film Ankur.

He selected actors either from theatre or regional cinema. So we had an Odia film actor Sadhu Meher, Kannada film actor Anant Nag, Marathi Priya Tendulkar, daughter of famous Marathi playright Vijay Tendulkar and a new actress Shabana Azmi, daughter of celebrated Urdu poet Kaifi Azmi, Shabana had until then had done some small appearances in flop films. The film was made on a shoestring budget of 3 lakhs and was an art house cinema sans the commercial elements but the raw performances of the actors and the brilliant cinematography of the film made the film quite watchable.

The film released without any expectations but became one of the biggest hits of the art house genre earning close to a crore rupees. Shyam Benegal became an established filmmaker, Shabana Azmi won the National Film award for Best Actress (and will go on to win 4 more and become one of the greatest actresses of Indian cinema). Anant Nag did many films in Hindi as well ad Kannada and was a star in Kannada cinema and did great films in Hindi parallel cinema as well including Gehrayee, Manthan, Kalyug etc. Sadhu Meher who played Shabana Azmi’s mute husband, won the National award for Best Actor making it the second occassion in Indian cinema (after Dastak in 1970) when both the Best Actor and Actress National award came from the same film.

Alas, Sadhu Meher didn't had a lasting career in Hindi cinema and not many people know him by name or face and he remained largely restricted to Odia cinema despite giving a wonderful performance. He has worked in many award winning movies and was recognised with a Padma Shri but he didn't get great work or recognition in mainstream Indian cinema.

Priya Tendulkar got her share of recognition much later with the TV show Rajini in the 1980’s. She did worked in many films and TV shows but Rajini gave her lasting fame.

Very few people know that this was also the debut film of Dilip Tahil who has a blink and miss role in the film. Dilip Tahil became popular only after Buniyad TV show in 1986.

Are there Bollywood actresses who transitioned to other successful careers after their short stint in films?

Some known hindi movie actresses are now successful parliamentarians.

Smriti Irani : This television actress became popular with Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.

It earned him immense fame and she later acted in some hindi movies.

But, all her hindi movies turned out to be flops.

Parliamentarian : She latter joined active politics.

Her oratory earned him an immense position in ruling party.

She first became a parliamentarian ; then union cabinet minister.

Nagma : She acted in many hindi movies -Baaghi , ;Yalgaar ; Lal Baadshah ; Suhaag.

But, she had an average career as a hindi movie actress.

Leader : She later joined Indian National Congress and became an important party functionary.

Fact : Many actresses like Hema Malini ; Jaya Prada ;Jaya Bachchan ; Rupa Ganguli; Kangama Ranaut are active politicians -parliamentarians.

Pic Credits : Google Images / Web

What are some examples of surprisingly low salaries paid to actors in successful films?

 Jonan Hill was so desperate to work with Martin Scorsese that he accepted the SAG minimum wage in order to be in The Wolf of Wall Street.

Scorsese felt he was taking a risk by casting a comedic actor in such a significant role. His only notable dramatic work before The Wolf of Wall Street was Moneyball, a film he starred in alongside Brad Pitt.

Knowing this, Hill jumped at the chance to work with Scorsese for minimum wage immediately.

"I'll sign the paper tonight. Fax the papers to me now. I want to sign them before they change their minds. I want to sign them before I go to sleep, so that legally they can't change their minds."

She was paid $60,000. In contrast, reports say DiCaprio was paid around $25 million. Margot Robbie earned much less, an estimated $667,000, but still more than Hill.

To put the salaries into perspective, the film's budget was $100 million and it made a profit of $392 million.

I think it paid off for Hill to take the pay. After all, he received an Oscar nomination for his role.

As Hill put it:

"I would sell my house and give all my money to work with Scorsese. I would have given everything I have in the world. I would have done it without thinking twice."