Before they cruised in luxury sedans and custom supercars, many celebrities began their journeys with humble rides that told stories of aspiration, struggle, and passion. These first cars weren’t just modes of transport—they were stepping stones to stardom. Take Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan, for instance, whose first car was a modest Maruti Omni—a far cry from the sleek BMWs and Bentleys he owns today.
From Shah Rukh Khan’s Maruti Suzuki Omni to Rajinikanth’s Premier Padmini, here’s a look at the first cars owned by some of India’s most famous celebrities.
Rajnikanth-Fiat 1100 (Premier Padmini)
Famous actor Rajnikanth had the Fiat 1100 or Premier Padmini as his first car. The Fiat 1100 is a small family car produced from 1953 until 1969 by the Italian manufacturer Fiat. However in India the car was manufactured by the Premier Automobiles Limited and was named the Premier Padmini. Premier padmini was manufactured under licence from Fiat and thereofore was badged as the Fiat 1100. Although post 1974 the car was re-badged as the Premier Padmini. The car ruled the indian markets in the 1970’s and 1980’s. The Padmini was launched in India with a 1,089 cc four cylinder petrol engine, that was carburetted.
Katrina Kaif- Audi Q7
Famous actress owns the first generation petrol Q7 which happens to be her first car. The Audi Q7 is a crossover SUV made by the German manufacturer Audi. The German car brand first unveiled in September 2005 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The Q7 is the second largest vehicle from Audi, being surpassed by the Q6 since 2022. Audi’s Q7 was the first SUV sold by Audi and went on sale in 2006. However later, Audi then released multiple SUV models in thier portfolio, the Q5, was unveiled as a 2009 model, the Q3, which went on sale in the third quarter of 2011,the Q2, which went on sale in November 2016. The Q7 shares a Volkswagen Group MLB platform and chassis with the Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Cayenne and the Volkswagen Touareg. All of them being the flagship SUV products of their brands and succesfull too.
Deepika Padukone- Audi Q7
Famous actress owns the first generation diesel Q7 which happens to be her first car.The Audi Q7 is a crossover SUV made by the German manufacturer Audi. The German car brand first unveiled in September 2005 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The Q7 is the second largest vehicle from Audi, being surpassed by the Q6 since 2022. Audi’s Q7 was the first SUV sold by Audi and went on sale in 2006. However later, Audi then released multiple SUV models in thier portfolio, the Q5, was unveiled as a 2009 model, the Q3, which went on sale in the third quarter of 2011,the Q2, which went on sale in November 2016. The Q7 shares a Volkswagen Group MLB platform and chassis with the Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Cayenne and the Volkswagen Touareg. All of them being the flagship SUV products of their brands and successfull too./
Alia Bhat- Audi Q7
Famous actress Alia Bhat owns the first generation diesel Q7 which happens to be her first car. The Audi Q7 is a crossover SUV made by the German manufacturer Audi. The German car brand first unveiled in September 2005 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The Q7 is the second largest vehicle from Audi, being surpassed by the Q6 since 2022. Audi’s Q7 was the first SUV sold by Audi and went on sale in 2006. However later, Audi then released multiple SUV models in thier portfolio, the Q5, was unveiled as a 2009 model, the Q3, which went on sale in the third quarter of 2011,the Q2, which went on sale in November 2016. The Q7 shares a Volkswagen Group MLB platform and chassis with the Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Cayenne and the Volkswagen Touareg. All of them being the flagship SUV products of their brands and succesfull too.
Shraddha Kapoor- Mercedes Benz Ml- Class
Famous actress Shraddha Kapoor owns the Third generation diesel Ml Class SUV which happens to be her first car. The Mercedes benz GLE (formerly ML Class). The Car was first launched in 2012 with increased leg room alongside adjustible rear seat backrests.
Sachin Tendulkar- Maruti 800
Famous cricketer Sachin tendulkar owns the first generation Maruti 800, which happens to be his first car. The Maruti Suzuki 800 is a city car that was manufactured by Maruti Suzuki in India from 1983 to 2014.
The first generation (SS80) was based on the 1979 Suzuki Alto and had an 800 cc F8B engine, hence the name “800”. Widely regarded as the most influential automobile in India, about 2.87 million 800s were produced during its course of which 2.66 million were sold in India itself. Produced for 31 years, the Maruti Suzuki 800 remains the second longest production car in India, next only to Hindustan Ambassador.
Imtiaz Ali- Maruti 800
Famous director Imtiaz Ali owns the first generation Maruti 800, which happens to be his first car. The Maruti Suzuki 800 is a city car that was manufactured by Maruti Suzuki in India from 1983 to 2014.
The first generation (SS80) was based on the 1979 Suzuki Alto and had an 800 cc F8B engine, hence the name “800”. Widely regarded as the most influential automobile in India, about 2.87 million 800s were produced during its course of which 2.66 million were sold in India itself. Produced for 31 years, the Maruti Suzuki 800 remains the second longest production car in India, next only to Hindustan Ambassador.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas- Mercedes Benz S- Class
Famous actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas owns the Mercedes Benz S- Class, which happens to be her first car. The Mercedes Benz S-Class is a series of full-size luxury sedans produced by the German automaker Mercedes-Benz. It has consistently been ranked as the world’s best-selling luxury sedan. The interior boasts high-quality materials like leather, wood, and aluminum, offering exceptional comfort and sophistication.
Key features include multiple zone climate control, multi-adjustable seats with massage functions, panoramic sunroof, and 64-color ambient lighting
Kajol- Maruti 1000
Famous actress Kajol owns the first generation Maruti 1000, which happens to be her first car. The Maruti Suzuki 1000, known as Suzuki Cultus/Swift/Geo Metro in other markets, was launched at a price of Rs 3.81 lakh. The price made it the most expensive Maruti car in India at the time. Due to high demand and limited production, a computerized lottery system was used to allocate the cars to customers.
Its highest power-to-weight ratio in the under 2-liter class made it a popular choice among rally drivers. In 1994, it was replaced by the Maruti Esteem, an upgraded version with a more powerful 1.3-liter engine.
Production of the Maruti 1000 was discontinued in 2000 due to low sales
Shahrukh Khan- Maruti Omni
Famous actor Shah Rukh Khan owns the first generation Maruti Omni, which happens to be his first car. The Maruti Omni, also known as the Maruti Van, was a microvan manufactured by Suzuki’s Indian subsidiary, Maruti Suzuki.
It was launched in 1984, initially as the “Maruti Van” and later renamed “Omni” in 1988. The Omni shares the same 796cc engine as the Maruti 800. It was a popular vehicle in India, particularly for cargo transport and as an ambulance.
The Omni was discontinued in 2019 due to safety regulations. The Omni was unique in use of a front mid-engine. Moreover the use of rear-wheel-drive layout allowed for maximizing cabin and cargo space and provided good traction.