Sounds nice -- but what if the first impression you make happens to be so lousy, people are turned off you for life?

That is the risk young men and women make, when they face the cameras for the first take of their careers. Will I be able to perform? Will the film work? Will the audience accept me? God, will I make it to the top?

Much later, they -- especially the star kids, who by virtue of their pedegree have an easier entry into the industry than the ones who have to go knocking on producers' doors for a chance -- will tell you that they were quite sanguine about the whole thing. That, like Arjuna in that famous archery test, they only focussed on doing their job, without worrying about all the other stuff.

That, to put it a bit inelegantly, is just so much bull. Two recent examples will tell you just how much of baggage is tied into a debut. Take Hrithik Roshan, with Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai -- debut turns superhit, and suddenly, yesterday's unknown is today's superstar. And then there is Fardeen Khan. Who, like Hrithik, has a film background. Who, like Hrithik, has the looks and the training. Who, like Hrithik, arrived on the scene to much public expectation. And who, unlike Hrithik, bombed with his debut outing.

The result? Fardeen had to go into limbo, waiting and hoping that another film would come along, and help him redeem himself somewhat.

So yes, debuts can be make, or break. In this feature, we look at some dream debuts down the years. After compiling this one, we still don't know the answer to the big one -- what makes for a dream debut? What is the secret formula for instant success?

Maybe you can tell us. Meanwhile... read on, and enjoy! And don't forget to check out some of Hollywood's unusual debuts.

Text: Sukanya Verma
Design: Dominic Xavier