Remember when we were young and used to imagine ourselves as superheroes. We truly believed we could change the world just like Iron man did in the movies. We would go to the villain’s lair and destroy it. We would be the sole reason for world peace.
All those dreams sound silly now. But back then, after a quick superhero movie watch, we would be plotting all sorts of scenarios in our heads. Why? Because the superhero movies we watched as kids were cool. We idolize them.
Recently, we watched MCU’s Marvel Endgame, and let me tell you, I bawled my eyes out when my favorite superhero died saving the world. All my childhood dreams came shattering when Tony Stark closed his eyes. I forgot I was watching a movie and started sobbing.
But it was just a movie, and Robert Downey Jr was just playing a character. The brilliant actor, no doubt, left an invisible print in my heart, and I will forever cherish him as Iron Man. Naturally, I wanted to know more about him.
Robert ‘John’ Downey, Jr. or RDJ was born on April 4, 1965, in Manhattan, New York City.
Since both his parents were in the film industry, he started working in cinema at the young age of 5. In his initial years, he played minor roles and soon became addicted to drugs. What started as subliminal fun later cost him his entire youth.
By 1991, his addiction became so violent that it cost him his 7-year-old relationship. Robert was soon charged and sent to prison for various crimes. Things got rough for him as he woke up in a pool of his blood twice in jail. It seemed like there was no end to his incessant suffering as his wife left him in 2001. He had No Money and no family. Things got so rough that he resorted to scrubbing Pizza pans.
If something goes wrong for RDJ, it goes horribly wrong. The man was on the verge of breaking down when opportunity came knocking at his door in 2007. He was cast as the lead character in an ‘unknown’ movie called Iron Man. It seemed like a good opportunity so RDJ took it eithout any hesitation.
Iron Man was globally released between April 30 and May 3, 2008, grossing over $585 million worldwide. After decades of personal and monetary struggle, things got better for RDJ.
Today, Robert Downey Jr has an estimated net worth of $250 million. Thanks to the immense success of playing Ironman in MCU, Robert received international acclaim and recognition.
So, how did Robert manage to achieve the great heights of his career?
Table of Contents
Popular Astro strategist and business development expert Hirav Shah brings you RDJ’s 3-rules to success:
Accept help when necessary
Being closed off to the majority of people in his life, RDJ struggled to ask for help. But everything changed once he came out of prison. No one was ready to hire him, given his bad repo. So,when a friend and co-star Mel Gibson offered a helping hand; he wasn’t able to reject his offer. He gave an insurance bond to RDJ, which landed him a lead role in the movie The Singing Detective in 2003.
Talent matters, not your past
As a recovering drug addict, RDJ had a thin chance of landing his role as Iron man. However, Jon Favreau, the Director of the movie, decided to give him a chance and ignore his past issues. His talent and commitment towards the role were so evident that Jon agreed to overlook it.
Make an impression
Wherever RDJ goes, he makes sure that he leaves a long-lasting impression on the people. He understands that his job is to entertain people and not subjugate them to misery. It may be a movie premiere, a Comicon panel, or acceptance speech at an award, Downey Jr. remains unflinchingly him, and that’s the kind of charm people are gravitated most towards.
Conclusion:
Many heroes will come and go. With time, I will be able to move on from the character called Ironman; but Robert’s sense of humor and larger-than-life attitude will stay with me forever.
Robert Downey Jr.’s life story is one of inspiration, hard work, and perseverance. His story is the perfect example that life will throw you some major curveballs. You just have to dodge them with sincerity. And when you get hit, don’t fall to the ground. Stand your position and shout ‘once more’- concludes Astro strategist and business astrologer Hirav Shah.
Image Source & Credit
Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
