Telugu superstar Jagapathi Babu feels his days of rejection, losing stardom and facing bankruptcy bring a commonality between his career graph and megastar Amitabh Bachchan's journey in showbiz.

The actor says there was a time when he -- just like the people around him -- thought that his career is over. But he bounced back into the scene with the success of the 2014 film "Legend".

He says he takes "life a little easier than before".

"I do my work without bothering about the openings and the collections. I would say I'm a much happier person than what I was," Jagapathi told IANS in an email interview from Hyderabad, as he looked back at his career and delved on his second innings.

"I have gone through a lot of ups and downs and I'm proud of it. I feel all these are necessary in life, and the way to deal with it and to get back to yourself is the way to go. After my fade out as a hero, and a lead actor, I lost hope until about six months ago," he added.

Jagapathi kept wondering whether he will ever "get a job in any movie, serials or series".

"Then 'Legend' happened and I started getting work again. A lot of people said that my career has come to an end and even I thought the same. But I fought my way through and I'm here," added the actor, who is seen in Amazon Prime Video's first Telugu regional prime exclusive series "GangStars".

Entering filmdom in 1974 with "Manchi Manushulu", Jagapathi has featured in hits like "Peddarikam","Gaayam", "Subha Lagnam", "Maavichiguru", "Subhakankshalu", "Pelli Pandiri", "Manoharam", "Kabaddi Kabaddi", "Athade Oka Sainyam", "Pedababu", "Anukokunda Oka Roju" and "Rangasthalam".

He was fading away from being a hero, and started a second chapter of his career as a villain and it worked for him. He essayed negative roles in "Legend" and "Lingaa".

IANS