New Delhi, Jan 18 (IANS): Actor Sonu Sood says he has had a long and difficult journey in Bollywood.

"It was a tough journey. It is very tough for an outsider to make a mark in Bollywood. But I always had faith in the wishes of my parents. It created a path for me and made my journey smooth," Sonu told IANS.

Sonu started out as a model before venturing into showbiz in 1999 with Tamil film "Kallazhagar".

He faced failure with films like "Shaheed-E-Azam", "Aashiq Banaya Aapne" and "Sheesha", before hitting the right note with small but important roles in films like "Jodhaa Akbar", "Singh Is Kinng" and "Dabangg".

The 43-year-old Nagpur born actor, who is popular for his well chiselled body and fit physique, even featured in Shah Rukh Khan-starrer "Happy New Year". He will now be seen in "Kung Fu Yoga" alongside Jackie Chan, and is also excited about Chinese film "Xuanzang" - China's official pick for the 89th Academy Awards.

The actor, who has also stepped into the movie making business as a producer, says competition in Bollywood is fierce.

He said: "Everyday you have to come up with something new and better than other. It is tough. You have to be on your toes, and keep on entertaining people so that you can survive. It is a tough field."