Get into a good college, apply yourself to the syllabus, imbibe the value placed on hard work by this profession, and do good litigation internships. After graduating, try to get into a good chamber. Litigation is hard for 1st generation lawyers and the first few years (especially the first year) will be tough financially. The nature of the profession is such that hard work, perseverance, and patience are largely non-negotiable for progress at the Bar. Litigators who have family in the Bar will have it easier in the initial years as compared to strangers to the profession. However, if you do all that I have mentioned, then I would say that you have a very good shot at making it big (in the sense of having a sizeable income) a few years down the line. Remember that small victories matter a lot once you join the Bar (for example, consistently earning enough to break even each month) and you should not measure your progress using a scale detached from the realities of the profession.

Regarding the extent to which 1st generation lawyers can leave their mark on the Bar, I know many such lawyers who have established a lucrative practice (though perhaps not as lucrative as could be), some years after joining the Bar. A good reputation cannot be gained overnight and takes a few years to develop. Of course, there will always be exceptions. Thomas Erskine famously went from an impoverished lawyer known by nobody to the Lord Chancellor of Great Britain. His skill was such that he immediately made a name for himself at the Bar. Is this likely to happen to you, presumably then a bright and hardworking greenhorn, a few years down the line? Such a meteoric rise cannot be ruled out in India, as is shown by Palkhivala, but the chances of this happening are slim to none unless you have extraordinary talent or get tremendously lucky. You can expect to become a well-known name with a lot of hard work, time, and some luck. However, reaching the greatest heights of the profession is difficult in India for a 1st generational lawyer due to structural reasons (this chapter should be enlightening: https://luminosoa.org/chapters/m/10.1525/luminos.110.f).

I would say take the gamble. You are more likely to win than lose if you are truly committed to the Bar. It will definitely not be easy but most good things in life are not easy to get.