Advice for Aspiring Pilots

Hey everyone, looking for some real advice. I’m from Sri Lanka and trying to figure out a realistic path to becoming a commercial pilot. I can't self-fund $70k–$100k+ out of pocket, scholarships for international students don't really exist, and joining the military isn't an option for me. On top of that, almost all airline cadet programs require local citizenship or work rights. I'm ready for a long grind, but are there any actual workarounds? Has anyone successfully worked another job first to fund modular training, saved up by starting as cabin crew/ground staff, or found countries offering work rights post-CPL to instruct? Would really appreciate any realistic routes, harsh truths, or personal experiences.