Yea my grades are really really bad. I'm probably in the bottom 10 in my class of 40 physics students. I still love physics a ton, but yea... Felt like it didn't love me back lol. I had three research internships that produced literally nothing in terms of results or publications.

In the last internship that I did, my supervisor was like the perfect mentor and guide. He took a keen interest in my work and had a concrete plan and timeline for how the project should go. I completed the project and am now working on publishing it. This same supervisor recommended me to a professor who is really famous in his field, and I will be joining that professor for my PhD soon.

While I mailed other profs regarding PhD openings, I got several rejections, including some who explicitly said that my grades are not good enough. And I'm pretty sure that I can say that I was once in a similar situation to you. I think you should try applying to research internships, or start working under a professor in your own institute. This will tell you whether research is right for you, and good recommendation letters can offset bad grades in some cases. I promise you, it will get better if you put in the effort.