So, I’ve been working (professionally) in VFX for film and games since around 2003.
The more complete answer to your question is this: if you’re successful in your career, you’ll learn dozens of software packages over time. So, it’s mostly arbitrary where you start. There’s really no “best starting point” in terms of developing the skills. Every single project I’ve worked on has required slightly different skills; the real challenge is picking things up quickly.
But you need to be sharp, excited, and knowledgeable about what you do. So, the best way to learn is to make something real. Make a game. Make a short film. Struggle through learning everything you need – modeling, texturing, painting, animation, etc. – because that’s the job. Pick the tools which work best for whatever you’re creating. But know why you picked those tools, and understand the tradeoffs.
All that being said, most of the more complex projects I’ve worked on have used Houdini. And for FX, Houdini has been highly in demand for at least the last 10-15 years. The fact that it has a steep learning curve is exactly what makes it a valuable skill – not everyone can learn it.
Good luck!