With Dhadak finally hitting the silver screens today, Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter mark their star studded Bollywood launch in the film arena. While Janhvi is the daughter of late actress Sridevi and producer Boney Kapoor, Ishaan is the brother of Shahid Kapoor. The film has been directed by Shashank Khaitan and is produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions.
KJo has been the godfather to many celebrity kids, which even stirred the debate around nepotism. But it still remains the fact, that the audience decides who has a future and who needs to stay away for good. Over the years, Bollywood has not just been a launch pad for individual star kids but often tried to glamorize a pair for double benefits. We take a look at ten such duos that made their star debut together.
- Sooraj Pancholi-Athiya Shetty
Subhash Ghai’s 1984 film’s remake in 2015 was Hero, a romantic action flick starring Sooraj Pancholi, son of actor Aditya Pancholi and Athiya Shetty, daughter of actor Sunil Shetty. One wouldn’t have paid heed to the film if it was not for Salman Khan who made his singing debut with the title track ‘Main Hoon Hero Tera’. Despite all attempts the film did not do well at the box office and we haven’t seen either of the star kids do any films since then.
- Ranbir Kapoor-Sonam Kapoor
The Kapoor family name has been ruling the Indian film industry for decades. It was no surprise that the legacy would continue. Rishi and Neetu Kapoor’s son Ranbir opposite Anil Kapoor’s daughter Sonam Kapoor were the launch duo for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s romantic film Saawariya in 2007. The film also starred Salman Khan and Rani Mukherjee to add an existing star quotient but still didn’t manage to pull up crowd. The pair was reunited in Sanjay Dutt’s biopic Sanju and this time the result is an extremely different scenario.
- Harshvardhan Kapoor-Saiyami Kher
Now it wouldn’t be fair to have your daughter be in the limelight while your son stays back home. Hence, Anil Kapoor had his son Harshvardhan Kapoor enter films as a steady career. He starred opposite Saiyami Kher, granddaughter of yesteryear actress Usha Kiran and niece of actor Tanvi Azmi in director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s epic romantic fantasy Mirzya in 2016. Sadly, the film was a flop at the box office. But overcoming the downfall the Kapoor lad delivered his second film this year-Bhavesh Joshi Superhero, which did slightly.
- Abhishek Bachchan-Kareena Kapoor
It would have been major expectation if you were the heir of a legendary actor. This was probably the case in the launch of Abhishek Bachchan, son of actors Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan, and Kareena Kapoor, sister of actress Karisma Kapoor and daughter of actors Randhir Kapoor and Babita. With a hefty celebrity background, the duo was launched in director JP Dutta’s romantic period film Refugee in 2000, wherein both received a Filmfare for best debut.
- Varun Dhawan-Alia Bhatt
How can we forget Karan Johar’s romantic comedy drama Student of the Year in 2012? The film starred kids of filmmakers David Dhawan and Mahesh Bhatt, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt respectively. It also marked the launch of model Sidharth Malhotra. All of the three actors are doing quite well with the films they have done so far. KJo is all set to deliver SOTY’s second instalment with the launch of Chunky Pandey’s daughter Ananya Pandey along with other star ensemble, thus repeating history.
- Sunny Deol-Amrita Singh
Another launch of Bollywood, was taken into consideration after being the son of legendary actor Dharmendra. Sunny was destined to be a great protégée and this is well maintained with his filmography. On the other hand Amrita Singh, related to legendary actress Begum Para was roped in for this mega debut. The pair starred in 1983’s blockbuster romantic film Betaab.
- Bobby Deol-Twinkle Khanna
After more than a decade, another Deol lad, Bobby was launched with actors Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia’s daughter Twinkle Khanna in Rajkumar Santoshi’s 1995 hit Barsaat. Both star kids did not deliver their best in the coming years and went on a sabbatical for a long time. Bobby however, recently made his comeback this year with Race 3, whereas Twinkly has found solace in literary works.
- Uday Chopra-Shamita Shetty
Being the son of ace filmmaker, the late Yash Chopra and brother of Aditya Chopra, it wouldn’t have been difficult to pull strings for a film in Bollywood right? Udya Chopra was launched alongside Shilpa Shetty’s sister Shamita with a multistarrer film Mohabbatein in the year 2000. The film was directed by Aditya Chopra but both actors have succumbed to failure no matter what project they’ve been associated with.
- Ajay Devgn-Madhoo
Bollywood’s Singham aka Ajay Devgn, son of action director Veeru Devgn, started his career alongside Madhoo, who is the niece of actress Hema Malini (Dharmendra’s wife). The two debuted in director Kuku Kohli’s Phool Aur Kaante in the year 1991.
- Kajol-Kamal Sadanah
Kajol is the daughter of actress Tanuja and filmmaker Shomu Mukherjee and also wife of actor Ajay Devgn. Kamal Sadanah is the son of producer Brij Sadanah. The duo made their debut in director Rahul Rawail’s Bekhudi that released in 1992.
