The recent backlash against Bollywood director and producer Karan Johar, who proudly proclaimed “nepotism rocks” at an awards show last week, has again drawn attention to actors who got their big breaks thanks to their family’s connection to the Indian film industry.
Johar, whose late father Yash Johar was an influential filmmaker, was joined by Saif Ali Khan, son of actress Sharmila Tagore, and Varun Dhawan, son of director David Dhawan, on the stage at the show. The trio took jabs at Kangana Ranaut, who had jokingly told Johar on his TV chat show in February that he was the ‘flagbearer of nepotism’. Ranaut, who got into the industry on her own terms, is currently one of the most successful Bollywood actresses. Johar has obviously not quite gotten over her remark.
While the film fraternity has been divided on where they stand with regards to the issue, it is no secret that Bollywood is dominated by actors who have made it via their family’s connections. Here are only 39 of them:
Made debut in: 2003
First film: Ishq Vishq
Bollywood connection: Both his parents, Pankaj Kapur and Supriya Pathak, are actors. Pankaj starred in films such as Maqbool and Gandhi, while his stepmother, Pathak, starred in the film Ram Leela and TV show Khichadi. Shahid has starred in a more than 25 films since his debut. His last release was Rangoon, alongside Ranaut and Khan.
Made debut in: 2010
First film: Dabangg
Bollywood connection: Shatrughan Sinha, her father, was a star in the ‘70s, starring in hit films such as Kaala Patthar and Kalicharan while her mother, Poonam Sinha, did nine films, her last one being a special appearance in Jodha Akbar. Sonakshi has acted in more than 16 films, her last film being Noor.
Made debut in: 2012
First film: Student of the Year
Bollywood connection: Son of David Dhawan, film director with more than 40 movies to his name. The father-son duo worked together in the 2014 comedy film Main Tera Hero. Varun has acted in eight movies since his debut, with Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya being his last outing.
Made debut in: 2007
First film: Saawariya
Bollywood connection: Anil Kapoor, her father, has starred in more than 120 films and TV shows. He is known for films such as Mr India and Slumdog Millionaire. Sonam has acted in 14 films, and won an Indian National Film Award for the film Neerja.
Made debut in: 2014
First film: Heropanti
Bollywood connection: Jackie Shroff, his father, has starred in more than 200 films since the ‘80s while his mother Ayesha Shroff runs a media company. Tiger has played lead roles in all his three films. His latest film, Munna Michael, is currently out in UAE cinemas.
6) Alia Bhatt
Made debut in: 2012
First film: Student of the Year
Bollywood connection: Mahesh Bhatt, her father, is a director, producer and screenwriter. He’s known for his works in films such as Arth and Saaransh. Alia has starred in eight movies since her debut and her last film was Badrinath Ki Dulhania.
Made debut in: 2012
First film: Ishaqzaade
Bollywood connection: Boney Kapoor, his father, is a film producer with experience of 37 years in Bollywood. He also produced the recently released film Mom. Arjun has acted in nine films, with his last appearance being in Mubarakan.
Made debut in: 1995
First film: Barsaat
Bollywood connection: Dharmendra, his father, was a film star of the ‘70s, known for his roles in films such as Sholay and Yaadon Ki Baaraat. Bobby has acted in more than 15 movies. His last role was in the film Yamla Pagla Deewana 2.
Made debut in: 1998
First film: Prem Aggan
Bollywood connection: Feroz Khan, his father, was known as the ‘Clint Eastwood of Bollywood.’ His roles in films such as Aadmi Aur Insaan and International Crook made him a style icon of his time. Fardeen Khan has appeared in more than 25 films till 2010. He’s expected to make a comeback in the sequel to the 2005 film No Entry.
Made debut in: 2007
First film: Saawariya
Bollywood connection: Rishi Kapoor has been in the film industry since 1970 and his performance in the film critically acclaimed Bobby turned him into a star actor. Ranbir Kapoor has acted in 16 movies since his debut, with Jagga Jasoos being his last outing.
Made debut in: 2000
First film: Refugee
Bollywood connection: Amitabh Bachchan, his father, in one of the most influential actors till date, starring in iconic Bollywood films like Sholay and Zanjeer. Abhishek Bachchan has starred in more than 20 films in his 17-year career, with Guru being his best performance.
12) Harman Bhaweja
Made debut in: 2008
First film: Love Story 2050
Bollywood connection: Harry Baweja, his father is a film director with a career spanning 25 years. Some of his notable works include Commando and Imtihaan. Harman Bhaweja starred in five films until 2014 but hasn’t made a comeback since then.
Made debut in: 1992
First film: Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar
Bollywood connection: Kabir Bedi, her father, is an actor whose career spans more than 45 years. He’s known for his role in Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story and in the James Bond film Octopussy. Pooja Bedi had little success in Hindi cinema but has been frequent in TV reality shows like Big Boss 5 and Maa Exchange as a contestant.
Made debut in: 2011
First film: Ladies vs Ricky Bahl
Bollywood connection: Priyanka Chopra, her cousin, is an actress and singer who got into acting after winning the Miss World 2000 pageant. She’s known for her performances in films like Barfi! and Mary Kom. Parineeti Chopra has starred in seven films and her last appearance was in the film Meri Pyaari Bindu.
Made debut in: 2000
First film: Mohabbatein
Bollywood connection: Yash Chopra, his father, was one of the best filmmakers in India and majority of his films were romance themed. Most of Uday Chopra’s films were directed by his father. He announced retirement from acting after playing the supporting role in the film Dhoom 3.
Made debut in: 1991
First film: Phool Aur Kaante
Bollywood connection: Veeru Devgn, his father, was an action choreographer and was in charge of action scenes for 80 films. His last contribution to action choreography was for the film Lal Baadshah in 1999. Ajay Devgn has starred in close to 90 films in a span of 26 years, with Shivaay being his latest film.
Made debut in: 1981
First film: Rocky
Bollywood connection: Sunil Dutt, his father, was a popular actor during the ‘50s and ‘60s, starring in successful films like Waqt and Gumraah. Sanjay Dutt has acted in more than 100 films since the ‘80s. His last role was in the critically acclaimed film PK.
Made debut in: 2012
First film: Vicky Donor
Bollywood connection: Mukesh Gautam, her father, is a Punjabi film director. His best works came in films like Ek Noor and Akhiyaan Udeekdian. He’s also the President of the PTC Punjabi network. Yami Gautam has starred in eight films since her debut, with Sarkar 3 being her last outing.
Made debut in: 1986
First film: Tan-Badan
Bollywood connection: Arun Ahuja, his father, was a famous actor in Bollywood during the ‘40s but soon ended his acting career in 1954 because of a major flop film named Aulad. Govinda appeared in more than 140 movies in his acting career of 30 years. He last appeared in the film Happy Ending.
Made debut in: 2009
First film: Luck
Bollywood connection: Kamal Haasan, her father, is an iconic National Film Award winning Tamilian actor who has appeared in more than 200 films. He’s also a recipient of the Padma Bushan and Padma Shri honours, the third and fourth-highest civilian awards in India. Shruti Hassan has appeared in 9 films since her debut and ‘Rocky Handsome’ was her last appearance co-starring John Abraham.
Made debut in: 2001
First film: Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai
Bollywood connection: Jeetendra, his father, was a celebrated actor of the ‘70s and ‘80s and is known for his dance moves in his films such as Himmatwala. He acted in close to 200 films in a career of 50 years. Tusshar Kapoor has acted in more than 25 films in a span of 15 years. His last film appearance was in Mastizaade.
Made debut in: 1993
First film: Parampara
Bollywood connection: Sharmila Tagore, his mother, is an Indian National Film award winner for her roles in Mausam and Abar Anaye. She also led the Indian Film Censor Board from 2004 until 2011. Saif Ali Khan has more than 50 films to his name in a span of 24 years. He last appeared in Rangoon and has three films lined up for release this year.
23) Salman Khan
Made debut: 1988
First film: Biwi Ho To Aisi
Bollywood connection: Salim Khan, his father, was a screenwriter and actor from the ‘60s until the ‘90s. Both him and Javed Akthar wrote scripts for hit films such as Sholay and Mr India together. Salman Khan, one of the biggest names in the industry today, has starred in nearly 100 films in 29 years and last appeared in the film Tubelight.
Made debut in: 1988
First film: Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak
Bollywood connection: Tahir Hussain, his father, was a film producer with nine productions to his name. He also acted in three films, Janam Janam Na Saath (1977) being his last. Aamir Khan has done about 25 films in 23 years. He last appeared in the biographical sports film Dangal and won the Filmfare award for best actor.
Made debut in: 2008
First film: Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na
Bollywood connection: Aamir Khan, his uncle, is called Mr Perfectionist for his performances in films that have done well commercially not only in India but overseas too, such as Lagaan and 3 Idiots. Imran Khan has acted in 10 films since his debut and his last film appearance was in Katti Batti co-starring Kangana Ranaut.
Made debut in: 1995
First film: Barsaat
Bollywood connection: Rajesh Khanna, her father, was commonly known as the First Superstar of Bollywood with an unbroken record of 15 solo hit films. In a brief acting career of six years, Twinkle Khanna has starred in 14 films, her last one being Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega in 2001.
Made debut in: 1997
First film: Border
Bollywood connection: Vinod Khanna, his father, was an actor known for playing antagonist roles in films of the ‘70s including films Muqaddar Ka Sikandar and Amar Akbar Anthony. Akshaye Khanna has starred in more than 35 movies in his acting career of 20 years. He starred in the recently released film Mom.
Made debut in: 2008
First film: Woodstock Villa
Bollywood connection: Anupam Kher, his step-father, has acted more than 500 films and is one of the few examples of Bollywood actors who made a transition from Bollywood to Hollywood.
Made debut in: 2007
First film: Johny Gaddaar
Bollywood connection: Playback singer Nitin Mukesh, his father, carried the legacy of his father, singer Mukesh, with successful hit songs like My Name Is Lakhan and So Gaya Yeh Jahan. Neil Nitin Mukesh has acted in 13 films, with Wazir being his last outing. He is cast for the upcoming film sequel Golmaal Again.
30) Shraddha Kapoor
Made debut in: 2010
First film: Teen Patti
Bollywood connection: Shakti Kapoor, her father, is known for playing villain and comedy roles in films from the ‘70s to ‘90s. He was awarded the best comedian role by Raja Babu for the film Raja Babu. Starring in 13 films so far, Shraddha Kapoor last appeared in Half Girlfriend co-starring Arjun Kapoor.
Made debut in: 1992
First film: Bekhudi
Bollywood connection: Shomu Mukherjee, her father, was a film writer and director in Bollywood and worked in seven films in a span of 22 years. Kajol has appeared in more than 35 films in 25 years, her last appearance being in Dilwaale.
Made debut in: 1997
First film: Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat
Bollywood connection: Ram Mukherjee, her father, was a film director and worked in six films in a span of 34 years. His last directed film was Raktanadir Dhara released in 1994. Rani Mukherjee has more than 40 films to her name and last appeared in the 2014 thriller Mardaani. She is currently filming Hitchki.
Made debut in: 2002
First film: Connection
Bollywood connection: Suresh Oberoi, his father, was a mainstream actor during the ‘80s and ‘90s, starring in 4-5 films every year. His last appearance was in the Kannada film Attahasa. Vivek Oberoi has starred in more than 30 films. His last film was Great Grand Masti. He has also released a new TV show named Inside Edge.
Made debut in: 2000
First film: Kaho Na Pyaar Hain
Bollywood connection: Rakesh Roshan, his father, started off as an actor and did 84 films during the ‘70s and ‘80s. Since then, he stepped into the field of directing and went on to make successful films with his son. Hrithik Roshan has played leading roles in 28 films. His last film was Kaabil.
Made debut in: 1999
First film: Godmother
Bollywood connection: Arvind Joshi was a veteran actor in Gujurati cinema while his mother, Sarita Joshi, was best known for the TV show Baa Bahu Aur Baby. Sharman Joshi has acted in 25 films in a span of 18 years and last appeared in the film Wajah Tum Ho. He’s best known for his performance in the film 3 Idiots.
Made debut in: 2001
First film: Mr and Mrs Iyer
Bollywood connection: Aparna Sen, her mother, was an actor and director. In an acting career of more than 50 years, she won three National Film Awards for Best Feature Film in Benagali and for Best Direction. Konkana Sen Sharma has starred in 30 Hindi films since her debut and her last appearance was in the controversial film Lipstick Under My Burkha.
Made debut in: 2005
First film: Iqbal
Bollywood connection: Jayshree T, his aunt, starred in numerous Hindi and regional-language films during the ‘70s and ‘80s. Her last appearance in a Bollywood film was in Chalte Chalte. Shreyas Talpade has acted in 27 films and Wah Taj, released last year, was his last outing. This year marks his directional debut Poster Boyz.
38) Kareena Kapoor
Made debut in: 2000
First film: Refugee
Bollywood connection: Randhir Kapoor, her father, was a well-established actor of ‘70s and his best performances came in films such as Kasme Vaade and Dharam Karam. Kareena Kapoor has acted in 50 films in an acting career of 17 years and her last appearance was in the critically acclaimed film Udta Punjab.
Made debut in: 2009
First film: London Dreams
Bollywood connection: Siddharth Roy Kapoor, his uncle, is prominent film producer of this decade and produced award winning films like Barfi! and Chillar Party. Aditya Roy Kapoor has acted in eight movies and his last appearance was in OK Jaanu.
— Viraj Asher is an intern at Gulf News.
