Back in 1991, when Karisma Kapoor made her debut in the moderately successful Prem Qaidi, she came under heavy scrutiny for her below average looks, frizzy hair and bushy eyebrows. Despite proving her mettle as an actress with future projects, the Kapoor diva continued to be talked about her looks, and not in a flattering way. It took around 5 years and a Manish Malhotra, to transform her career in a way that there was no looking back. Starring opposite Aamir Khan in the blockbuster Raja Hindustani, Lolo came on her own, with drop dead stunning looks, styling and that signature straight hair. Post that, the now 50-year-old actress has continued to rule hearts, both on-screen and off-screen.
Cut to a few decades later, Suhana Khan, the daughter of superstar Shah Rukh Khan made her debut with the OTT release The Archies (2023), directed by Zoya. While reviews to her performance were mixed, her stunning screen presence and ease for the camera won over all. Similarly Ananya Panday, Agastya Nanda, Khushi Kapoor (who too starred in The Archies), Janhvi Kapoor, and othes, who all have made their debut in the last couple of years, look refined, and completely polished in front of the camera, which was not the case earlier. This brings us to an important question: in the huddle for perfection, are these kids losing out on their raw, untapped potential? We’ll take a look…
Many faces to look out this year
Trade expert Girish Wankede gives us a lowdown on the debuts this year. He says, “The year 2025 promises to be a significant one for the Indian film industry, particularly with the anticipated debuts of several star kids, Among the promising newcomers is Rasha Thadani, the daughter of the illustrious Raveena Tandon, who will be making her mark in upcoming Hindi film Azaad’. Another noteworthy debutante is Aaman Devgan, who is poised to engage audiences with his talent along with Rasha Thadani in the same film.
Shanaya Kapoor, the daughter of Sanjay Kapoor and Mahip Kapoor, is set to enchant viewers in the film “Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan.” Ibrahim Ali Khan, the son of Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh, will also be making his debut in “Sarzameen ,” further adding to the excitement surrounding this new generation of actors. Veer Paharia, the grandson of prominent politician Sushil Kumar Shinde, is gearing up for his debut in “Sky Force,” alongside the seasoned Akshay Kumar, which is sure to draw attention.
Additionally, Aishwary Thackeray, grandson of the late Balasaheb Thackeray, is another newcomer to watch, as he embarks on his acting journey. Amar Indra Kumar, son of director Indra Kumar, is also set to make his acting debut in Tera Yaar Hoon Main’,while Junaid Khan, son of Aamir Khan, will be seen alongside another debutante Khushi kapoor, daughter of Sridevi in the Hindi remake Loveyapa’ of a popular Kannada film.
Aryan Khan, the son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, is breaking new ground by stepping into the role of director rather than pursuing acting, a choice that reflects his unique vision for storytelling. His sister, Suhana Khan will make her theatrical debut in King’ along with Shahrukh Khan. Aryaman Deol, son of Bobby Deol, is also expected to make his debut this year, contributing to the influx of fresh talent in the industry.”
Success will ultimately hinge on talent
Girish further adds, “While the emergence of these star kids is noteworthy, it is essential to recognize that their success will ultimately hinge on the right projects, their inherent talent, and the acceptance of the audience. The film industry has seen its share of star-kids who have struggled to achieve stardom, such as Uday Chopra, Harman Baweja, Tusshar Kapoor, Fardeen Khan, and Sunil Anand, while others like Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan, and Sanjay Dutt have proven that talent and perseverance can lead to remarkable success.
The journey for these newcomers may be less arduous due to their industry connections, yet the audience’s discerning taste will ultimately dictate their fate. Even those with established legacies, like Abhishek Bachchan, have faced challenges in their careers, illustrating that talent alone is not always enough to guarantee success.
As we look forward to the debuts of these new talents, we see potential in individuals like Rasha Thadani , whose first look has already generated buzz, and Shanaya Kapoor, who appears to be a promising prospect. Many believe Aryan Khan, with his illustrious lineage, is destined for a successful career that will honor his family’s legacy.
While the landscape of Bollywood is ever-changing and full of surprises, the hope is that these kids will rise to the occasion, proving their worth through their performances and carving a niche for themselves based on their talent. The coming years will undoubtedly be a test of their abilities and resilience, and we await with bated breath to see how they navigate the complexities of the film industry.”
A double edged sword
Experts believe that while personality and looks grooming is great, there is a lot that leaves to be desired on the acting front. Mukesh Chhabra, casting director and filmmaker, says, “often too much grooming can turn out to be a disadvantage, since these kids do not train much on the acting front, and focus most of their energies on looks and personality.” When asked if it is easier for him to launch star kids or non star ones, Mukesh says he prefers to launch fresh new faces, since there are many directors waiting to launch star kids anyway.
The pressure is immense on star-kids, say experts
On the other hand, many experts believe that star kids have immense pressure on them to perform, and for that, they need to be groomed beforehand. Ssanjay Tripaathy, writer and director, who has worked with many star-kids, says, “My experience with star-kids has been very good, and I am quite impressed by their preparation. We must also keep in mind that star kids are constantly being watched and will be judged, no matter what, so they work extra hard to be noticed.” He also adds that working on themselves is something that reaps benefits in the long-run.
Starting young
Another factor that helps in the success of these star kids, is the fact that most of them are able to start very young, which might not be possible for other newbies. Film expert Raj Bansal says, “If you enter the industry between the ages of 18-21, you have more time to work on yourself. The later you start, more are the chances of failure, which is something that most star kids are able to avoid, since they can afford to enter the industry at a very young age. “
Social media ruling the roost
Ramesh Taurani, film producer says that in the case of star kids, their acting becomes the last benchmark to gauge their success, at least initially. He says, “In the age of social media, most star kids are stars even before they appear in their first movie. A few decades back, an Aamir or Salman waited for the release of their first movie, to get popular, but that is not the case now. Star kids have a following of their own, and much before their first movie gets released, the media declares them as a star.” Does this go against them, also? Taurani says, “See it is a vicious circle, because of the added pressure, they too, are under pressure to perform.” However, Taurani adds that at the end of the day, it is destiny and talent that will get these kids to taste success, come what may.
Comparing it with the past
Ramesh Taurani, who launched Shahid Kapoor in the Ken Ghosh directed Ishq Vishk in 2003, says that at that time he did not even know that he was the son of Neelima Azmi and Pankaj Kapur. “I saw him in a music video and thought he could fit the bill. The rest is history,” he says. Years later, Shahid’s half brother Ishaan made his debut in the movies with Beyond the Clouds (2017), followed by the more commercial Dhadak in 2018. Comparing the launch pad of the siblings, Taurani says, “each actor’s journey and thinking is different. Ishaan chose to make his debut in a non commercial film, to hone his acting and then moved on to more commercial cinema. Hence, when it comes to acting, there is no one size fits all, ” he signs off.