5 father-daughter duos who have left their mark in Bollywood
Few things make a parent prouder than watching a child do well in the same field. Hindi cinema has many such stories. Some of the best known are the father daughter duos in Bollywood, where a famous actor or filmmaker watched his daughter step into films and build her own name.
This post was first written in 2015. A lot has changed since then. Some of these daughters have won top awards, one has worked with her father on screen, and one has stepped away from acting. We have updated each story with checked facts. Here are five father and daughter pairs who have left their mark on Hindi films.
Table of Contents
1. Anil Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor
The Father
Anil Kapoor has been in films for more than 40 years and has acted in over 100 of them. He became a star in the 1980s with hits like Mashaal, Meri Jung and Mr. India. Over the years he has won two National Film Awards and seven Filmfare Awards. He also went global with Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire in 2008.
The Daughter
Sonam Kapoor first worked behind the camera. She was an assistant director on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Black (2005). She then made her acting debut in his film Saawariya (2007). Her big turning point came with Raanjhanaa in 2013.
Her finest work came with Neerja (2016). She played Neerja Bhanot, the brave air hostess who died while saving passengers on a hijacked plane in 1986. The role won her a National Film Award Special Mention and a Filmfare Critics Award. She is also known as a fashion icon.
Working Together
The old version of this post said that the two had never acted in a film together. That is no longer true. In 2019, they starred together in Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, with Juhi Chawla and Rajkummar Rao. They also both appeared in The Zoya Factor (2019). So the line in the old post is now out of date. Earlier, Anil had produced her films Aisha (2010) and Khoobsurat (2014). Wikipedia now describes Sonam as a former actress.
2. Shatrughan Sinha and Sonakshi Sinha
The Father
Shatrughan Sinha began with villain roles and then became a leading man. His first hit as a hero was Kalicharan (1976). He went on to star in big films like Vishwanath, Kaala Patthar, Dostana and Kranti. His style of saying “Khamosh” became so famous that his 2016 biography was called Anything but Khamosh.
He is also a politician. He has served as a Union Cabinet Minister and has been a Member of Parliament several times. Today he is a Lok Sabha member from Asansol.
The Daughter
Sonakshi Sinha is the daughter of Shatrughan and Poonam Sinha. Before acting, she worked as a costume designer. She made her debut opposite Salman Khan in Dabangg (2010). That role won her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.
She went on to star in action hits like Rowdy Rathore, Son of Sardaar and Dabangg 2, all in 2012. Critics praised her for Lootera (2013), where she played a woman with tuberculosis. More recently, she won praise for the web series Dahaad (2023) and Heeramandi (2024).
The old post said a film with father and daughter together was coming soon. We could not find any proof that this happened, so we have removed that claim.
3. Shakti Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor
The Father
Shakti Kapoor has acted in over 700 films. In the 1980s and 1990s, he was known for villain roles and for comedy. He often worked with Asrani and Kader Khan in more than 100 films.
Two of his roles are still loved today. One is Crime Master Gogo in Andaz Apna Apna. The other is Nandu in David Dhawan’s Raja Babu. His line “Nandu sabka bandhu, samajhta nahi hai yaar” is still copied by mimicry artists. The Raja Babu role won him a Filmfare Award for Best Comedian.
The Daughter
Shraddha Kapoor started with a small role in Teen Patti (2010). Her first films did not do well. Then came Aashiqui 2 (2013), which made her a star. She went on to do Haider (2014), Ek Villain (2014), ABCD 2 (2015) and Baaghi (2016).
Her biggest recent hits are the horror comedies Stree (2018) and Stree 2 (2024). She is now one of the highest paid actresses in India and has been on the Forbes India Celebrity 100 list since 2014.
4. Mahesh Bhatt and Alia Bhatt
The Father
Mahesh Bhatt is a filmmaker known for bold stories. His film Saaransh (1984) was India’s official entry to the Oscars that year. He also made big romantic hits like Aashiqui (1990) and Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin (1991). His film Sadak (1991) was another hit. He launched his elder daughter, Pooja Bhatt, as a lead actress opposite Aamir Khan.
The Daughter
Alia Bhatt is the daughter of Mahesh Bhatt and actress Soni Razdan. She first appeared as a child in Sangharsh (1999). Her first lead role was in Karan Johar’s Student of the Year (2012).
She soon showed that she was more than a star kid. She won a Filmfare Critics Award for Highway (2014). She then won Filmfare Best Actress awards for Udta Punjab, Raazi, Gully Boy and Gangubai Kathiawadi. Gangubai Kathiawadi also won her the National Film Award for Best Actress. In 2024, Time magazine named her among the 100 most influential people in the world.
Working Together
In the old post, Alia said she would like to play a part in her father’s films. That wish came true with Sadak 2, a sequel to his 1991 film. She announced it on his 70th birthday in 2018, and it was released online in August 2020. Mahesh Bhatt directed it. Critics panned the film, and its trailer drew millions of dislikes online during a debate about star kids in Bollywood. Still, it gave this father and daughter a rare chance to work together.
5. Randhir Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor
The Father
Randhir Kapoor comes from the famous Kapoor family. He is the son of Raj Kapoor and the grandson of Prithviraj Kapoor. He was a child artist in Shree 420 (1955). He made his debut as both lead actor and director with Kal Aaj Aur Kal (1971). He later starred in films like Jawani Diwani and Haath Ki Safai. He also directed the hit Henna (1991).
The Daughter
Kareena Kapoor Khan is the younger daughter of Randhir Kapoor and actress Babita. Her elder sister is Karisma Kapoor. Their story has a twist. Randhir did not want the women of the family to act in films. This led to a rift, and her parents lived apart for years before getting back together in October 2007. The girls were raised by their mother, who worked several jobs to support them until Karisma made her own acting debut in 1991.
Kareena made her debut in Refugee (2000). She became a big name with Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001). Her role in Jab We Met (2007) won her the Filmfare Best Actress award. Her other hits include Golmaal 3, Bodyguard, Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Good Newwz.
She has also spoken about the pressure on actresses after marriage. Read about it in our story Kareena Kapoor Khan on marriage and her career.
What Father Daughter Duos in Bollywood Teach Us
Is it easy to be the child of a star? A famous surname can open doors. It can get you noticed and help you get a first chance. But it cannot keep you going for long. Each of these women faced flops, harsh reviews or doubts early on. Sonam had a string of failures after her debut. Shraddha’s first two films did not work. Kareena had a rough patch before Chameli and Jab We Met. What kept them going was hard work and the right roles.
Their fathers also took very different paths. Some, like Mahesh Bhatt, stood behind the camera. Others, like Shatrughan Sinha, moved into politics. One, Randhir Kapoor, at first did not want his daughters to act at all.
If you enjoyed this list, you may also like our post on father and son duos of Bollywood. For more on the special bond between dads and their girls, read our pieces on Daughters Day and Father’s Day.
What We Changed From the Old Post
- The old post called Khoobsurat (2014) a huge success. It actually opened slowly and then grew through good word of mouth. We have removed the claim.
- It said Anil and Sonam had never shared the screen. They did in 2019.
- The rumour of a Shatrughan and Sonakshi film could not be confirmed, so it is gone.
- We added the major awards and films since 2015.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have Anil Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor acted together?
Yes. They acted together in Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga (2019).
Which film did Mahesh Bhatt direct with Alia Bhatt?
He directed her in Sadak 2, released in 2020.
What was Sonakshi Sinha’s first film?
Dabangg (2010), which won her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.
Who are Kareena Kapoor’s parents?
Her parents are actors Randhir Kapoor and Babita.