Even with her Kapoor lineage, actor Shanaya Kapoor hasn’t had an easy start in the movies. She was first set to debut in Bedhadak, which was shelved, followed by actor-filmmaker Mohanlal’s pan-India project Vrushabha, which also didn’t take off. She finally debuted this year with Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, which fell short of expectations, but she remains unperturbed.

Shanaya shares, “The moment my movie came out was everything. The love I got was so much. It was everything I was waiting for. Once it released, I took a deep breath and finally exhaled. There was so much tension in me for almost five years before that.”

The 26-year-old adds that she has no regrets about beginning her journey with this film: “Of course, what happens commercially does hurt you. I was getting messages like, ‘things will get better’. But I was just beaming with joy, because I truly did give the movie my all. For me, it’s a proud movie made with love.”

Shanaya Kapoor, who turned 26 yesterday, felt overwhelmed marking her first one as an actor. “One of my school friends reminded me of an old promise I made them: when my film comes out, I’ll celebrate my birthday that year,” she tells us, adding she’s not one for lavish celebrations. “But I had a nice dinner with all my girls to celebrate this special year,” she smiles.

Speaking of her journey, Shanaya reflects on having learnt a lot about the industry even before her debut: “I started my journey as a 20-year-old, shot for a film and that got shelved... You can have a film today and tomorrow you can’t. ” She was supposed to debut in Karan Johar’s Bedhadak, announced in 2022, but was later shelved. Her film, Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, was delayed before releasing this July.

“These experiences taught me the industry is unpredictable. I don’t take it for granted when I hold a script in my hand because I know how easily it can go. For me, it’s been my biggest heartbreak. No boys are ever going to break my heart the way the movies did,” she shares, adding, “These experiences have made me more grounded, more mature.”

After all this, she had to overcome the perceptions created about her: “People had these pre-conceived notions about me because they had seen me in fashion looks or going out to the gym... But they didn’t see the true Shanaya... So, this birthday, I just gave myself love and a hug, and celebrated with my parents because I feel like they’ve also finally exhaled, too.”

Actor Sanjay Kapoor has been enjoying his second innings, having marked 30 years in the industry and turning 60 last week (October 17). Calling this “the best phase” of his career, he tells us: “Today, makers believe in me, saying ‘Sanjay yeh role kar lega’. That’s my achievement in this milestone year.”

This also coincides with the year his daughter, Shanaya Kapoor (25), made her debut, which Sanjay calls part of “the universe’s plan”. But he admits that her journey hasn’t been easy: “I never tag my early days as a struggle, but felt really overwhelmed when her first film got shelved after a big announcement.”

Shanaya was originally supposed to debut in Karan Johar’s Bedhadak, which was announced in 2022 but was later shelved.

He adds, “It was very tough for Shanaya. Jo film aani thi woh ruk gayi, phir doosri film mein bhi kuch delay hua. I felt bad seeing her struggle.”

Her second project, Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, was delayed before releasing in July. But finally seeing her debut was an emotional moment for Sanjay: “When I saw her onscreen, she was beyond my expectations. I just cried. Her hard work shows on screen. I am proud of her.”

Shanaya, Suhana, Ananya and Navya

In an industry where relationships often flicker with the arc lights, Ananya Panday, Suhana Khan, Shanaya Kapoor and Navya Naveli Nanda share a bond that predates their public personas and glamorous debuts. Their friendship isn’t one forged by fame, but one nurtured since childhood — long before red carpets, fan pages, and film offers became part of their vocabulary. They were just little girls then, dressing up in their mothers' saris, mimicking grown-up tea parties and playing make-believe games. From playdates and vacations to stepping into adulthood under a media microscope, these four have grown up together and grown into themselves — with grace and grit, and always cheering for each other.

Ananya made her Bollywood debut first and has since steadily built her career in the film industry. Suhana is a talent waiting to explode, and Shanaya made a fine debut recently. Navya has consciously chosen a path outside showbiz as an entrepreneur and changemaker. But despite their divergent journeys, their bond has remained strong, steady, and refreshingly real.

Talking about their friendship of many years, Ananya says, “We have shared our dreams while growing up, but as much as people think we do, we don't really talk that much about work. We talk about all kinds of things that girls of our age do.”

Ask her what she admires the most about each of her closest friends, and she responds with enthusiasm. “Suhana is very kind and soft-hearted and she gets affected by things very easily. Some people think that ‘sensitive’ is a bad word, but I believe being sensitive is a good quality. As an actor, you need to have sensitivity, and this is Suhana’s huge strength.”

Moving on to Shanaya, who recently made her debut, Ananya adds, “Shanaya is a very strong individual; she can keep going and going, and that’s an admirable quality in her.”

Navya, who chose to stay away from acting despite coming from a legendary film lineage, gets a shoutout too. “Navya is so smart, and she’s found her own path, and that’s amazing. It’s inspiring how she went back to do an MBA. She’s an entrepreneur, has started her own NGO, and has 4-5 businesses running at the same time.”

On a lighter note, we ask Ananya if the four of them were to star in a reality show together twenty years from now, what would it be called, and she bursts into laughter and says, “I don’t know, but we like to call ourselves Charlie's Angels. We actually have a chat group called Ananya's Fans (laughs!). I guess our show could be called Charlie’s Angels.”

This girl gang is a refreshing reminder of the joy of having friends who’ve known you long before the world did.

Ananya, if you were on a road trip with Suhana, Shanaya and Navya, who would take on the following roles:

The Planner: Navya

The Insta Queen: Me

The Adventurer: Shanaya and Navya

The Chiller: Navya and Me

Vikrant Massey has been friends with the unconventional for so long that it’s the quintessential that makes him nervous. Naturally, he was hesitant to board Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, his upcoming romantic drama opposite debutante Shanaya Kapoor.

“The last time I did something like this was Broken But Beautiful, directed by Santosh Singh, who has directed me in this as well! Though I did Haseen Dillruba, which also had romance, it was a thriller. But this is a quintessential Bollywood love story with lip-sync songs. I told my producers that I have never done lip-sync songs. Nor have I outrightly romanced someone on screen. I wasn’t sure I would be able to pull it off,” he begins.

But his body of work is proof enough that he loves a challenge. With Aankhon ki Gustaakhiyan, the challenges were many, the biggest being his character of a visually-challenged man.

“Eyes play such an integral role in a romance. So, I wondered how I would be able to do that. But as much as I was jittery about taking it up, it also felt exciting. Unfortunately, in the world of cinema, visually-challenged people haven’t been represented rightly enough. The dignity they deserve and the challenges that eventually become part of their life are not shown. So, to play this authentically was the biggest challenge,” he shares.

The film also fits perfectly into the actor’s pursuit of collaborating with debut voices, Massey points out. “It is human nature to get complacent sometimes. If you observe my filmography, you will note that if I am doing four films a year, [at least in one film], I collaborate with a first-time writer-director. It is so that I can unlearn things and recalibrate myself,” he says, adding that his new work made sure he was surrounded by newcomers.

Besides Kapoor and the director, who is making his film debut with Aankhon ki Gustaakhiyan, “most of the HoDs were first-timers”. “You learn so much from them that a lot of things that are redundant in you get removed,” he says.

It’s natural for a newcomer to feel the pressure of sharing screen space opposite an established actor, but Massey tells us that he, in fact, felt the pressure opposite Kapoor.

“Shanaya is such a good person. I hope I am able to justify her dreams and aspirations, has a good time working with me, and it justifies her wait. She is extremely talented, hardworking and sincere. She knew everyone’s lines in the film,” he says, adding that working with Kapoor inspired him. “The amount of involvement and fire she had completely dissolved all my complacency, if there was any. She comes from film royalty but is so much more than that.”

"Finally,” exclaims Shanaya Kapoor when we get on a call with her, weeks before her debut film Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan’s release. She has been waiting to foray into Bollywood for the past three years, but life had other plans. Today, as her maiden Hindi film is ready, the newbie — daughter of Sanjay and Maheep Kapoor — admits she can’t get enough of it.

“Every day I log on to YouTube and watch myself on screen. I’m not going to lie; my dad and I get teary-eyed,” she grins.

The happy tears are understandable considering it has been a long road to this point. In 2022, Shanaya was to be launched with Karan Johar’s production Bedhadak, but it got shelved. Heartbreaking as the episode was, strangely it led her to director Santosh Singh’s romantic drama opposite Vikrant Massey. 

She recalls, “It was a matter of five to six days where we had begun shooting. But due to COVID and various other reasons, that film didn’t come into fruition. Post that, I was giving auditions. I auditioned for another project, and the casting director sent the tape across to Santosh Singh. When I look back at it now, I realise why things didn’t happen then and why they are happening now. I feel much better prepared as an actor.”

She says that instead of dwelling on projects that didn’t work out, she used the years in between to work on her craft. “I worked to get better so that the day I get that opportunity, I’m ready for it. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I never took it for granted.”

Many may argue that her debut, though delayed, was inevitable. After all, she comes from one of the most prominent film families. “I do come from a film family and understand what that means. I had access and opportunity. But that access doesn’t mean guaranteed acceptance. At the end of the day, the audience has to accept me. I have to earn my place through a lot of hard work,” she insists, adding, “I value this chance a lot more because I got it after delays. I’ve had my ups and downs before coming here today. Having said that, I’m aware that it’s much easier for me compared to others.”

Two new talents hope to find a place in the Hindi film industry with Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan. While Santosh Singh, known for helming Broken…But Beautiful, is making his theatrical debut, the love story will also mark Shanaya Kapoor’s foray into Bollywood. Launching a star kid today comes with incessant trolling and talks of nepotism. It isn’t lost on Singh, who insists that Kapoor was chosen on the basis of merit for the love story, led by Vikrant Massey.

Recalling that he met her after he was impressed by her test tape, the director shares, “We gave her two scenes to prep. She came back after two days, performed the scenes, and I thought she was good. The role she is playing is tough — for anyone, not just a debutant. So, we did workshops with her for three to four months. She also trained with an acting coach. It’s a big responsibility to launch someone. But as long as someone is hard-working and giving it their all, that’s what matters.”

Earlier this year, Junaid Khan and Khushi Kapoor made their big-screen debut with Loveyapa, which struggled to draw the audience to theatres. Singh believes the disproportionate negativity online played a role.

He reflects, “There is a lot of hate now, when it comes to [star] kids. I liked Loveyapa. It bombed purely because of the hate. I hope people will first watch a film, see the performances, then form an opinion. How can you hate someone without seeing their work? Just because their path might’ve been easier in some way? That’s not fair.”

Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan, centred on a musician and a theatre actor, is an adaptation of Ruskin Bond’s short story, The Eyes Have It. Having grown up on the much-loved writer’s works, Singh says it was a joy to interpret his story for the big screen.

“This story is just six pages. We used it as the base, and created our own story around it. I hope we’ve done justice to what he wrote,” says the director, adding that his biggest support system came in the form of his leading man. “Vikrant is such a versatile actor. After Broken..., we’re doing a love story again.”

Next on Bombay Times Lounge, we have Ananya Panday, the actress who reigns the Gen-Z glam brigade with rizz and charm. She’s the girl who’s not afraid to keep it real — onscreen, on the ‘gram, or in interviews. She adds a dash of fun and spark to everything she does, and there’s no mistaking she’s carved her spot in tinsel town, and she’s owning it with style.During our chat, she had the audience charmed and hooked from the word go. Here’s a quick glimpse of what’s coming up soon on the full episode, which will drop on the Bombay Times YouTube Channel.

Ananya, who has won love and admiration for her recent roles in Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, Kesari Chapter 2 and the web series Call Me Bae, admits that in the beginning, her perspective of cinema, was in a way limited, and her priorities different.

“I always wanted to be an actress. I don’t know if other people believed me or thought whether I could be one. When I started out, the kind of cinema that I had watched until then was very different. I was, and I still am a full-on Bollywood bachcha. Earlier, I only knew there’s one way of acting and one kind of movie. My vision was very microscopic and when I started acting, I was just happy that I was on the big screen. I was singing, dancing and doing all those things that I’ve seen growing up. But with more films and more roles, now I’ve fallen in love with the craft of acting,” she says.

“Now, I enjoy going deeper a lot more. I want to challenge myself. People keep differentiating between commercial cinema and offbeat cinema. I think both are equally tough. People tell me, 'Oh, you have done a film like Kesari Chapter 2, it must have been so challenging',” says Ananya.

She adds, “Even commercial cinema with all the singing, lip-syncing, dancing, and the look of being in love with those glossy eyes – all of that is also a form of acting. It requires as much effort, if not more. It took me time to get comfortable in my space. In my first few films, I was very nervous. I would just do whatever the director asked me to. Gehraiyaan, changed that, it was like a turning point.”

It’s no secret that Ananya is part of B-Town’s coolest girl gang — with Suhana Khan, Shanaya Kapoor and Navya Naveli Nanda. Her face lights up as she talks about her besties – their bond and shared dreams.

She recalls, “We’ve been acting in our own way since we were kids. We would play this game called Ad-Ad where one person would be the judge, and the rest of us had to create an ad for a product and present it to the judge. We played this for years. We would spy on our moms and see what they’re doing at their tea party and then come back and imitate them. When I look at some of those videos now, I am like…what were we doing? We all shared our dreams.”

Seeing her friends chase their paths fills her with pride. “It felt surreal seeing Suhana in The Archies, Shanaya is soon going to make her debut. It’s admirable how Navya has turned an entrepreneur and has chosen her own path.”

I am a romantic at heart and I love everything about love. I believe in 90s kind of love, not the running away from home and all that, but more like pyaar dosti hai and that one person is your everything. I’m quite a hopeless romantic!

“I was going to say good looks, good looks, good looks! (laughs). On a serious note, I’d say someone who is very funny. I need to be laughing all the time because my dad (Chunky Panday) has always made me laugh. Someone who can be a friend and a great companion above everything else, because I believe pyaar dosti hai, however, cliche it sounds. And a man who treats everyone equally and with respect. Good looks can come in fourth! (laughs)”

Actors Adarsh Gourav and Shanaya Kapoor are all set to begin shooting for Tu Yaa Main, a psychological thriller directed by Bejoy Nambiar. Filming is slated to start in the second week of June. So far, only a teaser — featuring the duo swimming in a lake — has been shot.

Sources reveal that the actors have already kicked off joint reading sessions, which will continue until the end of May. The film will be shot extensively in and around Mumbai, with the schedule expected to wrap by mid-July.

To prep for his role, Adarsh has resumed intense physical training — the same kind he undertook for Kho Gaye Hum Kahaan (2023). Speaking to us about the upcoming shoot, the actor shared, “I’m truly thrilled to start working on this film. It’s a completely different genre from what I’ve done before, and that’s what drew me to the project. Collaborating with Bejoy Nambiar, who has such a distinct cinematic voice, and sharing the screen with Shanaya Kapoor makes this even more special. I can’t wait for audiences to experience what we’re creating.”

In an earlier chat with us, Adarsh also opened up about working with Shanaya for the first time. “She is super chill and fun to work with,” he said, adding, “We’ve only shot the teaser so far, but it has been a good experience.”

A lot has changed in Vikrant Massey’s life between his 2018 web series, Broken…But Beautiful, and the upcoming Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan. But one thing has remained unchanged, says Santosh Singh, who helmed both offerings. He points out that after Broken…But Beautiful, the actor hasn’t featured in a tender, aching love story. That was one of the reasons Massey signed Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan opposite Shanaya Kapoor.

“Broken… was the first love story we did together, and now we are back with another. Vikrant once told me that most [filmmakers] cast him in hard-hitting movies like 12th Fail [2023] or negative roles like Sector 36 [2024], but only I see him as a romantic hero,” says Singh, who is readying the film for a July 11 release.

Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan looks at the love that blossoms between Massey’s musician and Kapoor’s theatre actor. It also marks the latter’s Bollywood debut.

Singh recalls, “The film had its own journey of finding the heroine. We [initially] had Tara Sutaria and Pratibha Ranta for the role, but their dates didn’t work out. We tested Shanaya and she passed with flying colours. We did four months of workshops with her; she also worked with an acting coach. By the time we started shooting, she knew the script by heart.”

In a moment that sparked widespread concern, Babil Khan, son of late actor Irrfan, posted a series of emotional videos on Instagram Stories on Saturday. The now-deleted clips made their way to Reddit, showing him opening up about his experience in the entertainment industry.

“Bollywood is the most fakest, fakest, fakest industry that I’ve ever ever been a part of. But there are few people that want Bollywood to be better... I got to show to you so much more, so much more, so much more. I have so much more to give you,” the 26-year-old can be heard saying.

In another video, he mentioned some of his contemporaries: “I just want you guys to know that there are people like Shanaya Kapoor, Ananya Panday, Arjun Kapoor, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Raghav Juyal, Adarsh Gourav and Arijit Singh. There are so many more names. Bollywood is so f*****.”

Even as he deleted and later reinstated his profile with 1.2M followers, several celebs came out to lend support (see right), with actor Harshvardhan Rane advising him to “stay away from parties”.

Filmmaker Sai Rajesh shared a lengthy note on Instagram criticizing the outburst and subsequent statement: “It feels like only those whose names were mentioned in his video deserve respect — and the rest of us are just fools for standing by him all this while? ...I genuinely wanted to stand by him even until an hour ago. But if you’re taking us for granted, that stops here. These sympathy games won’t work on us anymore. A sincere apology is the least you owe us.”

Babil replied, claiming Sai “really broke my heart”: “After everything I’ve given to you... Complete physical atrocity to my body just so I can do justice to his character, I gave him my soul, rejected everything that came in my way for 2 years, anything and everything he needed for 500 days of my life.”

He added, “Man, I had bugs in my beard because he needed that in the character. I gave him my laughter while I held back my tears. I slit my f****** wrist for him.”

Babil is reported to star in the remake of Sai’s  Telugu film Baby (2023). Babil later deleted his comments and Sai, his post.

On Sunday, Babil’s team issued a statement: “Babil has earned immense love and appreciation for his work, as well as for his openness about his mental health journey. Like anyone else, Babil is allowed to have difficult days, and this was one of them. We want to reassure all his well-wishers that he is safe and will be feeling better soon. That said, a video of Babil has been widely misinterpreted and taken out of context.”

The note further read, “In the clip, Babil was sincerely acknowledging a few of his peers whom he believes are making meaningful contributions to the evolving landscape of Indian cinema. His mention... came from a place of genuine admiration for their authenticity, passion, and efforts to restore credibility and heart in the industry.”

Despite completing 15 years in Hindi cinema and earning international acclaim with The White Tiger, actor Adarsh Gourav isn’t interested in chasing the typical Bollywood hustle. As he gears up for his Telugu film debut this year, Adarsh admits he’s perfectly content doing just two or three films annually — as long as they excite him.

“I don’t want to work just for the sake of it,” he says. “If something excites me, sure — but you end up spending months investing in a character, so a lot depends on the headspace you’re in.”

At 30, the actor — who also stars in Bejoy Nambiar’s Tu Yaa Main alongside Shanaya Kapoor — believes in leading life with balance and intention.

“Main agar saal mein 2 filmein bhi kar lun, wo mere liye bahut hai. I’m more invested in living life fully and doing things I genuinely enjoy outside of acting. Acting is one of my passions, and I’m extremely grateful for every opportunity I get. But there are many other things that nourish my soul. Even if I don’t work for two or three months, I don’t panic or lose my mind,” he shares candidly.

So what fuels his spirit beyond cinema? “Music, travelling, spending time with my cat and my girlfriend, meeting my parents, hanging out with my brother... I love all of it,” he smiles.

Interestingly, Adarsh’s Telugu debut also marks a return to his roots — his mother tongue is Telugu. But his cinematic curiosity doesn’t stop there. “I had such a great time working on this Telugu film. I really want to work in Malayalam cinema too. I’ve even started picking up some Malayalam, just so I’m ready if an opportunity arises.”

On working with Shanaya Kapoor, who’s awaiting the release of her first two films, Adarsh is all praise: “She’s very cool and relaxed. We were mostly just joking about how hot the water looked while we were actually freezing during the shoot!”

And was there any sense of hierarchy on set, given Shanaya is relatively new? “Not at all,” Adarsh says firmly. “For me, there’s no senior or junior. I only worked with her during the announcement video shoot, and it was super chill. She was easy to get along with, and I’m genuinely excited to work with her again.”

Will it happen? Will it not? For the past six years, the question has loomed large over Student Of The Year 3 (SOTY 3), which was to launch Shanaya Kapoor in Bollywood. Now, mid-day has learnt that the third instalment of the Karan Johar-backed campus caper is set to go on floors later this month. No prizes for guessing that Kapoor will headline the project that will roll in Mumbai.

While some things remain constant in SOTY 3, some aspects have undergone an overhaul. The latest edition of the campus drama will be a web series, unlike the first two film instalments. Debutant director Reema Maya, who previously helmed the 2023 acclaimed short Nocturnal Burger, will be in charge of the six-episode show.

“SOTY 3 has been taking shape for the past six years. Finally, Karan has given the green signal and the unit plans to begin filming it from April 20. It will be a tight schedule of just over 30 days to shoot six episodes,” informs a source.

With SOTY having launched at least five actors over its past two instalments, producer Johar had hoped SOTY 3 would mark Kapoor’s foray into Bollywood. But after the project hit a roadblock, followed by Bedhadak that didn’t materialize as well, the youngster signed Vrushabha, a bilingual film in Malayalam and Telugu, opposite Mohanlal. While she will make her Bollywood debut with Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan opposite Vikrant Massey, she will also be seen in director Bejoy Nambiar’s Tu Yaa Main. 

Another insider reveals, “SOTY 3 will now be her fourth project and her streaming debut. Interestingly, Shanaya will be seen in a double role, which is a first in the SOTY franchise.” The series is expected to première on JioHotstar.

It may have taken Shanaya Kapoor, daughter of Sanjay Kapoor, time to start her innings in the industry, but now, she is caught up with back-to-back projects. Only days after she wrapped up her maiden Hindi film, Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, opposite Vikrant Massey, the actor is set to begin her next. We’ve heard the yet-untitled romance, which sees her team up with Munjya (2024) find Abhay Verma, will go on floors in Goa early next week.

Shujaat Saudagar, who last directed Bambai Meri Jaan (2023), helms the rom-com. An insider reveals, “Shanaya flew down to Goa on Friday. The unit will film in the beach state over the next one month.” 

From what we’ve been told, the leads underwent a three-month workshop for the film. Another source says, “An unconventional theme is at the centre of the rom-com, and Shujaat wanted Shanaya and Abhay to be part of workshops before facing the camera.”

This marks Kapoor’s third project after the upcoming Tamil-Malayalam offering Vrushabha, and Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyaan. The latter is an adaptation of Ruskin Bond’s short story The Eyes Have It. The source adds, “In the film, she plays a theatre actor, and Vikrant, a blind musician.”

Reema Maya, Shanaya Kapoor, Alaya F

When it comes to the film industry, no news usually means bad news. That, however, is not the case for the web series based on Student Of The Year, which, after being announced a year ago, was barely discussed in mainstream media. But the absence of news around the series, we learn, doesn’t imply that the Karan Johar-backed project has been shelved. A source tells mid-day that work on the show is underway with director Reema Maya currently looking for her leading man.

“While Alaya F and Shanaya Kapoor have already been confirmed as the lead actresses, the hunt for a male lead is underway. Reema Maya has a distinct vision for this series. Unlike the films, which had a glossy and [flamboyant] appearance, the web series will have a modern and edgy feel. It’s still set in the same world, but will focus on the interpersonal dynamics between the characters,” says the source.

Maya, known for her critically acclaimed project Nocturnal Burger (2023), is determined to present the franchise in a new light. “She’s looking for someone who can complement Alaya and Shanaya, and also bring a certain gravitas to the role. This franchise has catapulted newcomers to stardom. So, this is a golden opportunity for male actors. Open casting calls are being made for both primary and secondary roles, and Karan has stated that the decision rests with Reema,” says the source, adding that the team has locked the month of April for the shoot. “Locations are currently being scouted.”

Whenever there is a series about the entertainment industry, an award show sequence is almost always woven into it. It seems to be true of Aryan Khan’s debut series, Stardom, as well. mid-day has learnt that the first-time writer-director began shooting an award function scene in Mehboob Studios in Bandra yesterday. Sources tell us that as many as 18 stars have been lined up for the sequence.

On Friday, Rajkummar Rao, Arjun Kapoor, Siddhant Chaturvedi, and Shanaya Kapoor filmed their portions. A source reveals further, “On Saturday, Aryan will shoot with his superstar-father Shah Rukh Khan, Sara Ali Khan, and social media influencer Orhan Awatramani aka Orry. Seasoned actors Karisma Kapoor and Neelam, as well as personalities from Bollywood’s inner circle, including Seema Khan, Bhavana Pandey, and Maheep Kapoor, are expected to join. With so many industry figures making cameos, it will be an exhaustive affair. The director plans to wrap up filming by Sunday.” The sequence, we are told, serves as a crucial plot point in the show.

For his maiden directorial venture that is led by Mona Singh and Lakshya, Aryan has chosen to take an intimate look at the world that he knows best—showbiz. Stardom, slated to drop on Netflix next year, has been described as the story of “an ambitious outsider navigating the glitzy yet tricky world of Bollywood.”

Jewellery designer Maheep Kapoor gained fame for her sass and style in the first two seasons of Fabulous Lives Of Bollywood Wives. However, in the third season, audiences were introduced to a more intense and emotional side of her. Reflecting on this shift, Maheep, who is married to actor Sanjay Kapoor — the younger brother of Bollywood stalwarts Anil Kapoor and Boney Kapoor — shares, “There is a very vulnerable side to me, and I think it’s about the circumstances.”

In this season, the 42-year-old opened up about her health struggles, including a stint in the ICU and her diagnosis of type 1 diabetes: “It’s a reality show, so whatever you’re going through in that moment is the vibe and feeling you’ll convey on screen. You can’t always be jumping around happy and excited — that’s just not realistic. It came out very organically and I didn’t overthink it.”

She continues: “I’m not playing a character, I’m just being myself. Every woman can relate to each one of us in different ways, which is incredibly gratifying. It’s difficult to put your life out there, especially in an era of social media where judgments are fast and harsh. People are quick to judge but not quick enough to understand. But the love is overwhelming, and I’m grateful that people get us.”

Maheep, whose daughter Shanaya is set to make her acting debut, speaks with pride about the connection she’s fostered with her audience. “There’s a great sense of pride,” she says, adding, “I’m a middle-aged woman, and I’ve said many times that I was very complacent and comfortable. Then Karan (Johar, filmmaker) came along, shook me up, and offered me the show.”

Merry Christmas, Murder Mubarak, and now House Of Lies—Sanjay Kapoor has had a release every two months in the year so far. That’s a lot by any standard. To the actor, it’s a reaffirmation that perseverance always pays off.

“It’s not by chance that I did Bloody Daddy [2023], Made In Heaven 2, Merry Christmas, and so on. I have worked my ass off. It’s 30 years of experience, focus and perseverance [at work]. In the last one year, I have worked with directors Sriram Raghavan, Zoya Akhtar, Neeraj Ghaywan, Prakash Jha and Homi Adajania. People are happy even if they get to work with two or three such directors in their lifetime,” says the actor, who leads the Zee5 murder mystery.

The industry is witnessing a resurgence of several ’90s stars. While Bobby Deol made an assured comeback with Aashram and Animal (2023), Manisha Koirala recently headlined Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. Kajol and Raveena Tandon have fronted web series. How does Kapoor view this revival of sorts?

“These actors haven’t got work today by chance. Manisha had done great work even before, be it Bombay [1995] or 1942: A Love Story [1994]. Sometimes, you go through a transitional phase—you aren’t young enough to play a youngster, nor old enough to play an older character. With OTT, people are getting more opportunities. Also, you never heard anything wrong about all the actors you’ve mentioned. You heard their names only with regard to their work. These actors never lost hope or confidence in themselves. Bobby has spoken about it himself. It’s not that all the ’90s actors have made a comeback. There were others who lost their focus. Nobody is here to make your life; you have to build your own. Nobody is giving you a chance just because they love you.”

It’s certainly a wise lesson that his daughter Shanaya Kapoor, who is foraying into movies with Mohanlal’s Vrushabha, can benefit from. Kapoor says his journey has taught Shanaya the importance of being dedicated.

“Shanaya is intelligent. She has seen that this industry is not a bed of roses; you have to work hard. I don’t have to advise her, I’m always there for her. She is focused. During the pandemic, she was taking diction and dance classes. She didn’t waste that time. Mentally, she will be strong because she has seen my journey in the industry.”

Flying high on the success of two releases, Homi Adajania’s Murder Mubarak and Sriram Raghavan’s Merry Christmas, actor Sanjay Kapoor has been wanting to work with both filmmakers as a producer first. The actor, who possesses the rights of the 1975 film Khel Khel Mein, wanted either one of them to direct the remake.

In 2012, Sanjay stated that he would take the remake on floors and cast fresh faces as leads but that didn’t materalise. The OG film starred late Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor and Rakesh Roshan. Now, that his daughter Shanaya Kapoor will soon make her film debut, ask him if he will cast her in the remake and he replies, “If I am going to make it today, I will obviously make it with Shanaya.”

While the 58-year-old isn’t sure when will be the right time for the film, Sanjay insists that he will make the remake, someday. “Right now, I am very busy with my work as an actor, but I will definitely make the film. It’s a film that is very close to my heart.”

He further adds, “I remember that when I got the rights of the film, Chintu (late Rishi Kapoor) told me that he and Neetu will do a cameo whenever I remake the film. So, whenever the time comes, I will miss Chintu, but I will make sure Neetu is still in it,” he ends.