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June, the month when monsoon arrives in India, is also the birth month of many celebrities. Here are 10 key denizens of the film industry who celebrate birthdays in the sixth month of the year.
R. Madhavan (June 1)
The month opens with one of the finest actors we have seen in Hindi (and regional) cinema, as well as television and the web: Padma Shri Ranganathan Madhavan. Beginning with TV serials like Banegi Apni Baat and Ghar Jamai, R. Madhavan has explored every genre of film and role later, and his Hindi highs include 3 Idiots, the Tanu Weds Manufranchise, Rocketry. Shaitaan, Kesari 2 and, of course, the recent Dhurandhar franchise. Multi-awarded, he is also multi-lingual! The original Vikram Vedha in Tamil is also in his repertoire.
Ilaiyaraaja (June 2)
The genius holds the record for composing music and background scores in multiple languages. He has composed music for over 8600 songs in 1500 films in 23 languages, including Hindi triumphs like Sadma, Cheeni Kum and Paa. Padma Vibhushan Ilaiyaraaja has been known to compose a complete score of six to eight diverse songs for a single film within one day! Born actually on June 3, in 1943, he, however, celebrates his birthday a day earlier to honor politician Karunanidhi, who was born on June 3 and gave him the title Isaignani, meaning a “musical sage.”
Sonakshi Sinha (June 2)
Shatrughan Sinha’s daughter got an iconic film for a debut—Dabangg. An actress who has improved her craft by the film, she is also remembered for Rowdy Rathore, Mission Mangal and Kakuda and of course in two of the finest web series—Dahaad and Heeramandi (in her first dual role) that also had magnificent turns from her.
Ekta Kapoor (June 7)
Another daughter of a top star, Jeetendra, (now) Padma Shri Ekta Kapoor first started work in their basement garage with just a table, chair and fan. It did not take many years for her to gift a Mercedes to her dad! TV Czar, then film producer and inordinately successful at both, Ekta believes in numerology and success has now become her middle name. Long before K-Pop became known in India, her serials beginning with K became legion, and this was followed for a while even by films beginning with K! The list is too extensive but the hits continue, the latest being Bhooth Bangla.
Shilpa Shetty (June 8)
Her impactful debut in Baazigar 33 years ago was followed by a mixed bag of films, but she doughtily carried on, even carving her own niche as a fitness expert with her Yoga videos, was contestant and subsequent winner of the British reality television series Celebrity Big Brother 5 and also became a reality show judge (in India), IPL cricket team owner and more. Acting applause came her way with films like Dhadkan and the Kannada film, Auto Shankar. Shetty is also known for her charitable work.
Dimple Kapadia (June 8)
From Bobby to an unhappy marriage to her comeback with Saagar and being recognized as one of Hindi cinema’s most talented and powerhouse performers, Dimple Kapadia has continuously raised the bar with her performances in Aitbaar, Kaash, Drishti, Lekin, Rudaali, Dil Chahta Hai, Being Cyrus, Jab Khuli Kitaab, the Bengali Antaheen and the Hollywood movie, Tenet.
Mithun Chakraborty (June 16)
The Dadasaheb Phalke awardee for 2022 and a Padma Bhushan winner as well, Mithun Chakraborty has reached where he has after being a rebel Naxalite in his early days. At 76, Mithun-da, as he is known, is nothing less than an institution. Three National awards lead the honors he has got after starting out in Mrigaya (which was his first film andwon him his first National award) and making commercial marks with Surakshaa as Gunmaster G-9 and Disco Dancerin the title role. He is a respected and busy character artiste today after Golmaal 3, OMG—Oh My God!, Kick, The Kashmir
Imtiaz Ali (June 16)
His track-record has been erratic. After lovable beginnings like Socha Na Tha (unsuccessful in its theatrical run) and Jab We Met (average at the box-office), writer-director Imtiaz Ali went a shade massy with Love Aaj Kal, which gave him commercial recognition. After that, weak movies like Rockstar and Tamasha were hyped by both media and a fraction of young audiences, followed by three decisive flops. Ali resurrected himself creatively with his OTT biopic release, Amar Singh Chamkila, and has just surfaced with the elegant Main Vaapas Aaunga, which, however, has not fared well.
Raj Babbar (June 23)
Raj Babbar began small. His first signed film was a cameo in Prakash Mehra’s Shatrughan Sinha-Vinod Mehra multi-star flop, Jwalamukhi. His breakout film was Insaf Ka Tarazu, in which he played a baddie, a zone he got to specialize in with several other films like Aitbaar, Yaraana, Dalaal, Aankhen and more. Alongside, his movies as a hero fared variably, with superhits like Hum Paanch, Nikaah, Aaj Ki Awaz and later Insaf Ki Awaaz, Ghayal and others. His famous work on TV includes Mahabharat and his last work was the 2023 Happy Family: Conditions Apply. Since 2024, he has been inactive professionally.
Karisma Kapoor (June 25)
She was the first female Kapoor, something her mother, 1960s actress Babita, insisted upon with her actor father, Randhir Kapoor. Her first release, Prem Quaidi (1991) became a hit, and no one cared that her first signed film, Deedaar, bombed later. By the late 1990s, she had given hits like Coolie No. 1, Raja Hindustani, Dil To Pagal Hai, Hero No. 1 and Biwi No. 1. She quit films in the early millennium following marriage and by that time became known for three main aspects: her professionalism (legend went that one could time one’s watch with her punctuality!), her dancing abilities and chartbusters and her combination with Govinda. She returned to work in 2012 with Dangerous Ishhq, followed by impressive turns in Mentalhood, Murder Mubarak and now Brown.
