It will rain newcomers in 2025 as is the case in most recent years. And the critics of nepotism might once again cry themselves hoarse as most newcomers are related to someone in the film industry.
But the axiom remains: only talent survives, and bloodlines can at best give a newcomer a few more chances. Even more so today than in the eras of Kumar Gaurav and Sunny Deol, filmmaking costs are too prohibitive to allow sentiment to overrule economics. And in most cases therefore, outside filmmakers launch these newbies, not parents or close relatives.
Rasha Thadani & Aaman Devgan
The list begins with Rasha Thadani, daughter of Raveena Tandon (with whom she has a great resemblance) and husband Anil Thadani, and Ajay Devgn’s nephew Aaman Devgan in Azaad, an Abhishek Kapoor passion project, as it releases on January 17. Aaman is Ajay’s sister’s son, but continues to have the second name Devgan for identification as even his mother is known as Neelam Devgan Gandhi. Interestingly, Ajay and Raveena have been co-stars in several films, including Dilwale (1994), Raveena’s breakthrough film.
Veer Pahariya
Son to business tycoon Sanjay Pahariya, Veer Pahariya is the brother of Shikhar, who is dating Janhvi Kapoor, and their grandfather is former Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde. He plays Sq. Ldr. Ajjamada Boppayya Devayya, an Indian Air- Force officer who was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for bravery. Veer had assisted on Bhediya earlier.
Ibrahim Ali Khan
Saif Ali Khan’s and Amrita Singh’s son Ibrahim Ali Khan will be first seen in Karan Johar’s Sarzameen directed by Kayoze Irani, another “nepo-kid” (he is actor Boman Irani’s son!). Karan is already “notorious” (as per those who have made nepotism a “brand” here) and the patriotic drama co-stars Kajol and Prithviraj Sukumaran. Like many current names, Ibrahim first worked as an assistant on Karan’s Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.
Aman Indra Kumar & Akanksha Sharma
These two newcomers feature in the romantic comedy, Tera Yaar Hoon Main, being directed by writer Milap Zaveri for producers Ashok Thakeria and Indra Kumar. Yes, you guessed it right! Aman is Indra Kumar’s son. Thakeria’s son Anmol and daughter Paloma were introduced by other filmmakers in the last few years.
Shanaya Kapoor
Shanaya Kapoor, daughter of actor Sanjay Kapoor, had a debut film, Bedhadak, which was shelved. Undeterred, this cousin of Arjun, Janhvi and Khushi Kapoor, will now star in Vrushabha, featuring none other than Mohanlal. After this pan-Indian debut, she will make her first Hindi appearance in Aankhon Ki Gusthakhiyan with Vikrant Massey as her hero. But a shelved first film and a South debut are interestingly known to be lucky factors for any debutant actor!
Ansh Duggal and Pragati Shrivastava
Ansh Duggal. who was earlier seen in the music video Nayan with Dhvani Bhanushali, will make his debut with Nakhrewaalii, which also introduces Pragati Shrivastava. The film is produced and directed by Aanand L. Rai.
Ahaan Panday
With one extra ‘A’ in his first name to differentiate between Ahan Shetty (who is getting his second chance this year) (note Raj Kapoor and Raaj Kumar in the past!), Ahaan Panday, cousin of actor Ananya Panday, will star in a Mohit Suri-directed love story. It will be produced by none other than Aditya Chopra for Yash Raj Films!
Yashvardhan Ahuja
Govinda’s son, Yashvardhan Ahuja, who has studied acting abroad (London’s Met Film School) will star in a yet-untitled love story that will also feature a new face opposite him. The film will be directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Sai Rajesh and produced by Madhu Mantena with Allu Aravind and SKN Films. Allu Aravind, incidentally, is Allu Arjun’s father.
Harnaaz Sandhu
Miss India Universe 2021 has bagged the female lead opposite Tiger Shroff in Sajid Nadiadwala’s fourth installment of the Baaghi franchise.
Agastya Nanda & Simar Bhatia
Akshay Kumar’s niece, Simar Bhatia, makes her debut in Ikkis, directed by Sriram Raghavan for Dinesh Vijan. A biopic of Param Vir Chakra winner Arun Khetarpal, who showed exemplary courage in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war, the film features Agastya Nanda, Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson, in the title-role, and it is his big-screen debut.
Prominent New Faces in the Millennium
Names in Italics are freshers without a film background. *: Related by marriage to Anil Kapoor’s wife as revealed later. ** Related to Leena Chandavarkar, Girish Karnad and composer (Laxmikant-) Pyarelal. *** as revealed later. Related to Ashok Kumar *** as revealed later. Related to Ashok Kumar & Saeed Jaffery as revealed later.
2000 – 2009:
Hrithik Roshan, Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham, Shahid Kapoor, Emraan Hashmi, Ranbir Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Bipasha Basu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Lara Dutta, Katrina Kaif, Kangana Ranaut, Vidya Balan, Deepika Padukone** & Anushka Sharma
2010-2019:
Ranveer Singh*, Arjun Kapoor, Ayushmann Khurrana, Varun Dhawan, Sidharth Malhotra, Tiger Shroff, Sonakshi Sinha, Shraddha Kapoor, Parineeti Chopra, Alia Bhatt, Taapsee Pannu, Kriti Sanon, Kiara Advani***, Ananya Panday & Janhvi Kapoor
(Used with permission)
