How Dynasties Rule Bollywood

How Dynasties Rule Bollywood
A marriage brings out the clan power in the Hindi film industry.
Kaveree Bamzai

IN BOLLYWOOD, FAMILIES HAVE ALWAYS been the first port of call and also the last resort. When Sony Pictures Entertainment wanted to take on the might of Shah Rukh Khan at the height of his popularity in 2007, they put their money on Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who went back to two of Bollywood’s oldest families for inspiration, casting Ranbir Kapoor, a fourth-generation actor, and Sonam Kapoor, a second-generation actor, in Saawariya. The two families were connected informally, as indeed most dynasties in Bollywood are, through Sonam’s grandfather Surinder Kapoor who was secretary to actor Geeta Bali, who was married to Ranbir’s grand-uncle, beloved ’60s swinging star Shammi Kapoor.

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