Athiya Shetty in Mubarakan, Ranbir Kapoor in Bachna Ae Haseeno & 5 Other Star Kids Who Bagged Bollywood Films Despite a Disastrous Debut!

Had Shah Rukh Khan been given another chance had his debut film, Deewana flopped at the box office? Or Deepika Padukone in Om Shanti Om? Or Anushka Sharma in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi?

Anees Bazmee’s comic-caper Mubarakan hit theatres this week Friday on July 28 and is doing a strong business at the box office. The film stars Arjun Kapoor in a double role with his real-life uncle and evergreen actor, Anil Kapoor in the pivotal role. In female leads department, along with Ileana D’Cruz, Mubarakan brings Athiya Shetty to light up the silver screen. This is Athiya’s second film after her not-so-happening Bollywood debut with 2015 film, Hero. The 24-year-old is the daughter of actor Sunil Shetty and one of the many privileged star kids who got perfect launch pad to enter the showbiz and pursue their love for acting. Athiya Shetty despite failing miserably to shine in her first venture faced no hurdles in bagging her next films. While we do not want to keep on harping on the prevalent issue of nepotism in Bollywood, the celebrity kids are given multiple options to try their luck. Let’s not blame Athiya alone of cashing on chances of getting the second film despite delivering a dud in her debut movies because there more names such as Ranbir Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor and mostly more Kapoors!

1. Ranbir Kapoor in Bachna Ae Haseeno

Yesteryear actor, Rishi Kapoor’s son Ranbir Kapoor made his Bollywood debut in 2007 with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s much-ambitious project, Saawariya. He paired opposite another star kid, Sonam Kapoor, elder daughter of actor Anil Kapoor. The film made at a budget of Rs 40 crore ( the whopping amount a decade ago), Saawariya turned out to be the biggest dud of the year. The film not only became one of the biggest failures in Bollywood history but also became a butt of all jokes (yes, years, years before memes trend were not even present). Nevertheless, film’s fate mattered nothing to Ranbir who did his second film with Yash Raj Films. He was seen romancing three heroines in Bachna Ae Haseeno; a film released a year later in 2008.

2. Sonam Kapoor in Delhi-6

She was Ranbir’s heroine in Saawariya (the fate of this movie is mentioned above). But just like her debut film hero, Sonam Kapoor too had it easy doing her second movie – that too with the celebrated director, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. 2009 film Delhi-6 saw Sonam dance with a Masakali Pigeon on her head and the same set of expressions that made fans pull their hair apart while watching Saawariya.

3. Kareena Kapoor in Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai

Kareena Kapoor was all of 19 when she stepped in front of the camera as the female lead. The Begum of Bollywood made her film debut with JP Dutta’s Refugee in 2000. She was a delight to watch, and there is no denial, Kareena showed her acting prowess right in her maiden film, which also marked the debut of another star kid. Amitabh Bachchan’s son Abhishek was the lead hero in the film which sunk at the box office. Despite Refugee’s tepid box office response, Kareena did her second movie, Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai a year later in 2001.

4. Abhishek Bachchan in Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa

Abhishek Bachchan made his Bollywood debut with Refugee in 2000 – it was a flop. Unlike other star kids, megastar Amitabh Bachchan’s son had two more releases that year – Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa and Dhai Akshar Prem Ke. Both films FLOPPED. AB Jr. had another release the following year in 2002, Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai, which was another flop. In short, Abhishek delivered 15 successive FLOPS before receiving appreciation in 2004 film Yuva directed by Mani Ratnam. Phew!

5. Harshvardhan Kapoor in Bhavesh Joshi

Remember the forgettable (so much for the irony), 2016 Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra film, Mirzya. Well, if you don’t then let us enlighten you that it saw the acting debut of Harshvardhan Kapoor, son of evergreen actor, Anil Kapoor. He is the younger brother of actress Sonam and producer Rhea Kapoor. (Phew!) Mirzya was a secret project, and it disappeared from the face of the box office, quite secretly. But does the failure of the film mean, Harshvardhan has to wait for ages like others to bag his second movie? NOPE. The 26-year-old has already started shooting with Vikramaditya Motwane titled Bhavesh Joshi.

6. Shraddha Kapoor in Luv Ka The End

Actress Shraddha Kapoor is ruling the box office, but it would have been a ‘little’ tough if her debut film box office performance was judged the same way like outsiders in the industry. The daughter of the popular actor famous for negative and comedy roles, Shakti Kapoor, made her Bollywood debut with 2010 heist film Teen Patti. The film bombed at the box office, but Shraddha returned in Luv Ka The End released in 2011. The film was the first production of Y-Films, a subsidiary of Yash Raj Films. Brilliant.

7. Jackky Bhagnani in F.A.L.T.U

Jackky Bhagnani, son of film producer, Vashu Bhagnani, redefined the meaning of debut. Debut means doing something for the first time, but that has not been the case with Jackky. The actor who made his entry in the showbiz as an actor with Kal Kissne Dekha in 2009 kept making successive ‘debuts’. After the film had tanked, Jackky Bhagnani kept getting relaunched in the industry.

Had Shah Rukh Khan been given another chance had his debut film, Deewana flopped at the box office? Or Deepika Padukone in Om Shanti Om? Or Anushka Sharma in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi? Bollywood may or may not have handed a second chance to the industry outsiders. But it is a definite truth that a failed celebrity kid would be given multiple chances to prove themselves. The much controversial row on nepotism came under the media light only after the infamous Kangana Ranaut vs Karan Johar episode on Koffee With Karan Season 5. But the problematic issue was always present, and it is high time when the matter is addressed clearly.