The Kapoor family is considered Bollywood royalty, tracing its roots back to Prithviraj Kapoor, who became the first from the clan to step into Indian cinema. Over the decades, several generations of Kapoors have continued the legacy, with many becoming top actors, producers, and directors. But with so many members spread across generations, it’s easy to get confused about who is related to whom. Here’s a simplified breakdown of the Kapoor family tree.
Prithviraj Kapoor: The Pioneer of the Kapoor Dynasty
The journey of the Kapoor family in films started with Prithviraj Kapoor in the 1920s. His father, Basheshwarnath Kapoor, was a police officer in Peshawar. Prithviraj debuted with a side role in Be Dhari Talwar (1929) and earned fame as the lead in Cinema Girl (1930). His brother Trilok Kapoor also acted and gained success with his debut in Char Darvesh (1933).
Prithviraj Kapoor’s three sons—Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor, and Shashi Kapoor—became prominent figures in the Hindi film industry.
Raj Kapoor’s Family: The Showman and His Legacy
Raj Kapoor, known as the ‘Showman of Bollywood,’ married Krishna Malhotra in 1946. They had five children:
- Randhir Kapoor (married to Babita)
- Rishi Kapoor (married to Neetu Singh)
- Rajiv Kapoor
- Ritu Nanda (married to Rajan Nanda)
- Reema Jain (married to Manoj Jain)
Raj Kapoor’s granddaughters Karisma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan (daughters of Randhir and Babita) have made successful careers in Bollywood. Kareena is married to actor Saif Ali Khan, and they have two sons, Taimur and Jeh Ali Khan.
Rishi Kapoor’s son Ranbir Kapoor is one of the biggest stars in Bollywood today. He married Alia Bhatt, and they recently welcomed their daughter, Raha Kapoor. Rishi’s daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni is a designer.
Shammi Kapoor and His Family
Shammi Kapoor married actress Geeta Bali in 1955. They had two children: Aditya Raj Kapoor and Kanchan Kapoor. After Geeta’s death, Shammi married Neela Devi in 1969.
While Aditya Raj Kapoor tried his hand at acting, he didn’t achieve much success. Kanchan married Ketan Desai, son of filmmaker Manmohan Desai.
Shashi Kapoor’s Family: A Mix of Bollywood and Theatre
Shashi Kapoor married British actress Jennifer Kendal in 1958. They had three children:
- Kunal Kapoor (now an ad filmmaker)
- Karan Kapoor (a photographer based in London)
- Sanjana Kapoor (former head of Prithvi Theatre)
Though none of Shashi Kapoor’s children had long Bollywood careers, Sanjana made a significant contribution to Indian theatre by managing the iconic Prithvi Theatre from 1993 to 2012.
Surinder Kapoor: A Cousin Who Built His Legacy
Surinder Kapoor, a cousin of Prithviraj Kapoor, moved to Mumbai with his help. He married Nirmal Kapoor and became the patriarch of another successful film family.
- Boney Kapoor, his eldest son, was married to Mona Shourie and later to Sridevi. Boney is the father of Arjun Kapoor, Anshula Kapoor, Janhvi Kapoor, and Khushi Kapoor.
- Anil Kapoor is married to Sunita Kapoor. They have three children: Sonam Kapoor, Rhea Kapoor, and Harshvardhan Kapoor.
- Sonam married Anand Ahuja, while Rhea is married to Karan Boolani.
- Sanjay Kapoor is married to Maheep Sandhu and has two children, Shanaya Kapoor and Jahaan Kapoor.
The family also includes Reena Kapoor Marwah, married to Sandeep Marwah, with two sons: Mohit Marwah and Akshay Marwah. Mohit is married to Antara Motiwala, and Akshay to Aashita Relan.
Other Notable Relatives in the Kapoor Clan
The Kapoor family extends beyond immediate relations, with some interesting connections:
- Kamal Kapoor, famous for playing Narang in Don (1978), was Prithviraj Kapoor’s maternal cousin. His children, including Kapil Kapoor and Madhu Bahl, also have connections to Bollywood. Madhu married Ramesh Bahl, and their son Goldie Bahl married actress Sonali Bendre.
- Subbiraj, son of Prithviraj Kapoor’s sister Kailash Kakkar, was also an actor. He married actress Kumari Naaz.
- The family has ties to Salma Agha, a Pakistani actress and singer, whose step-grandfather was Prithviraj Kapoor’s maternal uncle.
Kapoor Family: Fourth and Fifth Generations Taking the Legacy Forward
The Kapoor family continues to stay relevant, with its younger members taking center stage in Bollywood:
- Karisma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan remain iconic.
- Ranbir Kapoor is among the top actors of his generation.
- Janhvi Kapoor and Shanaya Kapoor are rising stars in the industry.
The fifth generation, including Raha Kapoor, Taimur Ali Khan, and Jeh Ali Khan, is already in the public eye, hinting at a bright future for the Kapoor legacy.
The Kapoor family tree is a testament to the family’s deep-rooted presence in Bollywood. With members across generations making their mark, the Kapoor dynasty is likely to continue being a significant part of Indian cinema for years to come.
