Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Did you know these Bollywood stars are related?

July 17, 2014 18:19 IST
Ranveer Singh-Sonam Kapoor

Interesting filmi trivia, right here!

Lekar Hum Deewana Dil debutant Armaan Jain is Kareena and Ranbir Kapoor’s cousin. (Bet you already knew that?) 

Abhay Deol is Dharmendra’s nephew. (Old hat, agreed!) 

Mumtaz is mom-in-law to Fardeen Khan. (Hardly breaking news anymore.) 

That’s not all.

Pretty much everybody in Bollywood is related to someone in showbiz. 

And so we explore the lesser-known filmi connections of the stars.

Ranveer Singh-Sonam Kapoor

That Sonam and Arjun Kapoor are cousins is a widely known fact.

What you should also know is that Sonam and Ranveer Singh are second cousins.

Basically, the Ranjhanaa star’s nani (maternal grandmother) and Lootera hunk’s dadaji (paternal grandfather) are siblings.

Please click Next to see more.

Akshay Oberoi-Vivek Oberoi

July 17, 2014 18:19 IST
Akshay Oberoi-Vivek Oberoi

Full marks to Akshay Oberoi, the stubble-sporting hunk who stars as a pizza delivery boy in the remake of the hit Tamil horror, Pizza for never cashing on his ties with more famous relatives.

Did you know Akshay is popular character actor Suresh Oberoi’s businessman brother Krishn’s son?

And that makes him Vivek Oberoi’s first cousin.

Sharman Joshi-Prem Chopra

July 17, 2014 18:19 IST
Sharman Joshi-Prem Chopra

Villains and comedians can be friends too.

The funnyman of films like Golmaal and 3 Idiots, Sharman Joshi is married to Prem Chopra’s daughter Prerna.

Wonder how he feels about imitating his legendary father-in-law’s iconic dialogue -- Prem naam hai mera, Prem Chopra?

Ayan Mukerji-Ashutosh Gowariker

July 17, 2014 18:19 IST
Ayan Mukerji-Ashutosh Gowariker

We all know actor Deb Mukerji’s Ayan is a cousin of Kajol and Rani Mukerji. We also know he assisted Ashutosh Gowariker on Swades.

But who knew the latter happens to be his brother-in-law in relation?

Gowariker’s better half, Sunita is Ayan’s half-sister and Deb’s daughter from his first marriage.

Shraddha Kapoor-Lata Mangeshkar

July 17, 2014 18:19 IST
Shraddha Kapoor-Lata Mangeshkar

Shraddha Kapoor sounds rather sweet in her version of Ek Villain’s chartbuster, Galliyan.

You know why?

She is the grand niece of legendary playback singers and sisters Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle.

Her grandfather Pandit Pandharinath Kolhapure (yep, Padmini, Shivangi and Tejaswini Kolhapure’s dad) is a cousin of India’s most beloved voices.

Amitabh Bachchan-Kunal Kapoor

July 17, 2014 18:19 IST
Amitabh Bachchan-Kunal Kapoor

The Rang De Basanti star recently got engaged to longtime girlfriend Naina, Amitabh Bachchan’s niece, that is daughter of his younger brother Ajitabh.

So what does that make Kunal Kapoor of Big B’s? Why, jamai babu, of course!

Purab Kohli-Shekhar Kapur

July 17, 2014 18:19 IST
Purab Kohli-Shekhar Kapur

Dharam-Abhay, Aamir-Imran, Anil-Arjun, the film industry has quite a few uncle-nephew jodis to boast.

Few are aware of veejay-turned-actor Purab Kohli’s links with international filmmaker Shekhar Kapur.

Purab’s dad Harsh is a cousin of Kapur, which makes the latter his uncle.

Karan Johar-Aditya Chopra

July 17, 2014 18:19 IST
Karan Johar-Aditya Chopra

They’re not merely best friends forever.

They’re cousin brothers too.

Karan’s mum Hiroo Johar and Aditya’s father Yash Chopra are siblings.

And while their respect and affection for each other is public knowledge, the technicality of their relationship isn’t that apparent.

Dharmesh Darshan-Alia Bhatt

July 17, 2014 18:19 IST
Dharmesh Darshan-Alia Bhatt

Known for his heroine-centric fare like Raja Hindustani and Dhadkan, Dharmesh Darshan is related to one of the brightest new actresses of Bollywood -- Alia Bhatt.

Yep, the leading lady of Student of the Year, Highway, 2 States and Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania is a cousin of Dharmesh Darshan.

Darshan’s mum Sheila is the elder sister of filmmakers Mahesh (and Alia’s dad) and Mukesh Bhatt.