Star kids all set to shine

Bollywood's nepo babies are making their mark in 2025

It is a truth universally acknowledged that having a parent in the world of showbiz will open doors with a swiftness and ease other mere mortals can only dream of – and nowhere is this phenomenon more evident than in Bollywood.

Whilst sheltering under the umbrella of an actor-director parent (or aunt or uncle) is not a luxury most aspiring thespians can rely on, here are seven of Bollywood's so-called nepo-babies who are following their famous families' footsteps into the world of the screen in 2025.

Aryan Khan

Son of Shah Rukh Khan, king of Bollywood, Aryan Khan is heading to Netflix to try his hand at his directorial debut. Unlike his sister Suhana, who unveiled her acting shops in The Archies in 2023, Aryan looks to remain off-screen in his project, a documentary about the inner workings of Bollywood.

"Witness Bollywood like never before… on Netflix!" boasts the streaming platform's Instagram post about Aryan's as-yet-untitled project. Presenting Aryan Khan's directorial debut in an all-new series, coming soon!"

With a father synonymous with the ultimate Bollywood hero and a mother whose production company he can benefit from, Aryan's pathway into his project could not have been made easier. His debut "one of a kind" project will be produced by his mother, Gauri Khan under the banner of Red Chillies Entertainment.

As per reports, Aryan's series promises to offer an entertaining and bold take on the glitzy yet challenging world of Bollywood. The plot follows a charming, ambitious outsider navigating the complexities of the industry. It combines high drama with tongue-in-cheek humour and is set to feature blockbuster cameos and larger-than-life characters. If you remain unconvinced, Shah Rukh lauded his son's efforts and boasted of his "untamed storytelling, controlled chaos, gutsy scenes, and lots and lots of fun and emotions." Can Aryan live up to such promises? This will be the year we will find out.

Ibrahim Ali Khan

Son of Saif Ali Kan and Amrita Singh, Ibrahim Ali Khan has inherited his father's good looks and, hopefully, also his skill in front of the camera. Directed by Kayoze Irani and produced under the banner of Karan Johar's Dharma Productions, Ibrahim's thriller debut Sarzameen is slated to land in Indian cinemas this month, and will also feature Kajol and Prithviraj Sukumaran in key roles. According to the Times of India, the film has been described as a mystery thriller with patriotic elements, and explores different facets of love and relationships.

This may be his acting debut, but Ibrahim's foray into the world of film began with work as an assistant director in Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh's Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023). Ibrahim is familiar to netizens for not just his piercing good looks, but also his fun-loving tongue-in-cheek nature. According to reports in Indian media, Ibrahim was recently filmed informing a street vendor (much to the internet's delight), "Papa is the famous actor, not me."

Charm, wit, looks and famous parents aside, however, it remains to be seen how he fares with the pressure of the camera on him. Nevertheless, Ibrahim's co-star Kajol went on record last year to see that he was "absolutely wonderful" in the film and promised that it would be "interesting" to see him on screen. Whether or not this means he will dazzle everyone else on screen is something film fans can only guess at for now.

Shanaya Kapoor

When your surname is Kapoor, the chances are high that you will have links to the film industry in India, and Shanaya Kapoor is no exception. The daughter of Maheep Kapoor and Sanjay Kapoor, Shanaya is eyeing her debut release this year in the film Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan opposite 12th Fail actor Vikrant Massey. As Hindustan Times tells us, the offering, directed by Santoshi Singh, is a contemporary take on romance and ghosting – a surefire hit theme with young audiences – and is expected to arrive in cinemas later this year.

This is not Shanaya's first attempt at making her mark in Bollywood. In 2022, Shanaya had been scheduled to have a role in Karan Johar's Bedhadak. However, that project ended up being shelved for undisclosed reasons. Shanaya has made her social media presence felt with her effortlessly chic sense of fashion. Now, as she eyes a bigger platform for herself, viewers can sit back to see if she can launch herself to stardom in front of the camera.

Ahaan Panday

Dashing young Ahaan Panday is no stranger to fans on social media. The son of Chikki Panday and cousin to Call Me Bae actor Ananya Panday, Ahaan Panday is geared to appear in a "young love story" helmed by ace filmmaker Mohit Suri. In March 2024, Ahaan took to Instagram to post a photo of himself clutching a guitar and standing next to British superstar Ed Sheeran alongside the caption, "Been prepping on this guitar for my debut film and now I have it bless-Ed by none other than Ed Sheeran." Having been blessed by Ed, fans can expect only good things from his upcoming love story. Or at the very least, some decent guitar playing.

Rasha Thadani, Aaman Devgan

Raveena Tandon's daughter Rasha Thadani is ready to set screens alight with her debut in Abhishek Kapoor's film Azaad alongside Ajay Devgn and Aaman Devgan (nephew of aforementioned Ajay), scheduled for a January 17 release. Fans will have got a taste of Rasha's rocking the dance floor in the film's song Uyi Amma, leaving viewers wondering what else Bollywood's newest star will deliver when the time comes.

With Azaad's debut imminent, Aaman, meanwhile, has been sharing teasers and glimpses of the film on his Instagram Stories. Clips from the film show his character astride a black horse galloping across a field, seemingly embodying the very freedom the title boasts.

Simar Bhatia

Finally, Simar Bhatia – Akshay Kumar's niece – is set to sizzle in her first-time performance in the upcoming film Ikkis. By her side will be yet another nepo baby – The Archies actor Agastya Nanda, grandson of Amitabh Bachchan. Yet another patriotic offering, the film is slated for a release later this year. We are in no position to judge what to expect from Simar just yet, but what we do know is how proud her uncle is. "I remember the first time I saw my photo on the cover of the newspaper. I thought that was the ultimate happiness," wrote Akshay on Instagram recently. "But today, I know the happiness of seeing your child's photo here beats everything."