THE DYNAMIC DYNASTIES:
What would the world of films be without them?

Whatever the political pundits and politicians, critics and common men say or believe about dynastic rule in the country there is one place where dynastic rule is encouraged, is inspired, is built into major empires which are based on talent and talent alone. In this 50th year of SCREEN we take a look at some of the dynasties, some big, some small, but dynasties all the same, dynasties without which the industry would not be what it is today.
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The first strong and talented man to start his own dynasty in the true sense of the term was Prithviraj Kapoor. He was basically a theatre man who founded Prithvi Theatre for theatre and then started working in films. He was the father of Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor. The sons followed in their father’s footsteps. They had acting in their veins, literally. Raj scaled new heights both as an actor and as a filmmaker and was unanimously accepted as the showman of the industry. Shammi Kapoor developed a style of his own as an actor and was known as “The Rebel Star” of his times. Shashi Kapoor became the typical Hindi film romantic hero who later took to producing art films in which he lost all the money he had made slogging seven shifts a day meaninglessly doing meaningless films. He then took to direction and made Ajooba with his best friend Amitabh Bachchan and his nephew Rishi Kapoor. He failed as a director too, and now spends his time looking after the children of his son, Kunal Kapoor, who also tried to make it as an actor but failed very soon. He is now busy making ad films and is one of the bigger names in the game. Kunal’s brother Karan, too, tried to make it in Hindi films but they considered him too English to play the Hindi film actor. He is now one of the leading models in the world and making more money than some of the biggest Hindi stars in India. His sister, Sanjana, and Kunal are rendering yeoman service to Indian theatre by protecting the nearly-dying interest in Hindi theatre by running Prithvi Theatre all by themselves, a theatre built by their parents, Shashi and Jennifer, the late Jennifer who was fascinating as an actress and the backbone of Shashi’s family till she prematurely died of cancer.

Raj Kapoor’s sons turned out to be actor-stars without going through any trouble. Randhir, his first born, took to acting and within years made it as one of the better directors of Hindi films. The last film he directed was, Henna, a film left incomplete by his father. Randhir is now planning his own film, Ghoonghat Ke Pat Khol. He is also looking after the general management of RK Studios, the legacy left by his father. Randhir’s wife, Babita, was an actress till she married Randhir. The girls in the Kapoor family were not allowed to act in films and so Raj’s daughters, Ritu Nanda and Reema stayed at home. It was only Babita who violated the Kapoor’s tradition. Karisma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor, the daughters of Randhir and Babita are leading actresses of today as a result of her going against the principles of Raj’s dynasty. Rishi stayed on to play the great romantic hero for more than 27 years which is a record. He has now switched over to playing mature roles in films like Raju Chacha and Khatta Meetha. But he is most interested in directing films. He made his debut with Aa Ab Laut Chalen which proved that he had the potential to prove his father right, his father who said that it was only his son, Rishi, who had the capacity and the ability to make it as a great director, one day. Chimpu, the youngest son of Raj, was caught cloning his uncle Shammi Kapoor which was a “sin”. He soon gave up interest in acting after doing a double role in a film called Aasmaan and took to directing his first film seriously. He made Prem Granth with his brother Rishi and Madhuri Dixit. It was a serious film made with a great deal of sincerity. But the film failed to bring in the masses and sent Chimpu into a long spell of depression. The three Kapoor brothers are desperately looking for good scripts now. They will not start making films till they find them, they say. They are sensible and talented enough to know that they are a part of the most talked-about dynasty who have promises and principles to keep as long as they are part of the industry.

RANDHIR KAPOOR:
What a great feeling it is to belong to a dynasty headed by my grandfather Prithviraj Kapoor, my father Raj Kapoor and my uncles. We have received all that we have from them. We would be nowhere if we didn’t belong to the dynasty of the Kapoors. It is indeed a glorious feeling but it is also a great responsibility to live upto the expectations their dynasty has set for us.
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The late Premnath, is a brother-in-law of the late Raj Kapoor, the elder brother of Mrs Krishna Raj Kapoor and the maternal uncle of Randhir, Rishi, Rajiv, Ritu and Reema. Narendranath, Rajendranath and Jeetendranath were Premnath’s younger brothers. Premnath’s elder son Prem Kishan who started as an actor couldn’t make it and started working hard on making TV his means of livelihood. He soon went on to become one of the big bosses of the small screen. He is the joint owner of Cinevista with his childhood friend Sunil Mehta as his partner.
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Dr BR Chopra headed a dynasty of his own. Ravi Chopra is his direct and only heir. Yash Chopra, Dharam Chopra, the late Madan Chopra and Raj Chopra who operated from New Delhi were his brothers who would not have joined films if Dr Chopra had not headed his dynasty.

RAVI CHOPRA:
It’s a great privilege to be known as the only son of Dr BR Chopra who is a one-man dynasty, a one-man phenomenon. Not everyone can be a Dr BR Chopra and not every Ravi Chopra can be Ravi Chopra, the son of a legend, the torch bearer of the BR dynasty which he carried with so much care and let’s see how I carry it when he passes it on to me.
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And like Dr Chopra, Dr Ramanand Sagar has his own dynasty with his five sons, Subhash, Shanti, Anand, Moti and Prem, all of them deeply involved in whatever their father is involved in, films and television. Dr Sagar has a “gang” of grand children, most of whom, even the girls, who are interested in films or television in some way or the other.

PREM SAGAR:
My father is no extra-ordinary man. He has never said that and will never say it. He has only proved he is great with the quality of his work. He brought us up, his five sons and taught us all the best things to make life worthwhile. He went out of his way to make us fully involved in our work as lovers of cinema and television and he groomed us as human beings more than directors and technicians. I am blessed to belong to the Sagar dynasty.
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Shobhana Samarth, the one-time actress, has a dynasty of her own, a dynasty of some of the most-talented female artists, their names make your heart glow with pride, Nutan her elder daughter, Tanuja, Tanuja’s daughter Kajol and the only male, Nutan’s son Mohnish Bahl.

KAJOL:
I have been lucky to belong to two different dynasties. On the one hand I belong to the family of my grandmother Shobhana Samarth and aunts Nutan and my dear mother, Tanuja. And on the other hand I have the entire clan of the titan called S Mukerji behind me. Just belonging to these two dynasties help me, inspire me to come up with my best as an actress.
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S Mukerji’s (the founder of Filmalaya Studios) sons include the one-time superstar Joy Mukerji and Deb Mukerji and filmmakers Subir Mukerji and Rono Mukerji. Ram Mukerji, his brother is a filmmaker both in Hindi and Bengali and is now better known as the father of actress Rani Mukerji. Joy Mukerji’s son Sujoy Mukerji and Ronu Mukerji’s daughter Sharbani Mukerji both tried to make it as artists but has still to reach anywhere near success.

RANI MUKERJI:
I don’t think I would be the Rani I am if I didn’t belong to the dynasty of the Mukerji’s. I have learned that all I have, I have done what I have till now because of being a part of this great dynasty of the Mukerji’s. I am not just saying it, I am proving it or that is what people who know what true talent is are saying.
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Shammi Kapoor first married Geeta Bali, the actress and had two children from her. Aditya, their son is into some kind of communication business and his sister Kanchan is married to Ketan Desai, the only son of the late Manmohan Desai, who was the brother of Subhash Desai, a big-time producer, the sons of Kikubhai Desai, one-time rich owner of a very big studio. Then we have the Ganguly brothers who came to films from somewhere in Khandwa near Indore. Ashok Kumar started off as a lab technician but circumstances made him rise to become one of the most-talented stars. He was followed by his brother, the late Kishore Kumar Ganguly who rose to fame and fortune both as a singer and actor. He was also a full-fledged filmmaker (writer, producer, director, music director etc.) Today Kishore’s son, Amit, who started his career with style is still trying to find his voice. His younger brother Sumeet, the son of one of Kishore’s four wives - Leena Chandavarkar - his other wives were the Bengali actress Ruma Guha Thakurta, Madhubala and Yogeeta Bali - is also being trained as a singer by none other than his brother and several other ‘gurus’.
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The Barjatyas are a dynasty in a class by themselves. It all started with a stark and simple, typically non-filmi man called, Tarachand Barjatya, who started his career as a distributor before he became a producer and launched Rajshri Films which specialised in making good, simple, sincere and films for every family which proved to be the dynasty’s secret to super success. Tarachand was followed by his sons Raj Kumar, Ajit Kumar and others who followed their father’s tradition. But the dynasty reached its peak when Sooraj Barjatya, a member of the third generation, made Hum Aapke Hain Koun, which created all-time box-office history. The new generation will soon have one more director in Rajat Barjatya, who is working on his script to start work on his first film soon still successful.
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The Bachchan dynasty starts with Dr Harvanshrai Bachchan and Teji Bachchan who played a very big hand in the grooming of Amitabh Bachchan. Abhishek Bachchan, the only son of Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan has just started his career with Refugee and Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa and has still a long long way to go. Abhishek’s sister Shweta is married to one of the sons of the Nandas of Escorts of New Delhi which means the Bachchans are also related to the Kapoors because Ritu, Raj’s eldest daughter is also married into the Nanda family.
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The Mangeshkars whose blood flows, whose hearts beat with music is another great dynasty the industry will always be proud of. It all started with Pandit Dinanath Mangeshkar, the father of Lata Mangeshkar, who now heads the family. Asha Bhosle, Meena Khadilkar, Usha Mangeshkar and their only brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar are the other Mangeshkars who do India proud. Hridaynath’s son Adinath Mangeshkar is slowly taking over both in terms of talent and managing the business of the Mangeshkars.
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In the beginning there was just Roshan, the music director. His sons, Rakesh first grew up to become a star and Rajesh turned a music director. Today, the whole world wherever Hindi films are known know Hrithik Roshan, the only son of Rakesh Roshan, as a star among stars in India.

HRITHIK ROSHAN:
I have no memories of my grandfather, the great music director Roshan. But I now know how great and talented he must have been when he was at his best. He brought up his sons in the best traditions and that’s why they are what they are. His son Rakesh is one of the best directors today. Rajesh is one of the best music directors. And now it’s my turn to prove that a dynasty he started has still so much to come, so much to give because they are all blessed by the founder of the dynasty, my grandfather.
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And who can forget the Dutt dynasty? Sunil Dutt, MP and the late Nargis Dutt and Sanjay Dutt who has had several changes of lives and is right on top today miraculously.
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Let’s come down to some more influential dynasty. Dev Anand and his brothers, the late Chetan Anand and Vijay Anand, Dev’s son Suneil, Chetan’s sons, the controversial Vivek and Ketan and a whole lot of young men who followed Dev who was the first to come and set up the Anand dynasty.

DEV ANAND:
It is a great feeling to belong to the Anand family, be the head and founder of the Anand dynasty. Things have been great for fifty long years. It will go on and on as long as I want to. A lot also depends on my son, Suneil, who has just finished his first film as a director.
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The late poet Jan Nissar Akhtar was a great poet who shied away from the glare of publicity. His son, Javed Akhtar, once a partner of the Salim-Javed team is the leading lyricist today and his son Farhaan Akhtar, born from his first wife, Honey Irani, has just turned director with Dil Chahata Hai and is almost racing towards completion.
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Dimple is slowly forming a little dynasty of her own with her daughters Twinkle and Rinkle Khanna. Rajesh Khanna, in the meanwhile, has settled down to play leading roles on television which has shocked and surprised his fans and admirers who once slit their wrists for the love of him.
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Today’s heartthrob of the young ones, dance director and TV personality,, Sajid Khan, and dance director Farah Khan are the children of the late actor Kaamran who was popular in the ’60s and ’70s. Incidentally, Farah is to take to direction with Shah Rukh Khan as the leading man.
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Yash Chopra has his own little, cosy dynasty, with his wife Pamela Chopra (better known as Pam) and his two sons, the wonderboy Aditya and Uday who is making a debut as an actor in Aditya’s much-awaited film Mohabbatein.

YASH CHOPRA:
I would have retired from the foreign service now if my brother, Dr Chopra would not have come to my help when he had just started his dynasty. I would be guilty of the greatest sin if I would say I am whatever I am without his help and inspiration. I hope my sons Aditya and Uday also realise the significance of building a dynasty which will last. I know I have started a dynasty of my own but I basically still belong to the dynasty started by my brother without whom I just don’t know where I would be, who I would be and what I would do.
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The Azmis are in a class by themselves. There is the poet Kaifi Azmi who heads the family with his wife, Shaukat Kaifi, who is a very good actress and their two children Shabana and Baba Azmi, the cinematographer and his talented wife, Tanvi Azmi, daughter of the late actress and former sheriff of Mumbai, Usha Kiran.
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Then there are the other Kapoors well-known in their own ways, the Kapoor dynasty headed by Surinder Kapoor and his ambitious sons, Boney Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Sanjay Kapoor and Mrs Sridevi Boney Kapoor.

ANIL KAPOOR:
My father was not a very big producer but he was a good man who knew how to bring up his three sons. We, Boney, me and Sanjay are whatever we are because of the lessons we learnt from our father, a man who taught us how to face good times and bad times which are so much a part of this industry.
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There are the Khan brothers of Juhu who ruled the ’60s and ’70s like emperors and are still active - Sanjay Khan, Feroz Khan and Akbar Khan. Their new generations has just stepped in with Fardeen Khan, son of Feroz Khan, proving the guts and stuff he is made of in Jungle after he failed the first time in Prem Aggan.

FARDEEN KHAN:
I am what I am because of my own work, no doubt, but more than myself because of my being the son of Feroz Khan and the entire Khan family.
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And the Deol dynasty began with Dharmendra and continues with Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol. Esha Deol, Dharmendra’s daughter from Hema Malini, his second wife, is about to make her debut in a film to be made by Boney Kapoor.
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This little dynasty started off with a giant of an actor called Jayant. His two sons, Imtiaz and Amjad then followed him. Imtiaz is now directing a major serial for Prem Kishan titled Noorjehan and unfortunately Amjad Khan played a short but brilliant innings and died an early death at just 46 and lived on to be a part of everyone who saw even a glimpse of his brilliance. His son, Shadaab Khan, is going slow but steady as an actor but is sure that he will make it because he has a promise to keep, a promise he made to his father a long time ago.
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Jeetendra has a very rare dynasty. His wife, Shobha and daughter Ektaa have started Balaji Films which within years have grown into a mega software producing company and his son, Tushar has just taken his first few steps following his father’s profession.
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Rekha has her own kingdom, her own dynasty. She needs no one to form a dynasty. She is the daughter of the one-time legendary south Indian actor Gemini Ganesan and mother Pushpavalli.
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Dev Anand has just one son Suneil who tried his luck as an actor in films and who is still trying with a film called Master. But he has still to come face to face with success and is a world away from his father who is still active, 54 years after he started his career.
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Dara Singh and Randhawa, are brothers known all over the world of free style wrestling. Vindoo is Dara Singh’s son. One-time actress Malika is Dara’s brother Randhawa’s wife. Vindoo was married to Farha, the actress, Tabu’s elder sister who gave up her career to marry him and has now given him up for good.
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The late Rajendra Kumar was blessed with only one son Kumar Gaurav to whom goes the credit of starting the star-son craze in the ’80s.
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One-time queen of the screen, Naseem Banu, her daughter, Saira Banu, and her brother Sultan live in the same house. Dilip Kumar has his legendary bungalow just a few kilometers away but he lives at 34 Pali Hill, Saira’s bungalow, all for the love of Saira.
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The late V Shantaram had three wives. The actresses Jayshree and Sandhya were two of his wives. The late actress Rajshree, Kiran Shantaram who looks after the Raj Kamal Studios now and Madura are Shantaram’s children. Actor Siddharth is his grandson.
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Pandit Jasraj, the music maestro is Shantaram’s son-in-law and the actress Durga Jasraj is the Pandit’s daughter.
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The Bhatt dynasty has spread all over. It all started with Nanabhai Bhatt. He had sons like Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt and many other Bhatts who were related to him, Bhatts like Pravin Bhatt, Vikram Bhatt, Robin Bhatt etc. All of them into business of filmmaking, one more controversial than the other, just like the founder, his son Mahesh and Mahesh’s daughter Pooja.
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The Ramsay Brothers were known as horror specialists. They were so popular once, where are they now? Swallowed by one of their own horrible creatures?
The world of films is one large empire where anyone who has the talent can come, is welcome. He is free to build his own empire, his own dynasty, his own little world. Some of these dynasties built by sensible men continue, go on and grow into stories and become a part of history. Others become part-time dynasties because of mistakes made by those who run their dynasties. Hard work, sincerity, sensitivity, talent, sensibility are the basic elements that go into the building of a dynasty. Otherwise I and history have been witness to the rise and fall of several dynasties, the building and crumbling of ambitious dynasties, dynasties which have shone out like the sun and faded out in the darkness. We need them, we need these dynasties which give the industry all its glamour and all its glitter. But remember building a dynasty is difficult but watching the demolition, the complete destruction of a dynasty is like watching the dream of an ambitious man hoping to build a dynasty. And it hurts and the hurt stays with you because dynasties come and happen just once in many hundred years. Dynasties have risen and fallen, that’s something everyone knows as part of history.
But they can be saved too. All we need are the people who have the magic to build dynasties which will last forever if not physically then atleast as great memories..... forever.

By Ali Peter John

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