Happy Rakhi: Bollywood’s real-life siblings

Raksha Bandhan centres around the bond between a brother and a sister. It is a bond of blood, of love, of family and of togetherness. B-town has its fair share of such bonds, some of which BizAsia are going to take a look at. Let’s celebrate Bollywood’s real-life siblings of present times and take a look at their special relationships.

Farhan & Zoya��Akhtar

Award-winning director and screenwriter Zoya Akhtar is elder sister to actor of many talents Farhan Akhtar and the pair have even worked together on film ��Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara�۪ (2011). However, there is no sign of sibling rivalry between the pair who can�۪t imagine life without the other. Speaking to the Indian Express, Farhan said: ���Zoya probably knows more about my life at any point of time than my mom (Honey Irani) and dad (Javed Akhtar), so I share a deeper level of intimacy with her.�۝ In fact, the siblings�۪ story has enraptured Bollywood town and Zoya Akhtar�۪s next venture will be an autobiographical film of the pair growing up, rumoured to be starring real-life cousins Ranbir Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor.

Abhishek Bachchan & Shweta Bachchan Nanda

Shweta Bachchan is the lesser known Bachchan, compared to brother Abhishek who has established himself as well known film actor alongside Bollywood legend father Amitabh Bachchan. It is fair to say that both siblings have a legacy to live up to.�� Schweta Bachchan has worked as a presenter for a TV show for NDTV called ��Next Gen�۪ and apart from that she is a full time mother. Speaking about her brother Abhishek to Syfy.com , the devoted sister said: ���I was a proud sister even when he was struggling. He had to wait for his career to come together, and it wasn’t easy. He handled himself with dignity. And when I saw him in Guru I was left speechless. I can’t do justice in words to my feelings about his performance . What I can say is that after the movie was done I had to be reminded I was watching my brother.�۝

Saif & Soha Ali Khan

This good looking duo born to gorgeous actress Sharmila Tagore and cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, really need no introduction. While dapper Saif has more than made his mark in tinsel town, his low profile sister has made her presence felt in more off beat films like ��Khoya Khoya Chand�۪ (2007) and ��Rang De Basanti�۪ (2006). While Saif has had a successful innings in Bollywood, Soha hasn�۪t seem to made as much of a splash and is now seem to be gearing up for domestic bliss with actor Kunal Khemu. Saif as the world knows is on the verge of marriage to superstar Kareena Kapoor after a much publicised break up with actress Amrita Singh. Saif and Soha are yet to appear in a film, but without a doubt a project with them as siblings and Sharmila as their beautiful modern mom is definitely overdue ��� are any talented filmmakers out there listening?

Sunny, Bobby & Esha Deol

Sunny, Bobby and Esha share the same dad – superstar Dharmendra -��and a mention of the trio is an absolute must in our Raksha Bandhan special. The three have met with varying degrees of success in showbiz, with ��bade bhaiiya�۪ Sunny being the most successful of the three. Bobby started off with a bang in ��Gupt�۪ (1997) and ��Soldier�۪ (1998), but his career quickly phased out and is now on the verge of oblivion. Similarly Esha too never had the luck (nor talent) of her beautiful mother, actress Hema Malini and chose to settle down in matrimonial bliss instead. Surprisingly, even thought Dharmendra, Bobby and Sunny have worked together in a film, Esha and Hema have never been a part of their ventures ��� whether the decision was conscious is not known��_ but a coming together of stalwarts Dharmendra and Hema Malini, and Sunny, Bobby and Esha as siblings would make for quite a blockbuster we reckon.

Farah & Sajid Khan

Although probably the most unlikeliest siblings to make our list, they are indeed worthy of a mention. The two film-makers are known for their multi starcast movies featuring larger than life characters and situations. However, the two share one other thing which perhaps sets them apart in this list and that is the comedy factor. Sajid is, of course, one of the funniest hosts one will come across in B-town but his sister Farah is definitely not far behind in the comical stakes. Whilst their films may not always be critically viable, the two always manage to have their projects make a significant splash at the box office, albeit only to start with in some instances. This bro-sis jodi is definitely one that doesn’t go unnoticed.

Ekta & Tusshar Kapoor

These two couldn’t be more like chalk and cheese if they tried. Ekta is undoubtedly best known for her behind-the-camera frolics for both TV and film – being producer for both genres of entertainment. Tusshar on the other hand can be described as an actor who perhaps hasn’t had the right projects come his way and has therefore never been able to quite make his mark in Bollywood. However, it is commendable that despite being siblings, the two have forged a somewhat successful professional relationshp outside of their family.

BizAsia would like to wish these siblings and also every other brother-sister a very happy Raksha Bandhan.

(By Sanoobar Patel, Jay Mamtora & Amrita Tanna)