On Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi’s Double Date Sanjay Kapoor and Maheep Kapoor recently opened up about how their daughter, Shanaya Kapoor, developed an interest in acting. The couple revealed that her inclination towards films became evident over time rather than through a direct declaration about wanting to become an actor.
Sanjay explained that Shanaya never explicitly announced her career ambitions. Having grown up around films and people from the industry, she gradually developed an interest in acting. He also highlighted the efforts she has made to prepare herself for the profession.
“She never came and said, for example, ‘Maa, main bada ho kar don banna chahta hoon’ (Mum, when I grow up, I want to become a don). It was never like that. Basically, we knew that Shanaya was inclined towards acting, and she was brought up in that environment. She is working really hard. Even during COVID, she used to train in belly dancing and work on her diction,” Sanjay shared.
Maheep, on the other hand, recalled a childhood memory that gave her a glimpse into Shanaya’s fascination with the film world. She remembered taking her daughter to the premiere of Saawariya, where Shanaya was dressed in a lehenga. The family later gathered for dinner at the Marriott, where the young Shanaya kept running around, imitating the excitement and energy of her cousin Sonam Kapoor.
Recalling the moment, Maheep said, “When I took her for the premiere of Saawariya, Shanaya was very young and she was wearing a lehenga. After the premiere, we all went for dinner at the Marriott with the whole Kapoor khandaan. Shanaya was running up and down wearing her lehenga, just like Sonam. I knew then that she had tasted blood.”
Sanjay further revealed that Sonam was someone Shanaya admired while growing up. Before Janhvi Kapoor made her acting debut, it was Sonam who served as an inspiration for the young aspiring actor.
“She used to look up to her sister, Sonam. Sri (Sridevi) was already married to Boney, but Janhvi made her debut later. It was Sonam whom she always looked up to,” he said.
Reflecting on the challenges that come with pursuing acting, Sanjay added that Shanaya has had the opportunity to witness the unpredictable nature of the profession through his own career. He believes this has given her an understanding of the ups and downs that actors experience.
“She has seen my journey and she knows there are highs and lows,” Sanjay added.
Through their recollections, Sanjay and Maheep offered a glimpse into Shanaya’s early years and the experiences that shaped her aspirations. From admiring Sonam to working on her skills from a young age, Shanaya’s journey towards acting appears to have been a gradual process, shaped by her upbringing, family influences and growing commitment to the craft.