In what can be described as a candid reveal, veteran Bollywood film producer Boney Kapoor has expressed unwavering fondness for his daughter Janhvi Kapoor’s frequent companion, Shikhar Pahariya, who is rumored to be her boyfriend. While the relationship between Janhvi and Shikhar has consistently caught the public eye, neither has stepped forward with an official confirmation.
It was during Boney Kapoor’s interview with Zoom—a part of his ongoing promotional efforts for his forthcoming production venture, ‘Maidaan’—that the filmmaker delved into the dynamics between him and Shikhar Pahariya. Boney’s nurturing attitude came to the fore as he admitted, “I love him and in fact, in between a couple of years back Janhvi was not seeing him but I was still friendly to him. I was convinced he can never be an ex. He’ll be around. When any person is there for you in any capacity whether it’s for me, whether it’s for Janhvi, whether it’s for Arjun, he is friendly to all. So I feel we’re blessed to have somebody like him in our setup.”
Shikhar Pahariya steps into the spotlight not merely as a young social associate of the Kapoor family, but also as the successor to a notable political lineage, being the grandson of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde. Shikhar cuts a multifaceted figure as an entrepreneur, a polo player, and a philanthropist.
Boney’s career meanwhile is on an upswing, coming off the heels of his recent appearance in the romantic comedy film ‘Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar’, where he shared screen space with the likes of Ranbir Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, and Dimple Kapadia. His production project ‘Maidaan’ which spotlights Ajay Devgn in the role of Syed Abdul Rahim—revered as the architect of modern Indian football—is poised to hit the theaters on April 10, 2024. The biographical sports film also features actors Priyamani, Gajraj Rao, and Rudranil Ghosh. A significant drawcard for ‘Maidaan’ is the musical contribution from the acclaimed Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman.
The entertainment mogul faced some challenges in the journey to ‘Maidaan”s release, with the film’s set being dismantled amidst the 2020 lockdowns to curb the spread of COVID-19, and a subsequent rebuilding effort thwarted by the devastating Cyclone Tauktae in May 2021.
Parallel to Boney Kapoor’s strides in his work, Janhvi Kapoor is charting her own course with key roles in several upcoming films. ‘Devara’, directed by Koratala Siva, dramatizes a story in two segments with the first expected to debut around the Dussehra weekend on October 10, 2024. Jointly produced by Yuvasudha Arts and NTR Arts, this ambitious project will also feature NTR Jr and Saif Ali Khan.
Adding to her promising slate of projects is ‘Mr and Mrs Mahi’, a sports drama that reunites Janhvi Kapoor with RajKummar Rao after their first collaboration ‘Roohi’. The film is helmed by Sharan Sharma, who has previously directed ‘Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl’, and is slated for release in April.
The bonds that tie personal and professional realms are often complex, particularly so in the mercurial world of cinema. Boney Kapoor’s affectionate acknowledgment of Shikhar Pahariya’s place within their family dynamic, fused with the anticipation of upcoming cinematic offerings, paints a portrait of an industry titan juggling the facets of public and intimate life with heartening vulnerability and earnest anticipation for the future of Indian cinema.
