The luminous star known as Shraddha Kapoor now shines brightly as one of the top actresses in the Bollywood firmament. Descended from acting royalty, she is the daughter of the veteran thespian Shakti Kapoor. Her cinematic voyage began in 2010 when she graced the silver screen alongside Amitabh Bachchan, Ben Kingsley, and R Madhavan in the film Teen Patti. This movie, directed by Leena Yadav, also marked Ben Kingsley’s return to Bollywood after a memorable 28-year hiatus post his iconic role in Gandhi (1982). Despite the heavyweight cast supporting her debut, the crime thriller slipped under the radar, leaving hardly a ripple at the box office.
Teen Patti bears the distinction of being the sole project in which Shraddha shared the limelight with her father, Shakti Kapoor. The following year, after this inauspicious beginning, Shraddha sought to inject new life into her nascent career with the rom-com Luv Ka The End. This film, produced under the auspices of Yash Raj Films’ youth-oriented subsidiary Y-Films, cast Taha Shah as the male lead. Drawing inspiration from the American film John Tucker Must Die (2006), Luv Ka The End saw Shraddha chasing the elusive hit that would solidify her standing in the industry. Released on May 6, 2011, it garnered a warm critical reception but ultimately failed to translate that into box-office success.
Shraddha Kapoor’s watershed moment came however in 2013, with the release of Aashiqui 2. Directed by Mohit Suri, the film was a spiritual successor to the 1990’s musical sensation Aashiqui and drew narrative echoes from the American cult classic A Star Is Born. Aashiqui 2 brought into sharp relief the talents of not just Shraddha but also her co-star, Aditya Roy Kapur. The film’s infectious melodies captivated the public imagination well before it hit theaters, setting the stage for a triumphant reception. Debuting to rave reviews on April 26, 2013, it soared past its modest 15 crore budget to gross a staggering 109 crores worldwide, cementing its status as one of the biggest musical blockbusters of the year.
Reports swirled around alternative casting possibilities for Aashiqui 2. Imran Abbas Naqvi and Sushant Singh Rajput were names bandied about for the male lead, but existing contracts for other productions precluded their participation. Similarly, Emraan Hashmi had the opportunity to join the cast but ultimately could not find resonance with the character. Doubts hovered over the project as to whether it could ever emerge from the long shadow cast by Aashiqui’s cult classic status; in the end, it proved to be a resounding hit.
The rumor mill was also rife with speculation regarding fresh faces for the film, including producer Mukesh Bhatt’s alleged intent to introduce Vinod Khanna’s younger son, Sakshi Khanna, to the silver screen with Aashiqui 2. Alongside this, Anupam Kher’s niece, Vrinda Kher, made an attempt to secure a role but unfortunately did not make the cut. An ambitious online nationwide talent hunt was initiated but failed to yield satisfactory results, leading to its eventual abandonment.
Post-Aashiqui 2, Shraddha Kapoor’s career trajectory took a steep climb. She amassed a series of hits that included the likes of Ek Villain, ABCD 2, Baaghi, Stree, and Chhichhore. With multiple successful ventures under her belt, she has firmly established herself in the industry. Audiences can eagerly anticipate Shraddha’s return to the big screen in the upcoming Stree 2, ready to enchant and captivate once more.
