Most Bollywood stars never really grow up.
At least when it comes to handling finance and investments and making career choices, most of them bank of their family members’ counsel.
But sometimes things can go awry too. Take Amisha Patel, for instance. The actress recently issued a legal notice to her father Amit Patel accusing him of mismanaging her account and owing her Rs 12 crore.
Just the time, we thought, to take a look at the Hindi film industry’s ‘dependent lot’.
*Kareena Kapoor
She is only 23 years old and loves to speak her mind. But when it comes to signing films, Bebo, as she is fondly called, always consults her mother Babita and elder sister Karisma.
“More or less I am on my own,” she says. "I am becoming more conscious after doing a film like Chameli. I take my own decisions on the scripts. But yes, I always consult my mother and my sister.
“The finance, however, is always taken care of by my mother. All my relationships are subject to change, except my family, which will always be there for me.”
*Hrithik Roshan
Directed by father Rakesh Roshan, Hrithik made his debut in 2000’s super success, Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai. He then tried his luck with different directors from Subhash Ghai (Yaadein), Sooraj R Barjatya (Main Prem Ki Diwaani Hoon) and Vidhu Vinod Chopra (Mission Kashmir) to Vikram Bhatt (Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage), Arjun Sablok (Na Tum Jaano Na Hum), and Kunal Kohli (Mujhse Dosti Karoge). But no one could give him a hit.
Again, it was daddy Rakesh who came to his rescue with Koi… Mil Gaya. The sci-fi drama went on to become the biggest hit of 2003.
The 30 year-old, reportedly, doesn’t sign any film or make a financial deal unless his father approves.
Hrithik hasn’t signed a single film after the release of Farhan Akhtar’s Lakshya. He is said to be in talks with other directors, but is expected to be cast in his father’s next.
*Aishwarya Rai
The family bug bit Ash too.
Her brother Aditya produced Dil Ka Rishta, which was scripted by her mother Vrinda Rai.
Released on the same day as the John Abraham-Bipasha Basu-starrer Jism, Dil Ka Rishta bombed at the box office.
Ever since, there has been no news from Ash’s family about making a film.
*Salman Khan
Salman Khan owes his father, writer Salim Khan, a big one. “He has seen life more than me. I always consult him and he is always there for me whenever I need him,” says the actor.
In 2002, Khan landed in a huge controversy after he allegedly drove over four pavement dwellers, killing one, in a drunken state.
His father was standing quietly in the last row of the courtroom when the judge was hearing Salman’s bail petition.
The writer hugged all his family members when the judge announced, “Bail granted.”
In a television interview to Shekhar Gupta on NDTV’s Walk the Talk show, the actor said, “I am giving you the interview only because my father told me to do so.”
*Rani Mukerji
With the success of Hum Tum, Rani’s hot and happening again. The Bengali beauty has an impressive line-up of releases in store. You will often find her running from one studio to another in a bid to complete her hectic shooting schedules.
So, who keeps a track of how her films are doing? “My family, of course!” she says. "My father, brother, and bhabhi [sister-in-law] keep track of my films. They go to theatres and give me updates on how my film is doing at the box office.
“They were the first to call me and tell me that Hum Tum has done fantastic business.”
*Abhishek Bachchan
Which actor can survive in the film industry after delivering a series of flops since his debut in 2000?
Abhishek Bachchan.
The ‘Bachchan’ tag has been effective enough to let him last in the industry this long. Though he is yet to give a single hit, there is no dearth of offers for this 28 year-old star son.
“My father says that apart from your hard work, it also depends on your luck,” says Abhishek. “There is no particular formula in films that will click. You just have to hope that the audience will like your work. There is no set formula. If there was one, everybody would have made a hit film.”
Amitabh Bachchan too went through an extended rough patch at the beginning of his career before his films finally became successful. When will Abhishek strike it lucky?
“I feel success comes to you when it is due,” says the actor. “It is as simple as that. It is not in my hands as to when success will come to me. I cannot say this film will be a success or a failure. I can only keep trying so that my film works.”
*Vivek Oberoi
‘Ask my dad!’ That’s Vivek Oberoi for you.
If dad says ‘no’, the son will decline too. If he says ‘yes’, the other will also reply in the affirmative.
Be it appointments or any monetary matter, it is always Vivek’s father, Suresh Oberoi, calling the shots.
Once a producer even jibed that if only Oberoi Senior had been younger he would have just cast him instead of approaching his son.
*Shilpa Shetty
It happened in 2003. The film industry was shocked to learn about an arrest warrant out for Shilpa Shetty’s father.
Shetty had allegedly threatened the owner of Parag Sarees with dire consequences if he did not pay the money due to his actress daughter.
Shilpa had previously modelled for the sari brand, but wasn’t paid her full remuneration.
The incident traumatised the Dhadkan star a great deal. She disappeared from the media glare for a year and resurfaced only before the release of her film Garv: Pride & Honour.