Realising My Grandfather Was a Star: Zahan Kapoor Reflects on Shashi Kapoor’s Legacy and His Own Path
February 4, 2025: Zahan Kapoor, who rose to fame with his Netflix show Black Warrant, recently opened up about his relationship with his legendary grandfather, Shashi Kapoor. While the late actor was one of the biggest stars of Hindi cinema, Zahan cherished a much simpler bond with him. “To me, he was just my dadaji. He was always there when I got back from school, watching cricket or shows. Dinner with him was a family ritual, and our conversations were about life, not cinema,” Zahan shared.
It was only much later that Zahan realized the extent of Shashi Kapoor’s stardom. Recalling a moment of surprise, he said, “I came home one day to find Amitabh Bachchan sitting and talking with dadaji. This was in the 90s. I was shocked, but he just asked me to greet him and move along. We were never made to watch his films or discuss his legacy at home. Everything felt very contemporary and grounded.”
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Unlike many members of the Kapoor family, Zahan has kept a low profile. Explaining his deliberate distance from the spotlight, he said, “I wasn’t involved in the ‘show-sha’ of the Kapoor family. That helped me learn about the world organically. Fame can be a burden, and I’m thankful for my nuclear family’s focus on privacy. My grandfather also valued his personal space and made choices to stay out of the public eye.”
Zahan is the son of Kunal Kapoor and Sheena Sippy, granddaughter of legendary filmmaker Ramesh Sippy. He credits his maternal and paternal families for instilling a down-to-earth perspective in him. “Both sides of my family believed in the dignity of work and humility. It was always about staying focused on the craft rather than indulging in empty talk,” he said.
Staying away from constant public scrutiny has also helped Zahan focus on honing his skills. On being compared to Shashi Kapoor, he shared, “At first, the comparisons worried me. I didn’t want to live under his shadow or face undue expectations. Now, I see it differently. When people compare me to dadaji, it means they’re reminded of the feelings he evoked. That nostalgia is something I want to honor and carry forward.”
Zahan’s grounded approach has resonated with fans, marking him as an emerging talent to watch out for, while keeping his grandfather’s legacy alive in his own authentic way.
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