Why Bollywood star siblings don’t make it big
Noreen Aslam

BOMBAY—Call it dynasty, a calculated move, or cashing in on the success of a sibling, but stars do have a kin following close on the heels who also wishes to try his/her luck in tinseltown
The latest to join the bandwagon is Isabella, the younger sister of Katrina Kaif. If buzz is to be believed, Katrina is heavily promoting her younger sister to various topnotch directors. History bears testimony to the fact that the trend is not new. Filmdom has witnessed many sisters and brothers who have tried their luck at the BO.
But not all taste success. In fact, it is only one of the siblings who is usually able to make it big in Bollywood. Amongst the three Kapoor brothers, only Rishi could make it big. Similarly, big brother Salman Khan is way ahead of Arbaaz and Sohail. Between Sunny and Bobby Deol, Bobby could not achieve the levels attained by Sunny. And no comparisons can ever be drawn between Aamir and Faisal Khan. Farah couldn’t really make a mark here while Tabu went on to carve a niche for herself as a superlative actress. Malaika Arora Khan is known as a sizzling model and item girl but her sister Amrita Arora is still trying to find her niche. Despite using the contacts of their more famous kin, why can’t star siblings make it big? What could be this factor, which does not allow success to knock repeatedly on the same door?
Finding a foothold
It could be the lure of stardust, the glamour or even the big bucks that beckon the star siblings to try their luck in Bollywood. Shamita Shetty, the younger sister of Shilpa Shetty, who has finally found her foothold in Bollywood, says, “I think it is all about one’s destiny. We are exposed to the industry and many times offers do come the way of a star sibling. But which one of them will be successful depends on the factors like luck and inherent talent.” And is she still recognised as Shilpa’s younger sister? The actress is quick to retort, “I will always be Shilpa’s younger sister, but yes now I have been able to carve a niche for myself. I get roles on my own steam, and I am happy if someone refers to me as Shilpa’s li’l sister.”
The sister act
In the case of Farah and Tabu, it was Farah who had debuted much before her younger sister. She had worked in many films and had also played the protective elder sister off screen. But once Tabu had her films released, Farah was totally eclipsed by the beauty and talent of her younger sister. Actress Sameera Reddy, whose elder sister Sushma Reddy also debuted with a film called Chocolate, before she called it quits, says, “My sister tried films on an experimental basis, and I am the one who is pursuing Bollywood full throttle. But even when my sister was working in films, comparisons were never made between us.”
Brotherly woes
Bollywood brothers haven’t fared any better either. Manisha Koirala’s brother Sidhartha could not make a mark. Amisha Patel’s brother Ashmit is still waiting for that elusive hit. Says Ashmit, “When I entered the industry, my sister was already a huge name. I did get a lot of publicity by virtue of being her brother, but today I am an individual in my own right. After the initial flush, it is your personal merit, which counts.”
In the same mould
There are certain exceptions to the rule, though. Film director Kunal Kohli explains it thus, “Usually, if a director has worked with one of the siblings, he tries to mould the other in the same way, and this curbs the natural style of the actor. In the case of Kareena and Karisma, both had spaced their careers, and had also stylised them in a very different manner, thus both of them have done very well”.