Acting is a family business

The talented grandchildren of poet and lyricist Jan Nisar Akhtar and children of writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar have notched up a lot of screen credits in their career; writing, direction, acting, lyrics, you name it, they have probably tried their hand at it. The siblings last worked together on Zoya's film, Dil Dhadakne Do (2015), in which Farhan Akhtar had a supporting role.

Singer and occasional actor Lucky Ali inherited his talents from his father, legendary comedian Mehmood, and as well as grandfather Mumtaz Ali, a character actor and dancer who acted in films from Achhut Kanya (1936) to his son's Kunwara Baap (1974).

Writer-director Mahesh Bhatt followed in the footsteps of his filmmaker father Nanabhai Bhatt, famous for movies like Muqabla (1942) with Fearless Nadia and Mr. X (1957). Meanwhile, his daughters Pooja Bhatt and Alia Bhatt turned to acting with elder daughter Pooja going on to become a director as well.

Filmmaking runs three generations deep in the Bhatt family with Vikram, grandson of filmmaker Vijay Bhatt and son of cinematographer Pravin Bhatt. Vijay Bhatt made such Hindi classics as Baiju Bawra (1952) and Himalay Ki Godmein (1965) while his father was director of photography on films such as Arth (1982), Masoom (1983) and Agneepath (1990).

Shobhana Samarth, mother of actresses Nutan and Tanuja, was a leading lady of Marathi and Hindi cinema, largely identified with her role as Seeta in Ram Rajya (1943). Her daughters and grandchildren Kajol, Tanisha and Mohnish Bahl have capably represented her acting legacy. Sisters Kajol and Tanisha also represent the third generation of the Mukherjee family, from their father Shomu and grandfather Sashadhar Mukherjee.

Son of film stars Sunil Dutt and Nargis, Sanjay Dutt is also the grandson of Jaddanbai, an accomplished singer, actress, music composer and filmmaker. She guided her daughter Nargis to stardom and is considered one of the trailblazers for women in early Indian cinema.

The first family of Indian cinema continues to have a foothold in the next generation with cousins Karisma Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Ranbir Kapoor, grandchildren of Raj Kapoor and great-grandchildren of Prithviraj Kapoor, all keeping the Kapoor name alive. Their aunt Sanjana Kapoor and uncles Karan and Kunal Kapoor also acted in Hindi cinema in the 1980s and 1990s.

Producer Surinder Kapoor's sons Anil and Sanjay became actors while eldest son Boney became a producer like him. Surinder's grandchildren Sonam Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor have already established themselves in the acting department while Harshvardhan Kapoor will make his debut later this year with Rakesh Omprakash Mehra's Mirzya.

Filmmaker Nasir Husain made his own brand of musical cinema with films like Dil Deke Dekho (1959), Yaadon Ki Baraat (1973) and Hum Kisise Kum Naheen (1977). His son Mansoor Khan carried forth the filmmaking mantle with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988) and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander (1992). His grandson Imran Khan turned to acting, just like his superstar uncle Aamir Khan.

Producer of such hits as Brahmachari (1968) and Bandhan (1969), GP Sippy then backed his son Ramesh Sippy's career by producing his films Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), Sholay (1975), and Saagar (1985). His grandson Rohan Sippy became a director like his father with films like Bluffmaster (2005) and Nautanki Saala (2013).

Actresses Raima Sen and Riya Sen, who appear frequently in both Bengali and Hindi films, are daughters of actress Moon Moon Sen and granddaughters of Suchitra Sen, one of Bengali cinema's most celebrated stars whose fan following is strong even today.

Aditya Bhattacharya who directed the critically acclaimed Raakh (1989), an early film of Aamir Khan, probably had the directing genes handed down from his father Basu Bhattacharya and his grandfather Bimal Roy. Bhattacharya continues with filmmaking though not as frequently, his last feature BMW – Bombay's Most Wanted (2012) screened at the Mumbai International Film Festival in 2012.

The illustrious producer S Mukherjee was responsible for the success of most of the features that came out of Bombay Talkies. He later set up Filmalaya Studios. His sons Joy, Deb and Shomu all ventured into the business, either acting, producing or directing films. His grandson Ayan Mukerji has made two successful features starring Ranbir Kapoor, Wake Up Sid (2009) and Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani (2013).

Unlike grandfather Mukesh and father Nitin Mukesh before him, Neil Nitin Mukesh decided to forgo music and head straight for acting, making his debut in Sriram Raghavan's neo-noir thriller Johnny Gaddar (2007).

Hrithik Roshan may have shot to stardom overnight with his debut Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000) but his family has deep roots in Indian cinema. His grandfather was the acclaimed music composer Roshan, while his maternal grandfather was the filmmaker J Om Prakash who often cast his grandson as a child artiste in his films. Hrithik's father Rakesh Roshan was an actor as well, though he is known more as a director nowadays. And his uncle Rajesh Roshan is a well-known music director, like his father before him.