Launching star kids is challenging. They could excel like Alia Bhatt and win a National Award, or they could go unnoticed. Expectations are always high for star kid debuts. This is why fans were intrigued when Aamir Khan’s eldest son Junaid Khan’s debut film Maharaj was announced today.
Debut films of star kids
Mr. Perfectionist’s son will play a fearless journalist in this movie, which will release on a digital platform on June 14. As we wait to see the reception of this project, here’s a look at how other star kid debut movies have performed in the past.
Student of the Year (2012)
Over a decade ago, Karan Johar showed us a dreamy college life with Student of the Year. Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, and Sidharth Malhotra started their acting careers with this project. The film was a commercial success, earning ₹97-109 crore. Alia and Varun went on to succeed in the industry.
Dhadak (2018)
Sridevi and Boney Kapoor’s daughter Janhvi Kapoor debuted opposite Ishaan Khatter in Dhadak, produced by KJo’s Dharma Productions. Although criticized as a ‘poor remake’ of Nagraj Manjule’s Marathi film Sairat, Dhadak earned ₹110.11 crore at the box office. Janhvi won hearts with her performance and bright eyes.
Kedarnath (2018)
Sara Ali Khan, daughter of Amrita Singh and Saif Ali Khan, started her acting career with Abhishek Kapoor’s Kedarnath. Her chemistry with Sushant Singh Rajput was excellent. He brought out the best in her, and she was seen as a promising star rather than just a ‘star kid’. The film earned ₹102.77 crore.
Student of the Year 2 (2019)
After launching Alia and Varun, KJo introduced Chunky Panday’s daughter Ananya Panday in the sequel. Although criticized for being cliché, it earned ₹98.6 crore. Ananya was fun to watch and showed ample potential. The film also starred Tiger Shroff and Tara Sutaria.
The Archies (2023)
Zoya Akhtar’s teen musical comedy released directly on digital platforms. Shah Rukh Khan’s daughter Suhana Khan, Janhvi’s sister Khushi Kapoor, and Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson Agastya Nanda started their acting careers with this project. Unfortunately, both the film and the star kids left audiences disappointed, as fans expected much more.
