Sridevi: Sri putri: Janhvi Kapoor turns a year older! Now and then images of Sridevi with her first-born.
Happy Birthday Janvhi Kapoor!
Born to pan-Indian fame, Janhvi Kapoor was on the cover of Stardust before she turned one, her fate was tethered to fame whether she wanted it or not. She's navigating the pitfalls of the industry with studied elegance, strength and a sense-of-humour that we think she inherited from her mother, the iconic Indian actress, the great Sridevi.
Obviously we have a massive archive of images of Janhvi here - but we'll never be a Janhvi Kapoor fan site, for no other reason other than the fact that our stars are linked only to the luminous Ayappan Sreedevi. If you know, you know...
Janhvi Kapoor, daughter of the late legendary actress Sridevi and film producer Boney Kapoor, entered Bollywood with significant expectations and scrutiny. Her acting debut in 2018, with the romantic drama
Dhadak, a remake of the Marathi film
Sairat, was a box-office success and the young leads got decent reviews. A thoughtful drama with great music and the required youthful exuberance with a gut-punch final act that delivered on cue, in what can only be described as a Grecian tragedy all the good reviews were eclipsed by the tragic, untimely demise of Sridevi just months before the film's release.
A tribute card slipped into the opening credits of the film might have done the needful homage to the late actress, but really, that's all audiences were thinking of in India without the signal. The real tragedy of the leading lady's mother versus the enacted one on film; the most resonant scene in the movie, when the actor Janhvi Kapoor and the character Parthavi, say the words, "I'm remembering my mother a lot, I want to go to her." There wasn't a dry eye in the audience.
Directed by Shashank Khaitan and co-starring Ishaan Khatter, the film addressed themes of caste differences and honor killings. It emerged as a commercial hit, marking a promising start despite mixed reviews for her performance. Ishaan's earnestness might have fared better, but the hyperactive dancing... at a point someone yelled out, "
Iski battery thodi der ke liya nikaal do!" [Someone remove the batteries on this Duracell bunny!].
Her early career has been interested to observe as the young actor focused on diverse genres, often in female-centric or OTT-released projects, rarely opting for safe bets and predictable roles as a bystander catering to the lead actor.
In 2020, she portrayed the titular role in Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, a biographical drama about India's first female combat pilot in the Kargil War. Streaming on Netflix, the film earned widespread praise for her committed portrayal, earning her a Filmfare nomination for Best Actress and often cited as one of her strongest performances for its emotional depth and physicality.
Subsequent releases included the horror anthology Ghost Stories (2020) and the comedy-horror Roohi (2021) opposite Rajkummar Rao, which underperformed commercially. In 2022, she starred in the survival thriller Mili, a remake of the Malayalam film Helen, playing a woman trapped in a freezer fighting for survival. Critics and audiences lauded her intense, resilient performance, highlighting her ability to carry a solo-driven narrative. Other notable works include Good Luck Jerry (2022), a dark comedy showcasing her versatility in a gritty role; Bawaal (2023) with Varun Dhawan, a romantic drama which faced mixed reception by both critics and audiences; and Mr. & Mrs. Mahi (2024), a sports drama where she played a cricketer, earning appreciation for her earnest effort despite box office struggles. In 2024, she appeared in the Telugu action film Devara: Part 1, which became one of her highest-grossing projects due to its massive scale. Ulajh (2024), a spy thriller, marked her best solo opening at the time, with praise for her nuanced role as an IFS officer entangled in conspiracy. Recent highlights include Homebound (2025), where her supporting performance as a woman facing caste discrimination received acclaim, contributing to the film's selection as India's official entry for the Oscars 2026.
Overall, her performances and critical reception of them have had a steady climb, the reviews are consistently better with each passing year and seven years in, she's a confident performaer and a star, happily being in and forever under the eclipse of her mother's staggering fame and icon status. Fact is Janhvi Kapoor could walk the dais to grab a National Award one day (which I suppose she already has albeit on behalf of her mother), but she'll forever be referred to as "Sridevi's daughter," - fortunately the first-born doesn't seem to have a complex about it and embraces that fact of life whole-heartedly.
Commercially, her track record remains...what's a better word and befitting word than lacklustre... inconsistent—Dhadak stands as her clearest hit, while many others like Mili, Mr. & Mrs. Mahi, and Ulajh were labeled flops or disasters. She has yet to deliver a steady string of solo blockbusters, though OTT platforms have amplified her reach and critical recognition across India - and beyond borders.
Janhvi's top performances shine in intense, character-driven roles: Gunjan Saxena for inspiration and grit, Mili for raw survival tension, and works like Ulajh and Homebound for maturity. She has evolved from a debutante under the infamous tag of "nepotism" scrutiny to a versatile actress prioritising substance over formulaic glamour, building a filmography of woman-led heroine centric stories. Like her mother, she steps into parts knowing there's some substance to it, and not being a decorative lead for "five songs and three scenes".
I've said this before and I'll say it again, the fact that she looks nothing like Sridevi nor acts or mimics Sridevi is her greatest strength. She's built her own identity, tone, and craft and while she's taken lessons in commitment, being on time, knowing her lines and being the hardest working person on set --all which was said of Sridevi in her prime too--she's earned her keep. Despite the naysayers...
As of 2026, with projects spanning Hindi, Telugu, and acclaimed dramas, her career reflects steady growth toward establishing a distinct identity in Bollywood.
We'll also love anything pertaining to Sridevi obviously, and we wish the best of what's left of Sridevi on earth, the very best on her special day. Happy Birthday Janhvi.
PS: Care for an interview?! Cause I have q's!!
