Unlike many actors, Vivaan didn’t chase stardom, instead he shifted his focus to quieter, and more personal films.
Bollywood is a place where fame often runs in the family, it’s rare to see someone step away from the spotlight by choice. Today we will talk about an actor, son of celebrated actors who grew up surrounded by film, theatre, and creativity. His brother is a musician and actor, and his sister is also an actress. You might be wondering who this actor is.
This actor’s childhood was more about books than movie sets. He went to The Doon School, one of India’s top boarding schools, and had his eyes set on academics. In fact, he came very close to studying History at St. Stephen’s College in Delhi—missing the cut-off by just one mark. Instead of settling for a course he wasn’t passionate about, he left after a year and moved to Mumbai, where he enrolled at Jai Hind College.
Still couldn’t make a guess? the actor we are talking about is none other than Vivaan Shah, son of Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah. Vivaan made his debut in 7 in the film Khoon Maaf (2011) alongside Priyanka Chopra. A few years later, he landed a major role in Happy New Year (2014), acting alongside Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, and others.
He once shared how much it meant that his father, a big fan of Farah Khan (the film’s director), saw him on that grand stage.
But unlike many star kids, Vivaan didn’t chase stardom, instead, he shifted his focus to quieter, and more personal films like Bombay Velvet, Laali Ki Shaadi Mein Laaddoo Deewana, Kabaad: The Coin, Coat—films that may not have dominated office records, but it allowed him to explore his craft on his own terms.
What keeps him grounded is his family. In one of the interviews, he’s often said they’re not just his biggest cheerleaders but they’re his closest friends. “We’re best friends first, collaborators second,” he once said.
Vivaan was last appeared in Inn Galiyon Mein, alongside Jaaved Jaaferi and Avantika Dassani. He may not be the popular name name in Bollywood, but there’s something deeply admirable about how he’s carved out a space for himself quiet, thoughtful, and entirely his own.