Alia Bhatt may be one of Bollywood’s most recognized names, but it appears that life inside the Kapoor household has shaped her outlook in more ways than one. Much like generations of Kapoors before her, Bhatt does not seem keen on her daughter, Raha, entering the world of films. Instead, she has charted out a different path in her mind for the three-year-old.
Alia Bhatt reveals the future she envisions for daughter Raha
Alia Bhatt, who married Ranbir Kapoor in April 2022, recently revealed that when she thinks about Raha’s future, the silver screen is not the first destination that comes to mind.
Instead, Bhatt hopes her daughter will explore the world of sports. In a conversation with Femina, the actor suggested that her own experiences, beliefs, and observations have molded the hopes she carries as a mother.
Reflecting on the women who have influenced her life, Bhatt said, “I think, starting with my family… My mother, the strongest, most impactful influence growing up, watching her navigate through raising my sister and me, and still keeping the fire of wanting to be an actor alive in herself, whether she did it through theatre or through television.”
“Then my sister, the way she’s been so outspoken about her journey with mental health and depression. And then, even the people that I deal with on my team, which is made up of a bunch of wonderful women. They all add so many different layers of support, opinion, perspective, and just energy to my life (sic).”
Bhatt also reflected on the profession she might have chosen had acting not entered the picture. Speaking about her affinity for collective effort, she said, “I love when everything feels like a team effort. I think, if I were an athlete, I would definitely play a team sport! It’s something I think about sometimes.”
The actor then turned the conversation toward her daughter and revealed the future she imagines for Raha. “Even for my daughter. I wish for her to actually be an athlete… She’s so competitive, and she’s so athletic. She’s only three, but she really jumps around like a bee in a bonnet. I find there is true pleasure in team effort.”
Alia Bhatt clearly understands the kind of politics Bollywood has. While Bhatt got a lot of support from Karan Johar, she knows that not everyone gets that kind of backing after all.
For now, Raha is only three years old, and any discussion about career choices remains far down the road. In Bollywood, children often reach their teenage years before deciding whether they wish to follow in their parents’ footsteps. By that measure, Raha still has roughly twelve years before such a choice comes knocking.
Until then, she will just be the cute doll of Alia and Ranbir Kapoor. Yet if Alia Bhatt’s words are any indication, she would rather see her daughter running onto a playing field than walking onto a film set.
The Kapoor family’s controversial stance on daughters entering Bollywood
The Kapoor family’s roots in Indian cinema run deep. The history goes back to Prithviraj Kapoor, who entered the industry with the 1929 silent film Be Dhari Talwar, also known as Do Dhari Talwar.
For decades, the family name became a fixture on cinema marquees as one generation after another carried the baton forward. Yet while the men of the clan walked through Bollywood’s doors, an unwritten rule stood firm within the household that daughters and daughters-in-law would stay away from the profession.
According to them, the reasoning behind the convention came from a desire to shield women in the family from media glare, industry gossip, and the side of fame that often comes at a cost. It was also rooted in the belief that women should devote themselves to home and family. Family patriarchs such as Raj Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor guarded this principle closely.
In her autobiography, Neetu Kapoor recalled that Rishi Kapoor viewed the industry’s intrusive culture with such discomfort that the thought of his daughter, Riddhima Kapoor, becoming an actress would have deeply troubled him.
As a result, women such as Babita and Neetu Singh, despite pursuing acting careers before marriage, were largely expected to step away from the profession after entering the Kapoor household and turn their attention toward family life.
That tradition, however, did not remain intact forever. Babita, after separating from Randhir Kapoor, took matters into her own hands and guided her daughters, Karisma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor, toward careers in cinema.
In doing so, Karisma Kapoor broke new ground in 1991 by becoming the first woman from the Kapoor bloodline to enter the profession, opening a door that had remained shut for generations.
Now, years later, while Ridhhima Kappor is seemingly trying to enter Bollywood at 45, and Neetu Kapoor seems more into media appearances and doing movies, after the passing away of Rishi Kapoor in 2020 at the age of 67.
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