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In the glittering world of Bollywood we often see star kids following in the footsteps of their parents carrying forward the same legacy that their parents once built. However there are some celebrities who despite belonging to a film background carve their own niche. One such similar story is of the celebrated actor Shahid Kapoor. Despite being the son of acclaimed actors Pankaj Kapur and Neelima Azeem Shahid has revealed his journey wasn’t scripted by privilege. Instead he describes it as a string of unexpected turns hard work and a strict personal code that kept him grounded. Shahid Kapoor on his unconventional entry into films Born to respected actors but being raised largely away Shahid Kapoor opened up about his parents early divorce which happened when he was merely 3. He shared that there is a common misconception that he entered films because of his parents’ fame; however reality is far from it. He said “People think I am an actor because I am Pankaj Kapur’s son but my parents separated when I was just three. I didn’t spend much time with my father so nobody even knew I was his son nor did I ever use his name. I lived with my mother. Things just fell into place for me. I never asked my father for help and he never made calls to get me work.” He further added “I was too young when my parents divorced but you do feel the void. I think many people can relate.” Speaking about his first source of income Shahid recalled “I was interested in dance while growing up so I took classes. My mentor liked my dancing and that became a source of income.” Little did he know that this early passion would become his pathway into the entertainment industry. How a Pepsi commercial with SRK and Rani changed everything Speaking about the turning point in his life Shahid said “I had accompanied a friend to an audition and the ad makers liked me. They made me audition and I landed a Pepsi commercial with Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji. He adds “That opened doors and work started pouring in. Nothing was planned.” Mira’s ‘no-work-at-home’ rule keeps him balanced Shahid also opens up on how she maintains his work-life balance. He credits his wife Mira Rajput who is an anchor in his life and ensures boundaries between stardom and home life remain intact. He said “Mira is very supportive. She understands most things about me and has made a rule that when we are at home we don’t discuss work. It’s very rare that we talk about films.” He believes her clarity has helped him stay emotionally present and not get swept away by the noise that surrounds a film star’s life. A star kid who carved his own niche Shahid Kapoor may come from a film family but he insists he built his career without leaning on Pankaj Kapur’s name or influence. Today two decades later he stands firm on the belief that identity must be earned not inherited.