When daddies directed their sons on screen

Image: A still from Mausam. Inset: Pankaj Kapur
Raja Sen in Mumbai

Is it easier or harder to have a director for a father? A bit of both, apparently.

With Mausam releasing next week, we take a look at 10 films where parents directed their kids. Some of these parental collaborations turned out great, and some were rather underwhelming, leading us to conclude that even the most loving dad can't conjure up a masterpiece just to please their kid.

Mausam

Having finally earned praise from his legendary actor father Pankaj Kapur for his work in Kaminey and Jab We Met, Shahid Kapoor now stars in Pankaj's directorial debut, Mausam, opposite Anil Kapoor's daughter Sonam.

It promises to be a dramatic love story.

Stanley Ka Dabba

Image: A still from Stanley Ka Dabba. Inset: Amole Gupte

Not just did Amole Gupte direct young son Partho in this year's critically acclaimed Stanley Ka Dabba but the director -- who we saw act in Kaminey and Bheja Fry 2 -- also played the film's antagonist, the Khadoos teacher who the schoolkids hated.

Quite a partnership, this.

Tell Me O Khuda

Image: A still from Tell Me O Khuda. Inset: Hema Malini

This time, mommy Hema Malini directs daughter Esha in this entertainer looking to resurrect the young girl's acting career. She also directs husband Dharmendra.

Old-school superstars Vinod Khanna and Rishi Kapoor also star, suggesting that the sets must have been brimming over with nostalgia.

Rocky

Image: A still from Rocky. Inset: Sunil Dutt

Sunil Dutt launched lanky son Sanjay with this film that he produced and directed.

The young Dutt starred as Rakesh, renamed Rocky by his adoptive parents, who later sets out to avenge the death of his father. RD Burman's music was perhaps the most successful part of this film.

Mera Naam Joker

Image: A still from Mera Naam Joker. Inset: Raj Kapoor

Raj Kapoor's 1970 magnum opus featured the screen debut of Raj's son Rishi, playing a plump young version of his father's character.

The cherubic Rishi plays a character in love with his teacher, played by a winsome Simi Garewal.

Kaho Na... Pyaar Hai

Image: A still from Kaho Na... Pyaar Hai. Inset: Rakesh Raushan

The biggest parentally provided hit in Hindi cinema came in the year 2000, as Rakesh Roshan launched son Hrithik in a reincarnation saga.

The plot didn't matter as audiences went hysterical over Hrithik, instantly turning the young man into a superstar.

Daddy

Image: A still from Daddy. Inset: Mahesh Bhatt

The first time we saw Pooja Bhatt on-screen was in this touching film directed by her father Mahesh Bhatt, a poignant bit of casting considering the film about an alcoholic was considerably inspired by Bhatt's own liquored-up past.

Prem Aggan

Image: A still from Prem Aggan. Inset: Feroze Khan

Bollywood's cowboy Feroz Khan ambitiously launched his son Fardeen with this 1988 dud, a film featuring Meghna Naidu opposite the debuting hero.

Fardeen won the Best Debut award at the Filmfares that year, and it remains the only award he has ever won.

Dil Jo Bhi Kahey

Image: A still form Dil Jo Bhi Kahey. Inset: Romesh Sharma

Romesh Sharma, the producer of Hum, directed this 2005 film as a vehicle for his son, Karan.

Roping in buddy Amitabh Bachchan, composers Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and shooting in Stockholm and Mauritius, Sharma tried hard to make the film work but it sank without a trace.

Anand Aur Anand

Image: A still from Anand Aur Anand. Inset: Dev Anand

The gimmicky title wasn't the worst of it.

Dev Anand launched son Suneil in this film, the real-life father and son playing the same roles on-screen, except in a bizarre story about marital infidelity, estranged relationships, and, at one stage, drunken elephants.

The film, needless to say, didn't work at all.

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