Shanaya Kapoor, the youngest of the Kapoor cousins to step into Bollywood, finally made her long-awaited debut last year. Following in the footsteps of family members like Sonam Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor, Janhvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor, Shanaya entered the film industry with Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan (2025), where she starred opposite Vikrant Massey. With her second film Tu Yaa Main, co-starring Adarsh Gourav, set for release, Shanaya appears focused on cementing her place in the industry.
Her Bollywood journey has been met with enthusiastic support from her close friends in the industry. Suhana Khan, Ananya Panday, and cousin Khushi Kapoor have consistently hyped Shanaya’s projects on social media, cheering her on with encouraging comments and posts. However, one notable absence has not gone unnoticed by netizens—her cousin Janhvi Kapoor has remained silent on Shanaya’s recent posts promoting Tu Yaa Main.
This apparent lack of public support has sparked intense speculation online, with Reddit users now theorising that a “nepo cold war” may be brewing within the Kapoor family. According to a recent Reddit thread that has gone viral, tensions between the cousins may stem from unresolved family issues dating back to Shanaya’s pre-debut struggles.
The post claims that Shanaya’s mother, Maheep Kapoor—wife of actor Sanjay Kapoor—was upset with her brother-in-law Boney Kapoor for not helping launch Shanaya’s acting career. At the time, Shanaya was reportedly struggling to secure a film, even as her cousins Janhvi and Khushi were already firmly on the Bollywood radar. The Reddit user alleged that Maheep expected Boney, a powerful producer and Janhvi’s father, to step in and use his influence to help Shanaya land a project.
Janhvi–Shanaya Are In A Nepo Cold War
byu/Shaitaan-Haiwan inBollyBlindsNGossip
The thread reads, “Maheep was expecting some help for her daughter as well, and even got her husband to play the family card, but it didn’t work. Boney is only interested in his daughter’s careers.” According to the post, Boney Kapoor’s refusal—or lack of involvement—left Maheep deeply disappointed.
Adding fuel to the speculation, the same Reddit user claimed that Maheep was further angered by an alleged interaction with a top filmmaker who rejected Shanaya. The producer reportedly dismissed Shanaya by saying they were only interested in “real nepo kids,” implying that she did not carry enough industry clout compared to others from film families.
The post further stated, “Maheep lost her cool when a top producer who rejected Shanaya said they only want ‘real nepo kids’, not the leftover ones sitting in the industry fridge after everyone else already took what they wanted.” According to the theory, this rejection pushed Maheep into overdrive, motivating her to ensure that Shanaya achieves greater success than Janhvi.
While there has been no public confrontation between the cousins, Reddit users believe that a quiet rivalry may now exist. The thread suggests that while Shanaya and Janhvi are not openly hostile, the competition between them has intensified behind the scenes.
Interestingly, Shanaya and Janhvi once shared a close working relationship. Before her acting debut, Shanaya worked as an assistant director on Janhvi’s 2020 film Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl. At the time, Shanaya was frequently seen accompanying Janhvi and Khushi at industry events, and the cousins appeared to share a warm bond.
The comment section of the Reddit thread further amplified the debate, with users offering their own takes on the Kapoor family dynamics. One commenter claimed, “Boney already tried to help Sanjay Kapoor before; he won’t help his daughter. Anil Kapoor only helps when he sees a benefit for himself.” Another expressed sadness over the alleged fallout, writing, “That’s sad. They are cousins and grew up together. I hope they reconcile soon. Boney should have helped Shanaya out.”
Some users also pointed out that Maheep and Sanjay Kapoor have publicly supported Arjun Kapoor and his sister Anshula during difficult phases, arguing that family support should go both ways. “Maheep and Sanjay have been such a big support system for Arjun and his sister. It’s the least he can do,” one comment read.
As with most Reddit theories, none of these claims have been confirmed by the Kapoor family. Janhvi Kapoor has not addressed the speculation, and neither Maheep nor Boney Kapoor has responded to the viral thread. For now, the so-called “nepo cold war” remains an internet-fuelled theory—one that highlights how closely fans scrutinise Bollywood’s first families and their relationships.
Meanwhile, Shanaya Kapoor appears focused on her career, letting her work speak for itself as she prepares for Tu Yaa Main, determined to carve out her own space in the industry.
