Who Is Shanaya Kapoor? From ‘Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan’ to ‘Tu Yaa Main’

Shanaya Kapoor, the daughter of Sanjay Kapoor and entrepreneur Maheep Kapoor, continues to carve her space in Bollywood as part of the third-generation Kapoor family. Born on 3 November 1999 in Mumbai, she is also the niece of Boney Kapoor and Anil Kapoor. Shanaya recently returned to the big screen with her second film, ‘Tu Yaa Main’, opposite Adarsh Gourav, following her debut in ‘Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan’ alongside Vikrant Massey.

Early Career and Bollywood Debut

Before stepping in front of the camera, Shanaya started behind the scenes, working as an assistant director on Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl. Despite earlier projects like Bedhadak and Vrushabha being cancelled, she made her acting debut in Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, directed by Santosh Singh. The film, however, struggled at the box office, earning just ₹1.7 crore in the Hindi belt.

Part of her journey also includes appearances in music videos, and Shanaya continues to build her portfolio with upcoming projects while remaining active on social media, sharing fashion, fitness, and lifestyle content as a Gen Z influencer.

‘Tu Yaa Main’: Survival Thriller Meets Romance

Released on February 13, 2026, Tu Yaa Main is an adaptation of the 2018 Thai film ‘The Pool’. The story revolves around two social media influencers from different backgrounds who team up for a collaboration, only to experience love and survival challenges in Mumbai.

Critical reception has been mixed. The Times of India noted that the film “often feels like two separate films stitched together,” though performances and direction remain strong. Meanwhile, India Today praised it as a “gripping thriller that fuses modern romance with edge-of-your-seat survival drama,” highlighting Shanaya and Adarsh Gourav’s compelling performances.

Despite facing competition from releases like Shahid Kapoor’s O Romeo, Tu Yaa Main has attracted attention for its high-stakes narrative and twist-filled storytelling.

Shanaya Kapoor on Her Debut Film

Reflecting on her debut in Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, Shanaya admitted in Hindustan Times that box office results do have an emotional impact on actors. She shared:

“Of course, what happens commercially does hurt you a little. You want people to go watch your work in theatres. But the love I got was so much. That moment when my film finally released—just seeing it out there—was everything I was waiting for.”

She described the release as a relief after years of anticipation, calling the movie a badge of honour she proudly lists in her Instagram bio.

“Whatever the fate of this film has been, I was giving my all, and I’ve done it. It’s so much, and honestly, I’m so proud of it,” she added.

Looking Ahead

Shanaya Kapoor continues to balance acting, social media, and fashion, steadily expanding her footprint in Bollywood. With Tu Yaa Main and other projects on the horizon, she remains a young talent to watch in India’s evolving film industry.