Bollywood director and creative producer of the streaming special ‘Dining with the Kapoors’, Tarun Mansukhani, recently shared insights about the experience of shooting with the entire Kapoor clan.
A Chaotic Yet Fun Experience
“If I had to say it in one word, then chaotic,” he remarked. “But chaotic in a fun way because in this film, there was no script. It’s reality, right? And you want them to be as authentic as possible.”
He added, “Our jobs for the first time were actually to keep the cameras away, just shooting this and letting them be by themselves and be with each other to create that kind of moment that we wanted from the show. What was great is that we got to see the family the way they always are with each other.”
Celebrating Bollywood Legacy
The special features a gathering of Hindi cinema’s first film dynasty, the Kapoors, who come together to celebrate the centenary of Bollywood legend Raj Kapoor, as well as the family’s patriarch, Prithviraj Kapoor. Key members include Randhir Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor, Rima Jain, Ranbir Kapoor, Karisma Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, and Aadar Jain. This once-in-a-generation gathering of Bollywood royalty celebrates love, legacy, and camaraderie.
An Intimate Look at the Kapoor Family
The 1-hour special, created by Armaan Jain and directed by Smriti Mundhra, offers an intimate glimpse into one of India’s most beloved film families. Shot in a fly-on-the-wall documentary style, it invites viewers to share in the Kapoor family’s laughter, stories, and cherished memories. Expect playful banter to tender reflections, all beautifully tied together by their shared passion for food.
Director’s Reflection
Director Smriti Mundhra expressed her excitement, stating, “I’ve been lucky to work with Netflix a few times before, so coming back to do this project is like a homecoming in more ways than one. Telling a story about the importance of family and the value of legacy in a time when life’s pace is taking us away from those things feels very special.”
She continued, “The Kapoors are not just a Bollywood dynasty but the type of family we all want to be a part of: extremely tight, fun-loving, and absolutely obsessed with food. I wanted to capture not just their story on the surface, but that feeling of being right there at the table with them, hearing the stories, the laughter, and the unfiltered moments that happen when the performance drops away.”
On November 15, the first trailer of ‘Dining with the Kapoors’ was unveiled, and it is set to premiere on November 21 on Netflix.