Tusshar Kapoor on childhood film sets: 'Excited to see the stars'
Synopsis
Tusshar Kapoor says going on set with father Jeetendra wasn't about watching shoots — it was about the electric thrill of seeing Rekha, Reena Roy, and even child stars like Master Raju up close. In a pre-digital era defined by repeat theatre visits and autograph books, these were genuine gods to a starstruck young boy.
Key Takeaways
Tusshar Kapoor revealed that meeting Bollywood stars was his primary incentive for visiting his father Jeetendra 's film sets as a child.
He recognised stars including Rekha , Reena Roy , Hema Malini , Pran , and Nirupa Roy , as well as child artists Master Alankar and Master Raju .
Tusshar and those around him collected autographs from every actor they met, describing the practice as common in that era.
He described the stars of that period as 'like gods,' citing the massive craze for cinema through theatre footfalls and video cassettes.
The 'Golmaal' actor's remarks reflect the deeply personal side of growing up inside Bollywood's golden era.
Actor Tusshar Kapoor has revealed that his biggest incentive for accompanying his father, veteran actor Jeetendra, to film sets as a child was the thrill of being in the presence of Bollywood's biggest stars. Speaking in a recent interaction, Tusshar described the experience as both overwhelming and unforgettable.
Starstruck on Set
Tusshar recalled being deeply invested in cinema from a very young age, which meant he could recognise virtually every actor on a set — from leading ladies to child artists. “I used to get quite awestruck by the whole atmosphere on the set. It was boring, but it was so exciting to see the stars,” he said.
He went on to name several legends he would spot on set: “Because I used to watch a lot of films, I used to know who Reena Roy is, I knew who Rekha ji is, and I knew who Hema ji is.” The 'Golmaal' actor added that even child performers of the era — such as Master Alankar and Master Raju — were celebrities in his eyes.
Autograph Books and Repeat Value
Tusshar noted that he and others around him would collect autographs from every actor they encountered. “There used to be autograph books back then,” he recalled fondly. The sense of wonder, he explained, came from the fact that while they had easy access to their father, everyone else was out of reach — and therefore magical.
“They were like smaller characters, but they were very, very vivid in our memories because we used to watch movies again and again,” he said, citing actors like Pran and Nirupa Roy as figures who felt almost divine to him. “They were like gods,” he added.
A Different Era of Cinema Fandom
Tusshar's recollections paint a vivid picture of Bollywood fandom in a pre-digital age, when cinema halls and video cassettes drove enormous cultural engagement. “At that time, there was a lot of craze for movies. The number of footfalls in theatres, or for video cassettes — there was a lot of craze. There was a repeat value,” he said.
This comes amid a broader wave of nostalgia for the golden era of Hindi cinema, with several veteran actors and their children revisiting memories of a time when stars were genuinely larger than life. For Tusshar, growing up on the sets of his father's films was less a professional apprenticeship and more a childhood adventure — one autograph at a time.
Point of View
That distance has all but vanished, and with it, arguably, some of the awe. What Tusshar describes as 'boring but exciting' is precisely the paradox of proximity without access — a dynamic that shaped an entire generation of industry insiders and fans alike.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Tusshar Kapoor say about visiting film sets as a child?
Tusshar Kapoor said he was awestruck by the atmosphere on set and most excited to see Bollywood stars he recognised from films. He described figures like Rekha, Reena Roy, and Pran as 'like gods' to him at the time.
Which stars did Tusshar Kapoor recognise on his father Jeetendra's film sets?
Tusshar named several prominent actors including Rekha, Reena Roy, Hema Malini, Pran, and Nirupa Roy, as well as child artists Master Alankar and Master Raju. He said he knew them all because he watched films repeatedly.
Why did Tusshar Kapoor find the experience special despite having access to his father?
Tusshar explained that while he had easy access to his father Jeetendra, all the other stars were beyond reach — which made encountering them on set feel extraordinary. That sense of inaccessibility amplified their star power in his eyes.
What does Tusshar Kapoor's story reveal about Bollywood fandom in that era?
His recollections highlight a pre-digital era when cinema fandom was built on theatre visits, video cassettes, and autograph collections. Stars carried an aura of distance and mystique that is largely absent in today's social-media-driven industry.
Which film is Tusshar Kapoor known for?
Tusshar Kapoor is widely recognised for his role in the 'Golmaal' franchise. He is also the son of veteran Bollywood actor Jeetendra.
