From Working as an Assistant Director to Sharing Screen Space Together: 5 Bollywood Pairs Who Had a Full-Circle Moment

Before lighting up the screens, our Bollywood actors have kickstarted their journey behind the cameras. They stepped into films as assistant directors, working behind the lens for renowned actors, and a few years down the line, they marked a full-circle moment by sharing the screen space with them. Before they revved up themselves to face the camera, the actors took a deep dive to understand the craft behind the camera first. Here are 5 Bollywood pairs who marked a major full-circle moment.

*Varun Dhawan & Shah Rukh Khan*
Varun Dhawan worked as an assistant director for Shah Rukh Khan’s unforgettable film My Name is Khan in 2010, and later he ventured into acting with his big debut, Student of the Year in 2012. In 2015, Varun marked one of his biggest collaborations with Shah Rukh Khan in Dilwale, becoming a co-lead male star and winning hearts with his breezy portrayal.

*Ranbir Kapoor – Aishwarya Rai Bachchan*
Ranbir Kapoor, before becoming one of the most celebrated actors, worked as an assistant director in Aa Ab Laut Chalen (1999), starring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. After establishing a strong footing with films like Rockstar and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Ranbir marked a full circle with Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, marking his return with Aishwarya Rai in 2016.

*Samara Tijori – Bhumi Satish Pednekkar*
Samara Tijori has worked on the screens in Bob Biswas and Masoom. But before she appeared on the screens, she worked as an assistant director in Bhumi Satish Pednekkar starrer Bhoot: Part One: The Haunted Ship. And now, she’s gearing up for the release of her upcoming series, Daldal, which brings her together with Bhumi Pednekkar.

*Shanaya Kapoor – Janhvi Kapoor*
Before casting a spell of love with Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, Shanaya Kapoor worked as an assistant director in Janhvi Kapoor’s Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl in 2020. Later in the first season of Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives, Shanaya shared the screen space with Janhvi Kapoor, marking a full-circle moment in her rising career.

*Hrithik Roshan – Shah Rukh Khan*
Before becoming the celebrated Greek God of Bollywood, Hrithik Roshan worked as an assistant director for the iconic film Karan Arjun (1995), starring Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan. Later in 2001, he made it big enough to share the screen space with King Khan in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, headlining the film as the co-lead.

Though these actors started off as assistant directors, their return collaboration with those selective actors surely marked a full-circle moment in their careers.